The Toronto Blue Jays have officially inked a four-year, $60 million US deal with Japanese infielder Kazuma Okamoto on Sunday. Okamoto, a six-time all-star in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league, had his agreement with the Blue Jays widely publicized on Saturday.
The 29-year-old, who primarily plays third base and first base, boasted a .327 batting average with 15 home runs and 49 RBIs in 69 games for the Yomiuri Giants last season, albeit missing a significant portion of the season due to an elbow injury. Per the MLB’s posting agreement with NPB, the Blue Jays are required to pay the Giants a posting fee of $10,875,000.
Okamoto is set to receive a $5 million signing bonus, a $7 million salary for the current year, and $16 million annually for the subsequent three seasons. Given Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s presence at first base, Okamoto is anticipated to primarily feature at third base, potentially displacing Addison Barger, who made 67 starts at the position last season.
Moreover, the addition of Okamoto could prompt positional shifts within the Blue Jays’ lineup, with the potential relocation of Andres Gimenez from second base to shortstop in the absence of re-signing free agent Bo Bichette. Additionally, players such as Ernie Clement and Davis Scheider could see increased playing time at second base.
In a corresponding move, the Blue Jays have designated right-handed pitcher Paxton Schultz for assignment. The team’s recent acquisitions include right-handers Dylan Cease, Cody Ponce, and reliever Tyler Rogers, signaling their commitment to bolstering the roster following a strong performance in the previous season.
Shane Bieber, a right-hander, opted to exercise his $16 million player option for 2026 rather than testing free agency, further solidifying the Blue Jays’ pitching staff for the upcoming seasons.