Blue Jays land Japanese slugger Kazuma Okamoto in free agency splash: reports

The Toronto Blue Jays, who were 2 outs distant from winning the World Series, proceed to marque large moves successful escaped bureau arsenic they look to bolster their squad.

The Blue Jays agreed to a declaration with Japanese prima infielder Kazuma Okamoto, according to aggregate reports. The declaration is four-year, $60 million, according to the New York Post.

Okamoto starred successful the Nippon Professional Baseball’s astir storied franchise, the Yomiuri Giants, which is Japan’s equivalent of the New York Yankees.

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Yomiuri Giants archetypal baseman Kazuma Okamoto (25) fields a crushed shot against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 5th inning astatine Tokyo Dome successful Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan, connected March 15, 2025. (Darren Yamashita/Imagn Images)

The 29-year-old was a six-time All-Star successful Japan, and starred some astatine the sheet and successful the field. He led the NPB Central League successful location runs successful 2020, 2021 and 2023.

Starting successful 2018, Okamoto had a tally of six consecutive seasons with 30 oregon much location runs. His vocation precocious successful location runs came successful 2023, erstwhile helium deed 41.

Okamoto tin play archetypal and 3rd base, capably winning 2 Gold Gloves astatine 3rd and 1 astatine archetypal base.

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Yomiuri Giants archetypal baseman Kazuma Okamoto (25) hits a azygous against the Chicago Cubs during the 2nd inning astatine Tokyo Dome successful Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan, connected March 16, 2025. (Darren Yamashita/Imagn Images)

In 2025, Okamoto was constricted to conscionable 69 games aft sustaining a left-elbow wounded successful a collision with a batter moving down the enactment portion playing first. However, successful constricted action, Okamoto was outstanding, hitting .327 with 15 location runs and 49 RBI, bully for a 1.014 OPS.

In 11 seasons successful the NPB, Okamoto had a 2.77 batting mean with 248 location runs and 717 RBI.

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Kazuma Okamoto (25) of Team Japan hits a solo location tally successful the bottommost of the 4th inning during the World Baseball Classic title crippled astatine loanDepot Park successful Miami, Florida, connected March 21, 2023. (Gene Wang/Getty Images)

Okamoto has already had occurrence successful the United States, arsenic helium deed a location tally disconnected Kyle Freeland to assistance Japan bushed the United States successful the 2023 World Baseball Classic final.

The Blue Jays had already signed starting pitcher Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 cardinal contract, KBO MVP Cody Ponce to a three-year, $30 cardinal contract, and reliever Tyler Rogers to a three-year, $37 cardinal contract. The Blue Jays anticipation their reported summation of Okamoto, on with each their different acquisitions, assistance enactment them get backmost to the World Series.

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