On the 14th, Seibu Lions pitcher Kaima Taira (27), who aims to move to the U.S. Major Leagues this off-season using the posting system, attended a publication commemorative event in Tokyo for his book 'Choose Your Life on Your Own Terms! Taira Mind' (Tokuma Shoten). He reiterated his stance of being open to all 30 teams, stating, 'I have no specific preferences; I will go anywhere if there is a team that needs me.'

From the way he spoke with an occasional gentle smile, it was clear that the negotiations were progressing smoothly. Since filing the application on the 1st (the 2nd, Japan time), the first day of the period, he has left the negotiations entirely to his agent, Scott Boras. While Taira himself is preparing to be able to leave for the United States at any moment, he has been conducting online interviews with multiple teams. During those meetings, he spoke in English himself, saying, 'I think the desire to communicate is what matters.' When he showed an open attitude without narrowing down the conditions for his next destination, he was reportedly praised with the words, 'You are the man.'

There are local reports that the contract is for a total of 100 million dollars (approximately 16 billion yen) over five years, but the right-hander said, 'To be honest, it's within my expectations, and I've been working with all of that in mind.' When the club granted him permission to use the posting system, he set the Cy Young Award as his goal, and he flatly stated that he has already 'prepared the text for the acceptance speech. I look at it and rewrite it from time to time.' He has come this far by accumulating preparations with his eyes set beyond the achievement of his goals.

In the Major Leagues, there is a possibility of entering a lockout on December 1st when the current collective bargaining agreement expires, leading to concerns about a halt in negotiations. However, as he previously stated, "Both my agent and I are confident that everything will be fine," an early resolution is certain. True to the content of his book, which emphasizes "having your own core and firmly choosing your own path in this one life," he is expected to decide on his new destination in the coming days, centered around his unwavering principles. (Ayami Ohnaka)

Taira has clearly stated that he will continue fishing even after challenging the Major Leagues. Born in Ishigaki Island, Okinawa, he is such an avid fishing enthusiast that he lists himself as a 'fisherman' alongside 'professional baseball player' on the cover of his book. While there is a possibility that he could end up far from the ocean depending on the team, he appealed his 'all 30 teams are OK' stance even in terms of his hobby, saying, 'I want to continue. Saitama doesn't have the sea either, but I've been able to keep doing it, so I want to find a way to make it work.'