Yankees Hire Ex-Cubs Executive to Strengthen Japan Presence

The New York Yankees are making a push to deepen their reach into Japanese baseball by bringing in Nao Masamoto to strengthen international scouting and Japanese-player recruitment.

Masamoto’s got a storied track record in Nippon Professional Baseball talent acquisition and a knack for building relationships with players, families, and agents. The Yankees want to close gaps that have made it tough for them to land top Japanese stars.

This move is part of a broader shakeup in the Yankees’ international front office. It signals a much more aggressive, global approach to finding new talent.

Masamoto’s Impact on the Yankees’ Global Scouting Strategy

Masamoto’s time with the Cubs gives a pretty clear idea of how he could shape the Yankees’ overseas pipeline. He built up Pacific Rim operations and worked closely with different managers, always focusing on hands-on, information-driven talent evaluation.

His connections run deep—players, coaches, families. That’s huge when it comes to navigating the Japanese talent market.

During his long run with the Cubs, Masamoto built high-profile relationships with stars like Yu Darvish. He played a role in recruiting Seiya Suzuki for the Cubs in 2022.

He also helped Shota Imanaga adjust after his 2024 arrival, showing he can bridge cultural and organizational gaps for players moving between leagues. When the Cubs chased Shohei Ohtani and Roki Sasaki, Masamoto’s outreach and personal ties mattered just as much as stats.

Masamoto joined the Cubs in 2005, eventually overseeing Pacific Rim operations. He kept a constant presence in the clubhouse, providing video and information to the team, no matter who managed or what the roster looked like.

The Yankees now want to tap into that holistic overseas strategy—combining data, relationships, and hands-on support—right in New York.

What Masamoto Brings to the Yankees

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Leadership changes shaping New York’s international footprint

Alongside Masamoto’s arrival, the Yankees have promoted Mario Garza to lead international scouting. They’ve also created a global player acquisitions supervisor role, now filled by Matt Slater.

Slater’s got experience with the St. Louis Cardinals and has advised Japan’s Orix Buffaloes. He brings a mix of MLB and Japanese baseball know-how to New York’s front office.

The Yankees are facing stiff competition for Japanese stars these days. Their recent pursuits for Sasaki and Yoshinobu Yamamoto didn’t pan out, with the Dodgers often coming out ahead.

This new structure aims to sharpen the Yankees’ ability to spot, negotiate for, and sign top talent from Japan.

• Mario Garza’s promotion to lead international scouting signals a renewed focus on global talent.
• Matt Slater’s appointment as global player acquisitions supervisor adds a seasoned voice familiar with both MLB and Japanese markets.
• The Yankees’ front office is aligning more closely with Japan’s baseball ecosystem, leveraging Slater’s Orix Buffaloes advisory ties to build better channels for negotiations and talent evaluation.

Masamoto, the World Baseball Classic connector

Masamoto stands out as an influential figure in Japanese baseball circles, well beyond club titles. He’s now part of the staff for Japan’s team at the upcoming World Baseball Classic.

That move shows his footprint stretches into national-team conversations and international competition. Masamoto’s involvement might help bridge the gap between Japan’s baseball establishment and the Yankees.

He could end up facilitating the flow of information, prospects, and relationships when players start thinking about MLB opportunities. The Yankees’ pursuit of top Japanese talent won’t be quick or easy.

The competition’s fierce, and the Dodgers are getting more popular in Japan. Still, Masamoto’s addition—paired with Garza’s leadership and Slater’s role in acquisitions—could help the Yankees close gaps in scouting and negotiations.

If this new front-office crew manages to build stronger relationships and speed up decisions, maybe they’ll finally give players a clearer path to New York. That could tip the scales for the Yankees in the ongoing race for Japan’s stars.
 
Here is the source article for this story: Yankees planning to add former Cubs official to boost presence in Japan: Sources