Kazuma Okamoto’s posting window closes at 4pm CT on Sunday, and there isn’t yet any sense where the Japanese star might sign even as his deadline nears. Such teams as the Cubs, Blue Jays, Red Sox, Angels, Pirates, and Padres have reportedly shown some interest in Okamoto’s services, and MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand adds the Mariners to this list of clubs “connected to” the chase for the 29-year-old.
Signing Okamoto would represent an interesting pivot for Seattle, as the Mariners have been focusing more on second base as the target spot for an infield upgrade. The M’s want to see what they have in such third base candidates as top prospect Colt Emerson, or other youngsters like Cole Young and Ben Williamson.
Former Mariner Eugenio Suarez has been pretty much the only third baseman on Seattle’s radar, and even if Suarez did re-sign with the team, it seems likely that Suarez would get a healthy dose of usage as designated hitter rather than an everyday assignment at the hot corner. Trade target Brendan Donovan also has some experience as a third baseman, but Donovan’s versatility makes him a candidate to be used all over the diamond, and second base would probably be his most frequent position if the M’s did manage to pry him away from the Cardinals.
While Okamoto has spent a lot of his career at the hot corner, however, he is more of a corner infielder than a true third baseman. During his time with the Yomiuri Giants, Okamoto logged 662 games played at third base and 478 games at first base. He also made 77 appearances in the outfield, so a Major League team might be open to using Okamoto as an occasional left fielder, as The Athletic’s Will Sammon recently noted.
Seattle has Josh Naylor and Randy Arozarena lined up for everyday work at first base and left field, respectively, but Okamoto could get some work at those positions if Naylor or Arozarena are receiving a DH day or a full off-day. Arozarena is also a free agent after the 2026 season, so any playing time for Okamoto in left field could be viewed as a potential audition to see if he could be a longer-term fit going forward.
If Okamoto can deliver anything close to his NPB numbers, he would be a terrific addition to the Mariners’ (or any team’s) lineup. Okamoto has a .277/.361/.521 slash line and 248 homers over 4494 plate appearances with the Giants, and his outstanding resume includes six NPB All-Star nods, two NPB Golden Gloves, and a gold medal as a member of Japan’s winning team at the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
MLB Trade Rumors ranked Okamoto 19th on our list of the offseason’s top 50 free agents, and predicted a four-year, $64MM contract. Given how Tatsuya Imai and Munetaka Murakami both had to settle for contracts far below ours and others’ projections, it certainly seems possible that Okamoto might also sign for a lower price tag than expected. This opens the door for the Mariners or any number of other suitors to get involved.
A “bet on yourself” type of short-term contract with opt-out clauses could appeal to the Mariners, with some extra financial outlay possibly being preferable to meeting a high demand for a player like Donovan or Ketel Marte. Seattle would seemingly have particular appeal to Okamoto, given how the M’s seem poised to contend again in 2026, and the Mariners’ long history of welcoming Japanese players.
I’d rather Mariners get Okamato over Marte/Donovan.
Or maybe Angels get Okamato?
2 AL West teams might get the 2 of the 4 Japanese FA’s.
Astros – Yeah the Mariners is a no-brainer. They need a 3B, preferably one that isn’t too expensive. Every team that needs a 3B should be interested in Okamoto.
@fpg. Probably boras driving up the prices. Im sure something will happen today.
Rex – I often wonder if a guy like Boras flat-out lies about a team’s interest, do teams ever call him out on it?
I agree the leak probably came from Scott’s camp, but I think it’s reasonable to expect the M’s doing their due diligence by calling Scott and asking what the current price is.
And yes today is probably 90% chance the winning team is announced. Probably won’t speed up any decisions on Bregman/Bichette though.
I think Bo is waiting on Toronto and Breggy is waiting on Boston, and the Marte trade is being held up because of all that. Of course Toronto is waiting on Tucker who is waiting on the Dodgers …. it’s just one big game of dominoes!
@FPG. I dont think boras lies, interest is a phone call, and a hangup after numbers were discussed. Its like teams making offers and it was 60 million less. I agree with the rest. It’s a stand still between the big market teams. Just waiting for someone to blink.
I doubt Boras actually lies. So much depends on trust that there’s no way he’d be around for so long so successfully if he did. Stretch the truth… definitely.
@ FPG
Why do you say its a leak? The article starts with a list of reasons that Okanato is not the best fit. Seattle already has affordable options for 3B. I would call this more speculation than leak. Also, there has been no leaks to this point on any of the Japanese players. I think its a requirement to be their agent.
Tiss – I agree, I said “if” although it’s often a gray area between stretching the truth and lying.
If a team calls to ask what the current price is, does that justify being classified as “showing interest”? I think some people would say yes, others would say no.
styme – Speculation would be “so-and-so would be a good fit for Team X”.
Reporting that a team is actively involved in pursuing a specific player? That’s not speculation, that’s a leak unless it’s a complete lie. The media is getting these reports from anonymous sources.
I agree Japanese players and their teams don’t start leaks, but teams could even if they are asked not to do so.
@FPG. Yeah its just posturing. Teams do the same thing when they say we made a serious offer. They never say how much it could be vet minimum. So I guess everything is accurate. Either way if im going off the rest of Japanese free agents this year. Its probably left field and the Marlins signed him.
Rex – I honestly didn’t expect the Jays to get him, very interesting.
@FPG. Yeah I thought angels made the sense for everyone. Defense isn’t a problem when 3b was dead last the last 3-4 years. A blow up doll is a upgrade.
Does a team ever tell an agent that the club’s interest has shifted away from that agent’s free agent to another free agent when the team has little interest in the latter?
Negotiations often involve posturing.
Yeah go em’ M’s!!!
And then they beat you in the Wild Card.
@Astros71- Wild Card? That’s just wishful thinking at this point.
“Involved in his market”?
Okamoto shops at Whole Foods or Kroger?
Long surprised me the M’s haven’t landed another top Japanese import. Been used as negotiating leverage quite a bit by posted players. Add ownership toes DiPotos budget line.
It surprises me as well. In the early 2000’s the Mariners landed Kaz Sasaki, Ichiro, and Kenji Johjima. In the 2010’s they had Hisashi Iwakuma and nothing since. Is Ichiro’s legacy in Seattle that intimidating that no other Japanese players want to play there?
The former Japanese owners had a lot to do with that. Stanton has no connections to Japan other than he bought a team that used to sign Japanese stars.
Chester – Exactly!
It’s like the Red Sox had a strong DR pipeline going back when Lucky was running the show, That was over a decade ago. Guys like Juan Soto are not gonna sign with the Red Sox just because their childhood heroes played for them long ago. Right now it’s the opposite, DR players stay away from the Red Sox because of how badly they treat players like Raffy.
But Howard Lincoln is still around, he is/was a Nintendo exec, and Ichiro still pops up occasionally.
I think the problem is more that Seattle has been bad since Ichiro retired, and the Stanton’s ownership group has been cheap, so they haven’t been able to compete on Japanese free agents.
The team is now better and the owners apparently more willing to spend, so those obstacles are cleared
Chester- but given their demographics youd think ownership would be a little apt to even overpay.
Fever, just stop. The top free agents are staying away fros the Bosox is due to the no spending or lowball offers. Plays always say, “show me the money.”
bob – I totally agree the Red Sox cheapness is a big factor, but there’s been situations where the Sox did offer the most money and still lost out.
@Rsox – Don’t forget the Mariners signed SP Yusei Kikuchi from Japan and he played with the team from 2019-2021. 👍
I did forget about Kikuchi. Still though it is surprising how little impact the Mariners have in Japan today, even with Ichiro in the front office
Modesi – Good Lord man. I had almost successfully forgotten the disaster that was Yusei Kikuchi.
That was more back in the day of Nintendo being majority owner. Stanton seems to be far more conscious of Mariners’ payroll now that there is less Nintendo money.
The pirates can pay more AAV and have more years. Boras better make him take the most $
Boras already has deployed his navy and has them strategically placed on Japan’s shores. Okamoto will now doubt bend to his will…
Let’s go, M’s, get me that contest point!
(That said, still wanted him for the Yanks, but it was always doubtful)
@Sal- looks like Yankee off-season might be complete. You really never know? Not too optimistic at this point.
lol it’s definitely not complete. No doubt about it. Whether its big or small free agents or a trade or two, for sure this offseason isn’t done.
Sal what do you mean by ‘contest point’ ?
Looks like that Fat Boys are about ready to explode.
How many $30M & $40M contracts can they consume?
They are getting too fat to move…and it’s not even February 17th yet.
In a few years, congenital heart failure for their fans….
Unless, of course, they adjust the CBA….
Spend as much or little as you want but suffer franchise altering draft punishments. That would be my solution. I wouldn’t let the Dodgers or Marlins pick until like the 5th round.
I like it!
This is probably more due diligence than anything.
I don’t see Seattle gambling tens of millions of dollars on a non-experienced MLB bat at a position where they have a solid internal option.
And then there’s Emerson.
Solid internal options???
Amateur I missing someone?
They have a prospect in Emerson. But a prospect can never be considered a solid option. Even can’t miss prospects. And Emerson is a good prospect but he’s not a can’t miss.
And then they have young and Williamson I guess. Young being a Fringe prospect who, if every single card ends up in his favor, and everything else falls exactly in his favor, he ends up a league average starter.
As for Williamson, I’d say if he had every single thing go in his favor too, he ends up a backup, “give the starting 3rd bagger a few Sundays off.
Williamson, with his defense giving him a high floor and adjustments made in AAA, make him a solid option. Why do you think Seattle has been targeting a second baseman, rather than a third baseman?
that’s because of Emerson, not Williamson. Williamson isn’t a Major League caliber hitter.
Emerson is a shortstop for the time being.
Williamson barely got his feet wet in AAA (60 PAs) before he was promoted out of necessity and he slashed ..253/.294/.310. That’s not great, but for a guy thrown to the wolves?
Upon being optioned to AAA, he worked on a cleaner, more compact swing with a better LA.
Over his last 164 PAs in AAA he slashed .343/.427/.529 with a 12.2 BB% and an identical 12.2 K% and a 142 wRC+.
He isn’t going to dominate like that in MLB, but that’s a large enough sample to believe he can offer an average bat with his elite defense and be a, yes, solid option.
I’d prefer they give him the opportunity than invest the rest of their remaining budget into a player who hasn’t played in MLB and may have a real issue adjusting to MLB fast balls 94 or higher.
Agreed 110%. Just checking the pulse.
Dipoto trying to spite the Angels.
@freedom. Definitely bad blood with the angels he gave arte a ultimatum and they canned him. Probably boras playing games doesn’t seem like teams are willing to spend unless they are holding out for the top 5. The Japanese free agents got considerably less
Today should confirm it but, sure appears that the shine wore off this years crop of Japanese players.
@oldgfan. Yeah seems like it. Although okamoto isn’t that bad of fielder probably a 1st baseman. He might be getting more offers than Murakami.
I’m sticking to Mariners. 3/36
@oldgfan. Im sticking with angels. He would be able to atleast try 3rd or left field. Some teams would probably stick him at DH diminishing his value, but I guess at the sometime this is probably his last deal.
Im going Mariners, 2/24 with opt outs.
Dipoto wasn’t fired, he resigned.
@stevil. He said it was him or mike, and he resigned. Technically the samething. They just made it look nicer.
And apparently Jerry put a curse on the Angels on his way out the door. Arte just needs to say 10 Hail Jerrys and add back ‘of Anaheim’ to end the curse, but he’s too stubborn and cheap.
Even if that was exactly what was said, that would show that Dipoto was the one in control of his future.
So, no, it’s not the same thing. He could have stuck around and put up with the BS in LA, but he chose to leave.
@stevil. It was said. So technically on paper it wasn’t, but if someone said its me or him, and they chose the manager. They fired him. I guess you believe the manager resigning for personal reasons citing it was too stressful and getting a job two weeks later. Idc im just reading between the lines.
Or he’s trying to improve his team that came within a game of making the World Series
If the Mariners get him with opt-outs like Imai, that would be good for both parties. Okamoto would fit into the DH/3B/1B type of role and wouldn’t really block any youngsters or lock us into a long-term contract. Suarez would fill a similar role but would probably cost more and require multiple years.
How would an opt-out be good for Seattle? If he’s good, they’d lose him. If he’s bad, they’d be stuck with him.
I guess I’m just really confident in Okamoto’s hitting ability translating to the MLB so to me it’s essentially a one-year contract. That being said, I also don’t think Okamoto is good enough to be a star so I’m not particularly concerned about only having him for one year. In addition, his best position is likely DH and those guys I’d rather have on short-term deals anyway.
Opt-outs are a one-sided contract. If the player is good he leaves. If not, the team is stuck paying for additional years of a bad or injured player.
Less risk of injury with Okamato than with the Astros and Imai though….
While opt-outs tend to favor the player, there are real benefits to the club as well. Typically that involves less long-term risk and adding a player they may not be able to normally compete for. For a 29-year-old Japanese player, I’m fine risking a 3-yr contract with opt-outs over a 6-yr guaranteed contract. Worst case, we get Okamoto during his prime years. As for injuries, they can happen to anyone and he’s been pretty healthy for his career.
exactly. And perhaps more importantly, Seattle doesn’t believe in opt-outs. They’ve never done one and I doubt they ever will.
Skubal, Rogers, Clark, Keith and Greene for Kirby, JRod, Kade or Sloan and other prospects in the 10-30 range to even it out.
Tigers get a worthy Skubal replacement in Kirby and a star to build around in JRod (like when they got Cabrera) plus some good pitching prospects and minors fliers. Tigers sign a 3B replacement. Seattle fills their needs (backup C, 2B, JRod replacement now and later)and Skubal has Seattle links and may be amenable to signing there.
No thanks on this trade idea. Fail to see how this works for the Tigers. The “sign a 3B replacement” is laughable when you consider we don’t even have an average 3B now. I don’t understand why Scott is hoarding 2B prospects when a handful of teams could use a decent player/prospect.
That would be why you sign a 3B wouldn’t it? P.S. I think Keith will have better numbers than Bregman this year.
You tell me why this wouldn’t work for the Tigers.
Agree on the 2B prospects. I agree with the recent article that said they should leverage that surplus for a comparable young pitcher because the upper minor leagues are looking at bit bare right now.
lol that’s cute
I was bored 😉
That just made my Mt Rushmore of worst trade proposals ever. Comically bad deal for the Mariners.
Are you suggesting the Mariners would trade 8 years of Julio for 1 year of Skubal?
In order to score a backup C and fill a couple holes?
Ummhhh…I’m pretty sure there were a whole bunch of other names in the post on both sides so no, I wasn’t suggesting that.
Keith has a lengthy contract he signed recently. Clark is one of the top prospects in baseball and pksys CF. Not sure if you’ve ever heard of this Riley Greene guy 😉 Nout sure why your sole focus amongst the other names is on Jake Rogers the backup catcher?
Ya’ll can keep Riley Greene and his wiggling eyebrows, J-Rod isn’t going anywhere!
Motor City there is no way in hell that would work. We get Skubal for a year and Greene for what? Two more years? Greene may strike out too much and never reach his ceiling. Keith could be all field and no hit, hasn’t proven anything yet but being good at getting hurt. That leaves us with Max Clark. Whooopie. You would have to add all your top five prospects to that haul plus Kerry Carpenter and it still wouldn’t work. You must have been hungover when you came up with that one.
Hungover? I don’t think he’s sobered up if anything. Honestly, one of the worst proposals I’ve seen here and that’s saying something.
Yeah, the Mariners make a ton of sense in my opinion. They need more offense. And as the article should have highlighted a little more strongly, there are clear at bats available at DH. They could still let Young and Emerson (and Williamson) compete for at bats at 2B and 3B. If all goes well, there’s still plenty of room to get Okamoto at bats by rotating him, Naylor, and Arozarena through 1B/LF/DH, and keeping all 3 fresh. If the young guys aren’t ready to produce offensively at the ML level, then you’ve brought in another good option for 3B at bats. This is a no-brainer imo.
If I’m reading this right and my math is correct, if you keep all four of them on the roster someone has to go, probably either Raley or Canzone. If by competing for ABs you mean in Spring Training, then that’s not the case, but they can’t all stay.
Luke Raley and his .631 OPS (2025) are unlikely to be on the opening day roster. He’s not standing in the way of any move.
He’s set to earn $1.3M in arbitration, but could be traded or release. If they release him during spring training they only pay him 30% of that $1.3M.
Could probably trade Raley for a teams 30-40 prospect, or a meh ML lefty reliever, if they are sold on him rebounding and being (somewhat) defensively versatile.
possibly, if another team really likes Raley….but I expect it to more of a DFA or a deal for a low-level prospect.
Makes no sense actually so they shouldn’t have highlighted it. They don’t need people chewing up Raleigh’s DH at bats. They’re not really hot on benching a switch hitter who hit 60 hrs and don’t want him catching 162 games. There’s 40-50 games he’ll be first up in the DH rotation, guaranteed.
Red Sox swoop in and get Okamoto signed at the last minute after Bregman turns down 3yrs $110m guaranteed with a 4th year team option.
Good. Put those Jays rumours to bed.
Arrenando to angels
I expect we may get the answer today where Okamoto is going (possibly Takahashi as well). Once Okamoto is off the board Bregman and Bichette shouldn’t be far behind
according to Devine Sports Gospel the Pirates will announce the signing of Okamato tomorrow
Saw that too. I’ve never heard of the guy so not thinking too much of it.
he’s a podcaster in San Diego
Devine is such a drag. Also failed Domer coach
That “source” has the same tweet out for every team lol
He’s a internet troll
Might be news to Okamoto since he just signed with the Blue Jays
Wasn’t Arrenando a hit for ABBA in the 70s?
Lady Gaga penned a saga about her too. She was a big Atlanta brave fan as a child and was inspired by Al Pena marching in like a matador from the pen.
Yes, and it’s a very catchy song. Sometimes it gets stuck in your head and you can’t help singing it in the shower or alone in the car “Ohhhhhhhh, Ohhhhhhhhh Arenandoooooh….”
A team that was one bad pitch away from the WS last year that basically had Young and Williamson at 2B and 3B for most of the year. Having Okamoto or Suarez as a primary DH plus a full year of Naylor seems like a giant leap forward from last year. And allows them allow Young and Williamson to work things out at the MLB level.
Just to state the obvious: the guy has the arm for 3b, why couldn’t he play RF?
Bookbook: evidently, things have changed in terms of outfielders. Right fielders play right field and left fielders play left field and never the twain shall meet. Sounds kooky to me, too.
Yeah, Zippy. I’ve noticed a few examples of that lately. The most glaring example to me is the Dodgers playing Teoscar Hernandez in RF when they should be hiding his glove in left.
Okamoto as a DH and backup 1B/3B is fine. I have no problem with Ben Williamson as the everyday 3B. If fans would stop only looking at the offense numbers, they’d see a 99th percentile defender who bails out his pitching staff time and again. And his AAA offensive numbers, after being sent down, were terrific, even for AAA. If the DH is Raleigh once a week, Refsnyder against lefties, and Okamoto the rest of the time, It’s not a bad way to go. But RF is a bit of a zoo, with Canzone and Raley and Robles duplicating each other, so I see at least one of them getting traded.
The Ms do not need anybody else to DH. Signing (and overpaying for) Refsnyder gives them the short side of a platoon DH (which should no longer be a position on an MLB roster anyway). Sure he can occasionally play OF (although not well), but since all three starting OFs bat righty, it’s unlikely he will. They have Canzone and Raley as lefty DH/OF/1B. Not clear they really needed both, but they decided to go to arbitration with Raley. Most important, they should be giving Raleigh more, not less, DH ABs. He appeared 38 times as a DH last season and with Garver and Harry Ford gone (they shouldn’t have traded him), to be replaced by Knizer (!) it looks like Raleigh is destined for even more work behind the plate. There’s a reason no catcher has hit 60 HRs before: if you’re good enough to hit 60 HRs, your health shouldn’t be risked with 140+ games behind the plate. If you think Okamoto can be an everyday 3B, then he’s a fine replacement for Suarez, who basically is a home run hitter who doesn’t hit them at T-Mobile. Second base should be fine between Cole Young and Colt Emerson. But if you’re signing Okamoto with a plan to get meaningful DH ABs, that’s another off-season Mariner mistake..
all that babbling….and somehow you think Victor Robles is the M’s starting right-fielder?
Well for somebody from the Bronx you certainly have a lot of opinions about the Mariners. I’m trying to finish up my five paragraph essay on the Yankees offseason but they’re not giving me much material yet so I’m stuck.
The Ms don’t know what they have in Canzone, Raley, Robles, Bliss, Williamson, Emerson, or Young. Which is why Donovan is such a nice fit (especially if he batted right-handed).
The post of death. Ms definitely not getting him now.
That’s okay plenty of other options both external and internal. Blue Jays think they can just buy their way to a World Series , but it takes more than just a loaded checkbook. It takes brains as well, and that’s something Ross Atkins lacks in abundance.
Weren’t they in the WS last year? Asking for a friend
The Blue Jays gelled and played well together for four months last year. They also drew a lot of black jacks and threw a lot of Yahtzees.
This may sound a little nuts, but I’d like to see the Angels sign Okamoto to play 1B, move Schanuel to LF, and then trade for Brendan Donovan and Nolan Arenado. The Angels would need to take on more of Arenado’s contract, especially with Donovan included, but that’s probably the only way it works given how limited their trade capital is. This approach lets them upgrade multiple spots while mostly keeping their existing young pieces intact
Welp, Okamato is now gone… but yoyr theory on Arenadoband Donovan are way off. There is literally a ZERO percent change that the Cardinals trade donovan to the angels. They will eat a ton of arendaos contract to trade him there, but you dont have the farm system for Donovan
I get that but as I said the Angels would need to take on more of the contract. If your Cards want to eat $35 million I would trade a bucket of balls for him. There should be no motivation to trade for him. We already dumped a 3b we don’t need your problem.
I predict he go Canada
Lol
M’s won’t have to worry about him anymore now that the Blue Jays have signed him.
The Mariners get beat by the Blue Jays again.
How many devalued loonies was that?