Nippon Professional Baseball’s 2026 ERA leader is heading to MLB.

The Saitama Seibu Lions announced they will approve the posting of ace right-hander Kaima Taira. After pitching successfully out of the bullpen since 2023, Taira moved back into the rotation this season and recorded a 1.36 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in 23 games. Taira, who turns 27 on Nov. 15, had a 1.71 ERA and 31 saves in relief in 2025.

Across his eight NPB seasons, Taira owns a 1.78 ERA and a 9.4 K/9, according to Baseball-Reference.

Once Seibu has officially posted Taira, all 30 MLB teams will have a 45-day window to negotiate with him. Because he is over 25 years old, there will be no restrictions on the length and value of the deal he signs with an MLB team. Seibu will then receive a to-be-determined “release fee” based on the value of his new deal. If Taira does not sign with a team before his posting window closes, he would return to NPB and not be eligible for posting again until next offseason.

Though he is not overpowering in frame -- standing just 5-foot-8 -- Taira has been dominant on the mound for some time. He can run his fastball to the mid-to-upper 90s and will complement it with a wide mix of secondaries, including a cutter, sweeper, changeup and splitter. His stuff could be second-best on the open market this offseason, trailing only two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal.

“He’s got a big fastball, a lot of secondaries, and he’s a [student] of analytics,” a Pacific Rim scout told MLB.com’s Michael Clair.

It’s possible that MLB teams would see Taira as better suited for a bullpen role, helping both to keep him healthy and to keep his velocity at its maximum. Pitchers at his size haven’t often had starter’s longevity in MLB; Marcus Stroman is the only pitcher to have topped 100 innings in a season at 5-foot-8 or shorter since Fred Norman in 1979. However, a team’s willingness to try Taira as a starter could also impact his decision on where to sign.

Fellow Japanese starters Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shota Imanaga have had success in MLB with shorter statures. Their low release points help their fastball play up, though both are listed at 5-foot-10.

Taira will join Central League Triple Crown winner Teruaki Sato (Hanshin Tigers) as the first NPB players looking to move to MLB this offseason. Sato -- the 2025 CL MVP and likely 2026 repeat winner -- will headline the group, but Taira’s profile and past dominance on the mound will make him an intriguing free agent this offseason.