MLB free agency: What we’re hearing — could the Pirates really land Kazuma Okamoto? Should they?
Post-Gazette Pirates insiders Jason Mackey and Colin Beazley break down the latest rumors behind GM Ben Cherington’s pursuit of free agent Kazuma Okamoto.
What are Jason and Colin hearing? Could the Pirates really be making another splash on the open market? Or will the Japanese star sign with one of the various other teams interested in his services? Would the signing make sense? Do Jason and Colin think it could really happen?
Our duo tackles those topics, then discusses the best Pirates of the quarter-century as 2026 gets underway.
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13 comments
If they strike out on Okomoto, Bohm actually makes sense. He hits for decent average, gets clutch hits, which the Pirates desperately need, and he's been on a winner. The Pirates could also use the bucks for McCutchen or some pitching (late starter or bullpen) help.
that 1b bWAR stat is fn pathetic, good lord
Kinda seems like japanese players are starting to want to spread to other teams though. I know the cubs signed shota and now the white sox have murikami and the Astros have imai. All three of them said they want to beat the dodgers. The giants and angels have already signed their japanese players with the angels signing shohei all those years ago. And not only is it good for mlb teams to tap into the japanese fan market, but also for the player. LA already kinda has their two superstars in yamamoto and ohtani, chicago now has 2, houston has one too. Pittsburgh will get theirs eventually.
Edit. Not to mention san Diego has yu darvish. Theyre not just looking at fit and comfort, theyre also looking at competing AGAINST their fellow japanese rivals.
It also helps that pittsburgh just updated their airport
Part of Okamoto’s choice, aside from the lure of the west coast and direct flights, is does he want to play 3B everyday on a team with something to prove. Does he want to play in front of an absolutely electrified fanbase who will fill this beautiful ballpark in crazed support of team they’ve been awaiting for years. Does he want to be a guy whom these fans will remember for generations in team lore…or does he want play some 1B, some DH , and pick up a nice check to finish in second place 12 games out in the NL West?
Alvarez tore it up at the plate for an HR title for a year or two after leaving the Pirates and going to the Blue Jays
I know the Pirates need a third baseman but Okamoto looks like a glove wizard at first base in his highlight videos.
Sadly almost all of Pirates media has low T and I believe this makes the org get away with weakness
You have to hope the beat writers know how to pronounce names correctly. I mean Brian Giles was a stud for the Buccos and deserves a proper pronunciation.
let's hope the pirates will part with the money it will take to sign Okamoto
How can you not have Jay Bell on that team??!!
If Okamoto doesn't work out, I think Suarez is making more sense based on how his market seems to be developing. I think a two year contract looks a lot more likely since there's so little movement in his FA market and that is a much better bet than the initial three or four year one he'd been projected. Maybe two with a dual option for a third year.
Everyone is forgetting the insane amount of taxes in commiefornia so we might have that going for us
I'll be very surprised if the Pirates sign Okamoto. If they miss on him and then go and sign Cutch back, it'll be a huge letdown after promising results.