The Chicago Cubs have lost a long-time member of their staff, and you hope it doesn’t lead to a significant loss of presence in Japan altogether:
Sources: The Yankees are planning to add Nao Masamoto to their international staff, gaining a valuable behind-the-scenes figure who helped the Cubs become a top destination for Japanese players. Reporting with @BrendanKutyNJ and @Ken_Rosenthal: t.co/kEEWVljQxK
— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) February 18, 2026Nao Masamoto has been a key part of the Cubs’ operations in Japan over the last several years, presumably serving as a vital way to connect with and support international talent. The Cubs have made no secret of their efforts to incorporate top Japanese talent, and I have to assume that Masamoto was a big part of that. So this feels like a blow.
From the article:
“As the Cubs welcomed players from Nippon Professional Baseball — and managed relationships with their families, agents and support staff — Masamoto’s background provided some credibility and reassurance.
Masamoto enjoys a strong relationship with Yu Darvish, who played for the Cubs and remains an influential figure among Japanese players. Darvish recommended Chicago — as a city and an organization — to Seiya Suzuki before the outfielder/designated hitter signed his five-year, $85 million contract with the Cubs in 2022. Masamoto was also part of the group that helped Shota Imanaga quickly assimilate in 2024, when the left-handed pitcher received National League Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year votes.”
The decision to separate, as far as the Cubs go, sounds like it was on Masamoto’s side (he “elected to explore his options and see what new opportunities might arise from the sport’s influx of Japanese talent” after the season). In other words, it doesn’t necessarily sound like a situation where the Cubs were ready to move on. So, again, feels like a blow.
Masamoto had been with the Cubs organization for 20 years in various capacities, working his way up to running the Pacific Rim operations. Big shoes to fill, and we’ll see how the Cubs proceed from here. The hope is that they’ve build up enough institutional memory over the last five+ years that they can withstand an important departure, and continue to be a notable presence in Japan.
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