Hikaru Ota to exercise domestic FA rights from Rakuten Eagles

Hikaru Ota, a catcher for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, has decided to exercise his domestic free agency (FA) rights. He is expected to submit the necessary documents to the club following the conclusion of the Japan Series.

Ota, 30, joined the Eagles via the 2018 draft and has become a trusted starter, leading the league in caught-stealing percentage last season with .383. Because he is classified as a ‘C-rank’ player, acquiring him requires neither player nor monetary compensation, making him an attractive target for teams looking to bolster their catching depth. Several clubs, including the Hanshin Tigers, are reportedly investigating his availability.

In separate news regarding the Rakuten Eagles roster, veteran catcher Hikaru Ito has been informed that the club will not renew his contract for next season. Ito, 37, expressed his gratitude to fans and teammates on social media following the decision, noting that injuries and performance struggles limited his impact during his single season with the team after joining from DeNA.