Major League Baseball is officially coming back to NBC — so sports fans can go ahead and plan to stick around for Sunday Night Baseball once Sunday Night Football and Sunday Night Basketball wrap up next year.

Infielder Kazuma Okamoto and pitcher Kona Takahashi are entering Major League Baseball’s posting system and will be available for teams to sign as free agents from Friday through Jan. 4.

MLB teams were notified on Thursday that two more Japanese stars are headed stateside. Infielder Kazuma Okamoto of the Yomiuri Giants and right-handed pitcher Kona Takahashi of the Saitama Seibu Lions have both been posted for MLB free agency by their respective Nippon Professional Baseball clubs.

Track all the latest MLB free agency and trade news with fantasy baseball analysis from Tristan H. Cockcroft and Eric Karabell.

The way fans watch baseball is about to drastically change, as Major League Baseball tears the Band-Aid off its distribution model and pivots toward a future where linear television and streaming coexist, even if it comes at a cost to both sports leagues and consumers.

Cristopher Sanchez was a breakout star in 2025, posting a 2.50 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 26.3 percent strikeout rate in 202 innings. He pitches for a strong team and has an elite changeup to put away righties. This all feels very real.

Ellard dealt with hamstring and lat injuries for much of the 2025 season, and moved between the White Sox and Triple-A Charlotte Knights throughout the year. He wrapped up his second major league season with 17 innings pitched, a 4.24 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, 22 strikeouts and 19 walks.

Major League Baseball says it will comply with a Senate committee's request for documents detailing gambling investigations.