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The second half of the 2025 season or crossing the midpoint is gut check time for teams around the league. But from an individual standpoint, it's also a clock that's ticking towards the end of a few who become expendable as draft picks will come and take their roster spots on the offseason.
In this exercise, we have looked at the roster and will mention any players who could likely be gone as senryokugai (戦力外) as they won't be offered a contract for 2026.
We will also look at all foreigners with where they stand and list an ikusei who have to be let go by default, but could obviously come back at the team's discretion.
As a disclaimer, we are not rooting for players to lose their jobs, but it is something to brace for as the month of July comes to a close.
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Yuta Kuroki
Kuroki was an experimental signing as he played for both the Orix Buffaloes and Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters previously. So far, his role remains low leverage, but given he is in his 30s, the upside isn't there.
Katsunori Hirai
Hirai was a solid middle reliever from 2017-2019 with a rebound 2022 season. However, his arm has a high amount of mileage, especially with how overplayed he became in 2019.
He hasn't made an ichi-gun appearance in 2025 while it's also a contract season. Hirai reached domestic free agency in 2023 and signed a two year contract to remain with the Lions. This remains uncertain as his contract expires this year.
Taishi Mameda
Mameda looked to be a promising reliever in 2023, but has fallen out of favor since his promotion from ikusei. He is only 22 years old, yet has taken a step back. It's unclear what the team could do with him, potentially placing a designation for the Active player draft.
Yuta Nakamura
A former Hiroshima Carp pitcher taken in the Active Player Draft, Nakamura has been an innings eater in low leverage. But his job has also been limited despite being on the ichi-gun roster.
Takeru Sasaki
Coming off a return from an ikusei demotion, Sasaki has continued to bounce up and down the ichi-gun roster. It's unclear if he has a role long term, though it wouldn't be surprising if the Lions give him an ikusei designation.
Sena Tsuge
Tsuge is the second oldest catcher on the roster and has mostly fallen out of favor, though he was recently called up. This is still uncertainty if the Lions see a catcher in the draft.
Taiga Hirasawa
Taken last fall in the Active Player Draft, Hirasawa has not hit well with the change of scenery. Once a former first round draft pick, his history of the yips is clear and with only six ichi-gun games up to this point, his services aren't needed.
Hiyu Motoyama
Motoyama is a defensive replacement at best for the infield. Unfortunately, he can't hit his own weight to be a starter at the ichi-gun level. While he has a purpose, there could be others waiting to take his spot.
Daiju Nomura
Taken in a trade with the SoftBank Hawks, Nomura has seen limited playing time and it's on pace to not work out. Could be an easy cutting candidate.
Kento Watanabe
A former first round pick that no one wants to remember, he has failed to play a single ichi-gun game in 2025. This may finally be time to cut the losses or at least designate him for ikusei.
Koichi Okumura
A 2023 draft pick out of the independent leagues, Okumura already had a handicap coming into this. He has barely seen Ni-gun action while not playing a game at the ichi-gun level in 2025.
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Earlier this season, the Lions dumped both Ryusei Sato and Kakeru Yamanobe who were both expendable.
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Ikusei who must be let go
This list is for players who spent at least three years in NPB and have to be designated as a senryokugai at season's end. The Lions can always re-sign these players to another ikusei contract if they desire.
P Shota Hamaya
P Hiroki Inoue
P Daiju Miura
P Ryosuke Moriwaki
P Ren Omagari
P Towa Uema
C Ryosuke Koresawa
IF Ryota Kawano
IF Kazuki Nomura
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Foreign Imports
Tyler Nevin: Nevin has locked up a contract through 2027. His contact has shown he can be an every day starter and the Lions didn't try to wait this out, signing up right at the conclusion of interleague play.
He won't hit 30 home runs, but we're not concerned.
Bo Takahashi: Bo has yet to play a single ichi-gun game in 2025 when his role was expanded last year as a starter. He could be on his way out at this pace.
Leandro Cedeño: Cedeño has been a disappointment, already benched in May and given a limited role since. For a player who has power potential and already two years of experience in NPB, he's been a liability in the lineup and only hit two home runs and an OPS blow .500.
Emmanuel Ramirez: So far, Ramirez has done his part as a medium to low leverage pitcher. Kept his job at the ichi-gun level until he couldn't with an injury in early July. When times were desperate, he came out as a reliever in the 8th inning and succeeded.
If he's out for the year and doesn't regress, there's a good chance the Lions bring him back for 2026. He's done everything the team has asked of him up to this point.
Trey Wingenter: Wingenter has been the power pitcher for the 8th inning. Mostly reliable, if he continues at his current pace, the Lions will offer him a contract for 2026.
J.D. Davis: Davis was just signed but he Lions this week and he made his debut against the SoftBank Hawks over the weekend. Time will tell what he does and we'll label this as to be continued. A fun fact is he will qualify for our Seibu Lions and A's series, like Nevin.
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The Lions fall back to earth
In a worse case scenario before the All-Star break, the Lions were swept at home to the SoftBank Hawks.
At 42-45-1, they sit 5.5 games out of A-class behind the Orix Buffaloes and it's very clear this team isn't ready for the postseason.
For now, we'd be happy to avoid last place and just be competitive. However, the offense has shown what a last place team could be due to a lack of power hitting as a whole.
Our primary goal for 2025 was to be competitive by July and take a step up from 2025.
They had a winning record at the official mid season point (past Game 72), that's all we can ask for. Hopefully the kids develop as this season goes on.
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