On the 10th, the Nippon Professional baseball (NPB) announced the players who declared for free agency (FA), and from the Orix Buffaloes, infielder Yuma Mune and infielder Keita Nakagawa were listed. Both exercised the domestic FA rights they acquired during this season. It will be possible for them to negotiate with other clubs starting on the 11th.

Mune joined the team as a second-round draft pick in 2014 from Yokohama Hayato. After playing positions such as shortstop and outfield, he secured the starting spot at third base in 2021. Starting that same year, he won the Best Nine and Golden Glove awards for three consecutive years, contributing to the team's three straight Pacific League championships. In addition to his brilliant defense, he made a leap forward in his batting this season, his 12th year. His 14 Home Runs and 65 RBI are career-high records. He also demonstrated his clutch hitting with a .350 batting average with runners in scoring position.

His annual salary of 62 million yen is considered C-rank, meaning no human or financial compensation is required, and he exercised his rights on the 2nd. Other teams, such as DeNA, are conducting full-scale investigations, and he emphasized regarding his destination for next season, 'There is a part of me that believes I can still grow. I want to go where my heart feels most passionate.'

Nakagawa, who was born in 1996 like Mune, joined the team as the 7th draft pick in 2018 after graduating from Toyo University following his time at PL Gakuen. In his first professional year, he recorded a .386 batting average and became the first rookie in history to win the Interleague leading hitter title. Although registered as an infielder, he secured a regular spot in the outfield starting in 2022. Last year, he served in every spot in the batting order from 1st to 9th, and with a strong performance including a .284 batting average, 12 Home Run, and 53 RBI, he was awarded his first Best Nine honor.

With an annual salary of 100 million yen, he is considered a B-rank player requiring human or financial compensation, and he exercised his rights on the 3rd. He explained, 'When I imagined myself after my playing career ended, I wanted to make a decision I wouldn't regret, which led me to exercise my FA rights.' The Hanshin Tigers, who are also based in the Kansai region, plan to launch an immediate attack with a large-scale contract totaling 1 billion yen over four years in preparation for the lifting of negotiations on the 11th. His speed and ability to play in the outfield or at first base are also seen as a good fit for Central League baseball.

For the Orix Buffaloes, who are aiming for their first league championship in four years, these players are an indispensable force. The team has continued to persuade them to stay based on salary increases and multi-year contracts, and they are also open to them remaining with the team after declaring free agency.