Last year, five players who were released from Softbank last offseason - Mizuki Miura, Shunsuke Kasatani, Keisuke Nakata, Takuma Sato and Ryota Nakamura were able to transfer to NPB teams, and this offseason too, players who were released from Softbank are deciding on their transfer destinations one after another.
On November 14th, Hayato Miyazaki decided to transfer to the Lotte Marines. Miyazaki joined Softbank as an 8th-round pick in the 2022 development draft and was registered as a regular player midway through this season, his third year with the team. He pitched in two games, including a runs first inning against Lotte on August 5th, closer a 0.00 ERA. He also pitched in 31 farm team games, posting a record of 2 wins, 3 losses, 3 saves, and a 2.57 ERA, but was released after the season ended.
On the same day, Yugo Bando joined The Giants as a development player. Bando joined Softbank as the fourth pick in the 2018 draft, and in his third year with the team in 2021, he pitched in 44 games, with 0 wins, 2 losses, 16 hold, 1 ERA of 2.52, establishing himself as a regular in the first team. He pitched in 25 games in 2022 and 30 games in 2023, but has not pitched in the first team in the last two years and was released after the season ended.
On the 18th, it was announced that Jumpei Kawarada will join The Giants as a development player. Kawaharada is infielder who joined Softbank as the fourth pick in the 2020 draft. This season, his fifth year as a development player, he has played in one game for the farm team, batting 1.000. He became the first transfer out of the participants in the "Able Tryouts 2025" held on the 12th.
Looking overseas, Shota Takeda has decided to transfer to the SSG Landers in Korea. Takeda joined Softbank as the first pick in the 2011 draft and in his first year with the team, pitched 11 games and 67 innings in 2012, posting an 8-1 record with a 1.07 ERA. In 2015, when Softbank won the league championship, he pitched as a starter and achieved his first double-digit win (13 wins) and reached the required innings pitched (164 2/3 innings). The following year, he recorded a career-high 14 wins and a respectable 2.95 ERA, but has not achieved double-digit win since 2017. He has struggled with injuries in recent years and has not pitched in the first team since 2013. This season, he pitched in six games for the farm team, posting a 1-2 record with a 4.43 ERA.
Three players have already decided to transfer to NPB teams. It will be interesting to see how many players who are cut from Softbank will transfer to other teams in the future.
