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

The Toronto Blue Jays, who were 2 outs distant from winning nan World Series, proceed to make large moves successful free agency arsenic they look to bolster their squad.

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

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

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Yomiuri Giants first baseman Kazuma Okamoto (25) fields a crushed shot against nan Los Angeles Dodgers during nan 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 nan sheet and successful nan field. He led nan NPB Central League successful location runs successful 2020, 2021 and 2023.

Starting successful 2018, Okamoto had a tally of six consecutive seasons pinch 30 aliases much location runs. His profession precocious successful location runs came successful 2023, erstwhile he deed 41.

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

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Yomiuri Giants first baseman Kazuma Okamoto (25) hits a azygous against nan Chicago Cubs during nan 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 injury successful a collision pinch a batter moving down nan statement while playing first. However, successful constricted action, Okamoto was outstanding, hitting .327 pinch 15 location runs and 49 RBI, bully for a 1.014 OPS.

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

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Kazuma Okamoto (25) of Team Japan hits a solo location tally successful nan bottommost of nan 4th inning during nan 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 nan United States, arsenic he deed a location tally disconnected Kyle Freeland to thief Japan hit nan United States successful nan 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 dream their reported summation of Okamoto, on pinch each their different acquisitions, thief put them get backmost to nan World Series.

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