In a jaw-dropping move that has sent shockwaves throughout the baseball world, the San Diego Padres have officially signed Japanese pitching sensation Hiroshi Tanaka to a record-breaking $280 million, 7-year deal, sources close to the organization confirmed Thursday morning.
Tanaka, 26, has been dominating the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league for the past five seasons, earning three Sawamura Awards (Japan’s Cy Young equivalent) and posting an astonishing 1.87 ERA with over 1,200 strikeouts. Widely regarded as the most coveted international free agent since Shohei Ohtani, Tanaka’s blend of velocity, command, and poise on the mound made him the centerpiece of a fierce bidding war among MLB’s biggest franchises.
Padres Make Their Move
Padres GM A.J. Preller, known for bold moves and aggressive roster building, reportedly flew to Tokyo last week to finalize details with Tanaka’s camp, led by agent Hideki Murakami. The deal, which includes full no-trade protection, incentives tied to Cy Young voting, and opt-out clauses after the fourth and fifth years, shatters previous records for international signings.
“This is a transformational moment for our franchise,” said Preller during a press conference at Petco Park. “Hiroshi is not only an elite talent but a fierce competitor and global icon. We believe he completes the championship-caliber rotation we’ve been building.”
Reaction Across the League
MLB analysts and fans erupted on social media, with many calling it the most shocking free-agent acquisition since the Yankees signed Gerrit Cole in 2019.
Former MLB All-Star and ESPN analyst David Ortiz said,
“This kid is the real deal. The Padres just dropped a bomb on the rest of the league. Tanaka’s going to turn heads from Day 1.”
Even Padres slugger Fernando Tatis Jr. took to X (formerly Twitter), writing:
“Let’s gooooooo!!! Welcome to SD, Tanaka #RingSeason”
A New Era in San Diego
With Tanaka now anchoring a rotation that already features Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove, and rising star Dylan Lesko, the Padres are clearly all-in on bringing the first World Series title to San Diego.
Tanaka, speaking through an interpreter, expressed his excitement:
“I am honored to join such a passionate team and fanbase. I’ve always dreamed of competing in MLB, and I believe San Diego is the perfect place to begin this new chapter.”
Opening Day 2026 at Petco Park just became the hottest ticket in town.
More to come as the Padres prepare for what could be the most exciting season in franchise history.
