Players signed to play overseas in 2026

[Padres]

Alexander Canario signed with the Seibu Lions in Japan.

The 25-year-old Canario has a .229/.283/.368 slash line in 108 MLB games. He was a prospect of note back in 2023 after a huge 2022 season, but he was never able to match that level again. Last season, he slashed .243/.336/.514 with 18 home runs, 47 RBI, and five steals in 64 games in Triple-A. It wouldn’t be surprising if he lead Nippon Professional Baseball in home runs next season.

https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/alexander-canario/49294

[Padres]

Owen White has signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Baseball Organization.

No surprise here after White was removed from the White Sox’ 40-man roster at the conclusion of the season. The 26-year-old former Rangers prospect made only three relief appearances for Chicago after being claimed off waivers from the Yankees back in spring training. He’ll attempt to rebuild his long-term value overseas in Korea.

https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/owen-white/48190

[Padres]

Nippon Professional Baseball’s Yokohama DeNA BayStars have signed outfielder Cooper Hummel, the club announced.

Hummel, 31, has logged 340 career plate appearances in Major League Baseball with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Seattle Mariners, Baltimore Orioles, and Houston Astros, producing a .163/.268/.275 slash line with six home runs. He managed just a .571 OPS last season, though he has consistently graded well in metrics such as chase rate and sprint speed.

He saw most of his MLB action defensively in left field, but also appeared in 18 games at catcher. His results have been far stronger in the minors, as he batted .297/.439/.635 with 13 homers in 44 Triple-A games in 2025.

The switch-hitting American is expected to factor into DeNA’s corner outfield mix alongside Tatsuo Ebina, Ryuki Watarai, and Keita Sano. DeNA finished second in the Central League last season and will aim to reach the postseason for a fifth consecutive year, this time under first-year manager Ryoji Aikawa.

https://worldbaseball.com/npb-yokohama- ... er-hummel/

[Padres]

The Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Nippon Professional Baseball have signed [Jon] Duplantier, Yakyu Cosmopolitan reports.

There had been some buzz that Duplantier could seek a major-league contract after he held a 1.39 ERA and 32.4 percent strikeout rate over 90.2 innings for the Hanshin Tigers in 2025. However, the 31-year-old has opted to continue his career overseas instead. Duplantier last pitched in the majors in 2021.

https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseb ... -in-japan/

[Padres]

Nationals released RHP Sauryn Lao.

The 26-year-old hurler found an opportunity to play overseas, so the Nationals granted him release. Lao will ink a one-year pact with the Nippon Ham Fighters of Japan’s Nippon Proessional Baseball.

https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/sauryn-lao/242490

[Padres]

The Texas Rangers released P Anthony Veneziano.

Veneziano was just signed in December, so make sure you get your money back for that custom jersey. The 28-year-old will get a chance to show his arsenal in Asia with a chance tor return stateside in the coming years.

https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/anthony-veneziano/69202

[Padres]

Sean Hjelle has signed with the Orix Buffaloes of Japan.

Hjelle’s wife’s accusations of spousal abuse over the summer never drew an official reaction from MLB, but the Giants cut him loose at season’s end and he obviously didn’t find much of a market as a free agent. The 28-year-old heads to Japan after posting a 5.11 ERA in 149 2/3 innings for the Giants these last four seasons.

https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/sean-hjelle/48948

[Padres]

Rodolfo Castro signed to play for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in Japan.

Castro had agreed to a minor league deal with the Blue Jays, but the team released him on Monday so that he could pursue this opportunity. The 26-year-old hit .235/.324/.421 with 19 homers and 18 stolen bases for Triple-A Lehigh Valley in the Phillies organization in 2025.

https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/rodolfo-castro/49264

[Padres]

José Ureña signed with the Rakuten Golden Eagles in Japan.

Ureña played for five different teams in 2025, posting a 4.58 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, and 34/23 K/BB ratio in 55 innings. The 34-year-old has pitched over 1,000 MLB innings and will head overseas for the start of the 2026 campaign.

https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/jose-urena/50448