Saitama Seibu Lions earn right to negotiate with CPBL's Lin An-ko

Taipei, Nov. 17 (CNA) Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions slugger Lin An-ko (林安可), one of three MVP finalists for Taiwan's professional baseball league in 2025, could be bringing his talents to the Japanese franchise Saitama Seibu Lions next season.

The Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) announced Monday that the Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) had earned exclusive negotiating rights with its 28-year-old outfielder.

The final details of a potential contract are expected to be settled within a month.

In a statement, Uni-Lions General Manager Su Tai-an (蘇泰安) said he was confident the Seibu Lions would offer Lin a contract befitting of his value as a player.

According to Taiwanese baseball sources, Lin could sign a 2-year deal with the Seibu Lions with an option for a one-year extension, with an annual salary and bonuses of up to US$1 million.

Under such a deal, the Japanese club would also have to pay transfer fees to the Uni-Lions, the sources said.

Lin An-ko signed a three-year NT$21.6 million (US$692,889) contract with the Uni-Lions in early 2025.

Earlier this month, however, he exercised his overseas free agency option, as he was eligible to do under CPBL regulations, having played for the team for at least three seasons.

Lin joined the Tainan-based Uni-Lions as the fourth overall pick in the 2019 midseason draft. In his first full season in 2020, he smashed 32 home runs to earn the Rookie of the Year award.

He batted a career-best .318 over 90 games in 2025 and hit his 100th CPBL home run in a game against the Fubon Guardians in Tainan on June 28.

Lin's former teammate, pitcher Gu Lin Ruei-yang (古林睿煬), exercised a similar option to sign a three-year contract with the NPB's Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in November 2024.