Japan's players union requested on Monday that players be allowed to gauge market interest in their services before they file for free agency.

According to Tadahito Mori, the secretary general of the Japan Professional Baseball Players Association, teams that refuse to negotiate with their own players who file for free agency makes it difficult for players to exercise their right to seek fair market value for their services.

"If a player is permitted to talk with other teams before committing himself to free agency, it makes the system easier to use," Mori said after an informal negotiating session.