Angels might have Teruaki Sato lifeline if latest Yankees rumor proves true

There are many who believe that Teruaki Sato would be the perfect fit for the Los Angeles Angels. The NPB star would fill a huge need at third base, while also upgrading a lineup that is almost completely devoid of left-handed power.

The problem facing the Angels is that they aren't alone in their desire to pursue the 27-year-old Sato. Nearly every team across the league has sent scouts to see him in Japan, and many of the clubs expected to chase him are many of the usual suspects of big-market behemoths.

Jim Bowden of The Athletic sees the market for Sato coming down to four clubs -- the New York Yankees, the Boston Red Sox, the Philadelphia Phillies, and the Angels -- and as a result of those three East Coast powerhouses jumping into the mix, Sato's price tag could reach uncomfortable heights. How much Los Angeles will be willing to spend in a transition year is hard to determine.

But not everyone agrees that Sato's suitors will include all of those teams. According to Jack Curry of the YES Network, the Yankees have concerns about Sato's defense at the hot corner and may not pursue him this offseason. While insider reports aren't always accurate and can sometimes be smoke screens, the Yankees own the majority stake in the YES Network, meaning Curry is as well-connected as they come, and his statements on the organization's intentions are typically rock solid.

That echos what New York Post insider Joel Sherman said a few weeks ago, and as the saying goes, where there's smoke there's fire. It looks like the Yankees won't be in the Sato race after all. The Dodgers are also thought to be out, and the Mets may have had interest until Bo Bichette opted into his deal, effectively ending their pursuit. With fewer big spenders going after him, maybe the contract that Sato ultimate gets is closer to the MLB Trade Rumors prediction of five years for $80 millon, rather than the five years and $140 million million that Bowden projected.

Fewer suitors also means the Halos' odds of making a big splash with Sato go up, but for a team with its own defensive challenges, is it wise for Los Angeles to spend big money on the star third baseman, or should they follow the Yankees' lead and look elsewhere for a solution at the hot corner?

The Angels should eschew defensive concerns and take advantage of Teruaki Sato's dwindling market

When it comes to defensive performance, the Angels have been bad for some time. In 2026, the club ranked 25th in defensive runs saved with -13. They were even worse by outs above average, with a mark of -42 that was the third-worst in the league. The Halos also made 91 total errors, which was the 11th most in baseball.

However, despite the defensive deficiencies already present on the roster, they shouldn't bow out on Sato. Instead, they should take advantage of a prime landing spot coming off the board and double down on signing the superstar.

There are a few clear reasons why. First, if Sato struggles at third, the Angels can easily move him across the diamond to first and mitigate the issues that his glove may present. The Yankees don't have that option, as they already have more left-handed-hitting first basemen than they need with Ben Rice and Luis Garcia Jr. already on the roster. Moving Sato would displace Nolan Schanuel, but that's a price worth paying for a guy who has hit 79 homers over the last two seasons.

The second, and arguably more important, reason for going all-in on Sato is the fact that signing him means more than just adding a new and exciting slugger. The Angels completely flubbed the opportunity to dominate the Japanese market when Shohei Ohtani was here, but Sato plus new ownership represents a brand new page. If they sign him and he succeeds, they'll already have the geographic advantage when it comes to pursuing Asian stars, and they'll have an owner in Stan Kroenke who knows how to grow a brand.

Sato is a chance at a do-over for the Angels, and one that should not be taken lightly. And while there's no guarantee that his power production translates to MLB, as is the risk with any NPB import, he's one of the best options available to the Halos to upgrade their lineup and would add to the core the club has established with Reid Detmers and Zach Neto.

If the Yankees are truly out, it makes the signing even more affordable, so while the Angels' backs are against the wall as they sort through their leadership changes and deal with the ticking clock of the impending lockout, they could still make a run at Sato, and if they're aggressive, have a decent shot at landing him.

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