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Infielder Kazuma Okamoto and the Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to a four-year contract worth US$60 million, two people familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Saturday.
The people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not been announced. ESPN and Sportsnet also reported Saturday afternoon that both sides had agreed to the deal.
Okamoto will receive a $5 million signing bonus, a $7 million salary this year and $16 million in each of the next three seasons.
A six-time All-Star, Okamoto has a .277 batting average with 248 homers and 717 RBIs in 11 Japanese major league seasons, leading the Central League in home runs in 2020, 2021 and 2023. He scored off Colorado's Kyle Freeland to help Japan beat the United States 3-2 in the final of the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
According to the hosting agreement between Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball, the deal is expected to be completed by 5:00 pm ET on Sunday.
Versatile player
Okamoto, a 29-year-old third baseman and first baseman, hit .327 with 15 homers and 49 RBIs in 69 games last year for the Yomiuri Giants of the Central League. He injured his left elbow while attempting to catch a throw at first base on May 6 when he collided with Takumu Nakano of the Hanshin Tigers, an injury that sidelined Okamoto until August 16.
With five-time star Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Okamoto will likely play mostly in the third spot initially. Last year, Addison Barger had 67 starts, Ernie Clement had 66, Will Wagner had 22, Isaiah Keener-Falefa had six and Buddy Kennedy had one.
Barger also plays right field, and the addition of Okamoto could mean Andres Jimenez moves from second to shortstop unless free agent Bo Bichette re-signs. Clement and Davis Scheider could split time in second place.
Under MLB's publishing agreement with NPB, the Blue Jays will owe the Giants a publishing fee of $10,875,000.
Significant additions
After coming within two outs of their first World Series title since 1993, the Blue Jays made significant additions to their roster. Toronto signed right-hander Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million contract, agreed to a three-year, $30 million contract with right-hander Cody Ponce and agreed to a three-year, $37 million contract with reliever Tyler Rogers.
Right-hander Shane Bieber also exercised his $16 million player option for 2026 rather than become a free agent.
