How FA Works
NPB's free agent system, introduced in 1993, replaced the restrictive reserve clause. Domestic FA requires 8 years (2,920 days) of first-team registration; international FA requires 9 years (3,285 days) for MLB eligibility. Acquiring teams must provide compensation: either a player from outside a 28-man protected list or a percentage of the player's salary.
Notable FA Moves
Hiromitsu Ochiai's 1993 move from Chunichi to the Yomiuri was the system's inaugural landmark. Tomoaki Kanemoto's 2003 Hiroshima-to-Hanshin transfer helped end an 18-year championship drought. Yoshihiro Maru's 2018 departure from three-peat Hiroshima to the Yomiuri devastated Carp fans, illustrating FA's emotional weight.
The Compensation Debate
The 28-man protection list system creates strategic complexity. When the Yomiuri acquired Hiroshi Otake from Hiroshima in 2014, they surrendered Ryuji Ichioka as compensation, who became a successful reliever for the Carp, a rare 'compensation hit.' The system's fairness remains contested.
Challenges and Future
Wealthy teams like the Yomiuri and SoftBank dominate FA acquisitions while smaller-market teams like Hiroshima and Lotte lose stars. Unlike MLB's qualifying offer system linking FA to draft pick compensation, NPB lacks this mechanism. Balancing player rights with competitive balance will define FA's future evolution.