MLB Notebook: Blue Jays strike big, sign Kazuma Okamoto to $60 million deal—removing one suitor for Alex Bregman

The Blue Jays continue to remain aggressive this offseason, reloading for another run at the World Series. Toronto has agreed to a four-year, $60 million deal with Japanese third baseman Kazuma Okamoto. His new deal with the Jays will include a $5 million signing bonus, and the contract includes no opt-outs.

All three top Japanese players who were on the open market have signed with teams before their posting window would come to a close. The Astros added right-handed pitcher Tatsuya Imai earlier this week, and the White Sox were a surprise suitor for slugger Munetaka Murakami.

Okamota, 29, will join a loaded Blue Jays lineup that took the eventual World Series champions, the Dodgers, to seven games this past postseason. Toronto has been looking to make a massive impact on the Japanese market for years, which was evident in their pursuit of Shohei Ohtani two years ago.

The Blue Jays’ new third baseman spent the last 11 seasons with the Yomiuri Giants, establishing himself as one of NPB’s most powerful and well-rounded right-handed hitters.

In 2025, he was limited to just 69 games due to a left elbow injury that he suffered in a collision with a batter running down the line while he was playing first base. Over the course of those 69 games, he hit .327 with 15 homers and 49 RBI while recording a 1.014 OPS.

Okamoto also showcased his talents during the last World Baseball Classic, where he hit .333/.556/.722 with a 1.278 OPS, two homers, and seven RBI, including belting a solo blast off USA’s Kyle Freehand in the championship game.

While in Japan, Okamoto was a power threat in the middle of Yomiuri’s lineup, collecting six straight seasons where he hit 30-plus homers, including hammering 41 in 2023. Toronto will now add his bat, which will add more thump to a lineup that already includes Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Alejandro Kirk, Anthony Santander, George Springer, and Daulton Varsho.

Unlike most elite power hitters, Okamoto shows exceptional plate discipline. Last season in Japan, he struck out just 11.3% of the time—an identical rate to his 11.3% walk percentage—highlighting a rare balance of patience and contact. He capped the year with a .327 BABIP, a .454 wOBA, and a dominant 210 wRC+, underscoring just how complete his offensive profile was.

Okamoto’s bat is reminiscent of former Yankees left-handed slugger Hideki Matsui, who signed with New York during the 2003 offseason. During his MLB career (2003-2012), Matsui hit .282/.360/.462 with an .822 OPS, a 12.4% strikeout rate, a 10.2% walk rate, and a 31.2 WAR, per FanGraphs. Before he made the jump to the United States, he hit .304/.413/.582 in Japan.

The Jays' newest slugger projects as an above-average MLB middle-of-the-order bat with strong on-base skills and the ability to belt 25-30 homers. His strike zone is almost identical to Matsui, who Red Sox fans became very familiar with during the early 2000s when he tormented Boston’s pitching staff. While Okamoto lacks Matsui’s bat speed, his discipline and contact should allow him to settle into Toronto’s lineup, offering protection to Guerrero and Santander.

Another key component to Okamoto signing with Toronto means it’s one less suitor for Alex Bregman. The Blue Jays have been one of a handful of teams connected with the All-Star third baseman this winter. The hot corner remains a question mark for the Red Sox, who remain fully engaged with Bregman and his camp on a return to Boston.

If Boston feels Bregman is out of their price range in both dollars and years, the club could pivot to Bo Bichette, who is younger and worth the longer-term commitment.

On Friday, ESPN’s Buster Olney reported the Sox made “an aggressive offer” to Bregman. The reporting did not include what the money and years would look like. The industry is expecting Bregman to land a longer contract than the short-term deal loaded with opt-outs he signed prior to spring training last season.

Bichette remains a target for the Toronto Blue Jays, but with Okamoto now in the fold, Toronto suddenly has far more flexibility across the infield. Ernie Clement can slide over to second base, while Addison Barger can hunker down on the right side when needed, giving the club multiple alignment options without sacrificing offense.

Meanwhile, the Blue Jays have coveted Kyle Tucker all offseason and appear more inclined to hand the star outfielder a massive free-agent payday than commit long-term dollars to bringing Bichette back. Losing Bichette’s bat would be significant, but Toronto believes it can mitigate some of that production with Santander, who is returning from injury. A Tucker signing, however, would send a far louder message—one that clearly signals the Blue Jays are serious about becoming an elite American League powerhouse for years to come.

Okamoto’s arrival already looks like a strong move for a club that also added frontline starter Dylan Cease and pitcher Cody Ponce in free agency. Toronto’s front office continues to aggressively retool, remaining hyper-focused on winning the American League East in 2026—and positioning itself for a return to the Fall Classic.

WELL REPRESENTED

The Japanese market has been well represented this offseason, highlighted by Okamoto landing in Toronto, Imai getting an opt-out-laden deal with Houston, and Munetaka getting a prove-it deal with Chicago. This winter continued to show that MLB clubs will continue to be aggressive in the Japanese market, tapping into their elite talent to fill out their rosters.

Imai agreed to a three-year, $54 million contract that includes up to $3 million in incentives if he reaches 100 innings pitched in 2026. If he does, his base salary increases to $21 million in both 2027 and 2028. Imai also holds opt-out clauses after each season.

While Imai reportedly had longer-term offers on the table at lower average annual values, he chose Houston’s shorter, higher-AAV deal with flexibility. His negotiating window with MLB clubs was set to expire this past Friday at 5 p.m. ET; had no deal been reached, he would have returned to Japan.

Imai is coming off a stellar 2024 campaign with the Saitama Seibu Lions, posting a 1.92 ERA across 163 2/3 innings. He struck out 178 batters, walked 45, and allowed just six home runs.

Over the past three seasons, Imai has logged 470 innings with a 2.18 ERA, firmly establishing himself as one of NPB’s most reliable front-line starters.

Imai becomes the third high-profile Japanese starter to come to MLB in as many years, following Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2023 offseason) and Roki Sasaki (2024).

With Imai in the fold, Houston effectively fills the void left by departing left-hander Framber Valdez, now a free agent. Valdez should command a deal similar to what Cease signed in Toronto. However, character flaws in the clubhouse could limit his market and give teams pause about wanting to commit the years he desires.

Murakami appeared to be in line for a nine-figure deal as free agency opened but ultimately settled on a two-year, $34 million contract with the Chicago White Sox.

The 25-year-old is a fascinating power bat with elite exit velocity, bringing his 246 career home runs with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows to the major-league level. Murakami has been a superstar in Japan since his teenage years, developing into one of NPB’s most feared hitters. Chicago is landing a two-time Central League MVP, though evaluators remain cautious about how his strikeout rate will translate against MLB pitching.

Murakami joins a rapidly evolving young core on Chicago’s South Side that includes Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, Edgar Quero, Miguel Vargas, Chase Meidroth, and Luis Robert Jr.—assuming Robert isn’t moved prior to the start of camp.

REMEMBER WHEN…

Remember when the Red Sox almost stole Bernie Williams from the Yankees? Let’s rewind.

The 1998 offseason proved to be a pivotal moment for the Boston Red Sox, as one of the franchise’s most iconic homegrown stars was about to walk out the door.

That winter, the face of the franchise, Mo Vaughn, hit free agency. Vaughn explored the market quickly and ultimately signed a six-year, $80 million deal with the Anaheim Angels. His departure left a massive hole in the middle of Boston’s lineup—and general manager Dan Duquette knew he needed a bold solution.

Duquette turned his attention to Yankees center fielder Bernie Williams, who was widely expected to be one of the most coveted free agents on the market.

Williams was coming off a spectacular season: an All-Star appearance, a .339 batting average that won him the AL batting title, 26 home runs, and 97 RBIs. The Red Sox were serious about prying him away from the Bronx and reportedly offered Williams a seven-year, $90 million contract—an aggressive attempt to replace Vaughn’s production and land a nemesis of Fenway Park.

At the same time, the New York Yankees were preparing for the possibility of losing Williams. They had previously offered him a five-year, $37.5 million extension in 1997, which he declined. Represented by Scott Boras, Williams tested free agency to maximize his value.

New York pivoted to other options, most notably slugger Albert Belle, who was coming off a monstrous season in which he hit .328 with 49 home runs and 152 RBIs. Yankees leadership, including manager Joe Torre and owner George Steinbrenner, gave the green light to pursue Belle as a potential replacement.

While the Yankees negotiated with Belle, the Red Sox moved closer to landing Williams. The idea of Williams hitting in front of or behind Nomar Garciaparra in Boston was suddenly very real—and deeply uncomfortable for fans on both sides of the rivalry.

Instead of Williams hitting in the heart of the Sox’ order, Belle jumped to the mid-Atlantic.

Belle signed with the Baltimore Orioles on a five-year, $65 million deal, pulling him off the board. With their fallback option gone, the Yankees made one last push to keep Williams in pinstripes, offering him seven years and $87.5 million.

Williams chose to stay in New York, turning down Boston’s larger offer and ending one of the most fascinating “what-if” moments in Red Sox–Yankees history.

Williams proved to be a cornerstone for the Yankees. Over the life of the deal, he hit .298 with 149 home runs, won four World Series, earned five All-Star selections, captured four Gold Gloves, and had his No. 51 retired—finishing his career wearing only pinstripes.

Belle, meanwhile, produced when healthy but was limited to just two seasons with the Orioles due to a degenerative hip condition.

For Boston, the near-miss lingered. Williams in a Red Sox uniform would have been one of the strangest sights of the era. Instead of replacing Vaughn with a rival star in his prime, Duquette pivoted and signed José Offerman to a four-year, $26 million deal—solid, but far from franchise-altering.

In the end, the 1998 offseason stands as a reminder of how close baseball history can come to changing—and how one lost negotiation can reshape a rivalry for years to come.