Stocky Japanese RHP Kaima Taira Could Be Just What Cubs Need
The Cubs need to add velocity without sacrificing grounders as they look to rebuild a pitching staff that simply wasn’t good enough in 2026, and the ideal solution might be stocky right-hander Kaima Taira. He’s not your prototypical MLB starter at 5-foot-8 and 220 pounds, but he touches 100 mph and just posted a 1.36 ERA over 146 innings for the NPB’s Saitama Seibu Lions. Despite his extreme outlier frame, Taira might be the best free-agent starter behind Tarik Skubal this offseason.
Taira will turn 27 in November and has less mileage on his arm due to working as a reliever for seven of his nine professional seasons in Japan. He has an eight-pitch mix — fastball, cutter, changeup, sweeper, slider, splitter, sinker, curve — that has led to 9.6 K/9 with a mere 0.3 HR/9 in nearly 634 innings. The Cubs have maintained a heavy presence in Japan for several years and were among the teams in attendance on August 26 when Taira pitched seven shutout innings with nine strikeouts while his fastball averaged 97.3 mph.
A drop-and-drive thrower who is two inches shorter than any current MLB starter, Taira reminds me a little of Tim Lincecum in his ability to get the most out of his body. Not that they look anything alike. I mean, we’re talking about a pitcher who is shaped more like Moisés Ballesteros. But just look at his powerfully efficient move in the video below.
身長が低くても160km/hを投げるには、柔らかさも必要ということか。 https://t.co/yY9UfiHqxM
— 高見誠治®️RYS REALIZE (@takami_seiji) September 2, 2026
Teams are divided when it comes to Taira’s role, with many believing he’s just a reliever, which could limit his asking price as he makes the jump to MLB. That would certainly work in the Cubs’ favor, as they’ve historically been reluctant to pay for premium velocity. Taima doesn’t have elite strikeout numbers, but being a little above average plays up due to his ability to keep the ball on the ground.
Now, the problem is that NPB’s posting process will be subject to the same freezes as standard free agency if MLB has to endure a lockout this offseason. That would obviously put Taima’s move on hold, and it could delay it until next year if labor unrest continues well into 2027. In the event that things do get worked out in time, however, I would expect the Cubs to pursue him aggressively.
