Star Nippon Skilled Baseball third baseman Kazuma Okamoto has traveled to the US for a collection of in-person conferences as he enters the ultimate stretch of his 45-day posting window, per a report from Yahoo Japan (hat tip to Yakyu Cosmopolitan). Okamoto and agent Scott Boras are narrowing the sphere of golf equipment as Okamoto nears his early-January deadline for an settlement.
Up to now, every of the Blue Jays, Pirates, Pink Sox, Padres and Angels have been prominently linked to Okamoto, who’ll flip 30 subsequent June. The longtime Yomiuri Giants star, who’d been their staff captain previous to being posted, is without doubt one of the most constant sluggers in Japan. He’s a profession .277/.361/.522 hitter in NPB who has reached 30 dwelling runs in all however two of his 11 seasons. That features 2025, when accidents restricted him to 69 video games, and 2024, when he “solely” hit 27 homers in 143 video games.
Nevertheless, regardless of hitting a career-low 15 dwelling runs this previous season as a consequence of an elbow harm, Okamoto had the very best manufacturing of his wonderful NPB tenure on a price foundation. In 293 journeys to the batter’s field, he slashed .327/.416/.598 with a sturdy 11.3% stroll price that matched his minuscule 11.3% strikeout price. His 24.3% line-drive price from this previous season was a career-high, and Okamoto’s .271 ISO (slugging proportion minus batting common) was the second-best mark of his profession, trailing solely his 41-homer season from 2023.
Like countryman Munetaka Murakami, Okamoto is a nook infielder whose glovework considerations large league groups. He’s thought of a greater defender at third base than Murakami however remains to be seen by many golf equipment as a participant who’ll seemingly spend most (if not all) of his first MLB contract as a primary baseman and/or designated hitter. These defensive considerations contributed considerably to Murakami settling for a two-year deal that fell effectively in need of trade expectations. Defensive considerations surrounding Okamoto aren’t as outstanding, nor does he have the alarming swing-and-miss profile that additionally contributed to the bearish marketplace for Murakami. Nevertheless, Okamoto is 4 years older. Subsequent 12 months being his age-30 season will seemingly restrict the size of his forthcoming contract (although maybe to not the identical extent as Murakami).
Of the groups related to Okamoto up to now, there’s no clear favourite. The Blue Jays presumably nonetheless have Bo Bichette forward of him on their wishlist — presumably Alex Bregman as effectively. Boston has additionally been pursuing each Bregman and Bichette (seemingly in that order). The Pirates have already acquired one first base choice, signing Ryan O’Hearn, and have one other in Spencer Horwitz. In the event that they had been to make an actual push for Okamoto, they’d have to be assured in his potential to play third base. The Angels have a clearer path to enjoying time on the infield corners (significantly third base). The Padres received’t be displacing Manny Machado at third base, so Okamoto would want to play first base, with Jake Cronenworth manning second base and KBO acquisition Sung Mun Tune shifting to the outfield or a utility position.
After all, it stays completely believable that different, yet-unidentified golf equipment are within the bidding. The A’s, Mariners, Twins, Rangers, D-backs, Marlins, Mets, Cubs and Nationals all have various ranges of questions on the infield corners. Not all of these groups have important cash to spend this winter — the Rangers, Twins and D-backs are all recognized to be decreasing payroll relative to latest seasons — however any of the bunch might get artistic with backloaded contract buildings and/or shed payroll by one other means to make room if Okamoto is deemed a enough improve. That’s a largely speculative listing, to be clear, however given Okamoto’s observe report in NPB, it’d be a shock if “solely” 5 MLB’s 30 groups had any curiosity in signing him.
It bears noting that whereas Okamoto was initially set to be posted on Nov. 19, MLBTR has confirmed that his posting didn’t change into official till Nov. 21. That pushes his window to signal a contract with an enormous league membership from the unique Jan. 2 to Jan. 4. Whichever membership indicators him will owe the Giants a posting/launch charge equal to twenty% of the contract’s first $25MM, 17.5% of the following $25MM and 15% of any {dollars} thereafter. That charge comes on prime of the worth of the contract itself. Subsequent earnings (membership/participant choices, efficiency incentives, award bonuses, and so on.) fall beneath that umbrella as effectively, as soon as they’re formally reached.
