BOLD: Red Sox Signing Japanese SUPERSTARS Okamoto & Murakami After FAILING With Alonso & Schwarber?

BOLD: Red Sox Signing Japanese SUPERSTARS Okamoto & Murakami After FAILING With Alonso & Schwarber?

Pete Alonzo gone. Kyle Schwarber gone. Still with us on God’s green earth, but not playing for the Boston Red Sox. And so there’s your first your top two guys on the free agent market that are off the board. And so now it comes time to re-evaluate what are the Red Sox priorities in this critical off season. I’ll give you the top four right now. Fourth on the list and one that I did not think I would be putting on here at the beginning of the off season, but with time comes necessity. Number four on the list sign Kazuma Okamoto from the NPB. There are two big names for NPB hitters looking to make that transition to the majors this year. They’re Kazuma Okamoto and Munitaka Morakami. And one of those guys looks way more attractive to the Red Sox and Red Sox fans than the other. But they’re both getting big buzz. And actually Murakami is the one that is getting more of the buzz. Like this is the Japanese Kyle Schwarber coming to play stateside in MLB. I mean big hulking slugger. It’s a guy who set the NPB single season home run record with 56 homers. Broke Sadaru O’s record. That’s a big deal. But he did it back in 2022 when he was a 22-year-old. And since then, we have seen some major red flags from Morakami. Okay? He’s a horrible defender. He started his career, was drafted as a catcher, moved to third base, and now he projects to play first base in MLB, which in MLB terms means he’s a designated hitter. Like that’s that’s what he is. And the Red Sox need guys who can play in the field. They have a guy they signed out of the NPB who doesn’t have a position, and that’s Masataka Yoshida. But at least Morakami can hit homers, right? Yes, he can. But what he can’t hit is fast balls. He’s hit about 150 against VO higher than 93 miles an hour since the beginning of the 2024 season. Oof. He’s got a strikeout rate that’s 31% for his career. Oof. In a league where the movement and the velocity are better than it is in Japan and the pitchers aren’t pitching to contact as much as they do in Japan. That’s going to be a major struggle for whatever team gets Morakami. Maybe he could end up being a Seya Suzuki. And that’s a good player. I really like Sey Suzuki. I wish the Red Sox had gotten him actually at the time. But I don’t know if that’s really the risk that’s worth taking for something that’s going to cost you over $und00 million when it comes to Murakami’s contract and the posting that you will have to send to his team in Japan. That gets us back to the original guy that we’re making this this segment about, and that is Kazuma Okamoto. That’s one that is way more attractive, I think, to the Red Sox and Red Sox fans. He doesn’t have the same problems quite as much against velocity. He doesn’t have the same problems purely making contact that Murakami has. Uh but he is a few years older. Murakami’s 26, Okamoto 29, more of a traditional first baseman, which Red Sox will take it. That’s what they need. Um and his contract projection though is set to be a lot cheaper. Four years for $64 million. And this guy can hit for some power. 30 home runs in six of his 11, yes, 11 seasons in NPB. Like, this guy’s played a lot of professional baseball. Not at the level of MLB, sure, but a lot of professional baseball. Had a kind of injury shortened season last year, only 77 games, OPS of 992 in those games. And the best part, dead pole right-handed hitter. like you are getting in a in a lot of ways the Japanese Pete Alonzo if you sign Kazuma Okamoto. Now that’s not the guarantee of the Major League Baseball Pete Alonzo which you could have actually gotten if you had sacked up a little bit. But if that was a player that you like and you’re willing to go with a 4-year deal for someone who’s about to hit age 30 rather than a five-year deal for someone who’s gone over age who’s already past age 30, then Okamoto could be your solution there. I don’t know if the Red Sox like either one of those scenarios and it’s a major risk going and getting someone from Japan. Uh obviously we have seen some that have worked out tremendously. you know, Yamamoto in the World Series. Imminaga’s had a good uh career. Sey Suzuki’s had a good career. And of course, the big one, the biggest win ever from Japan is Shi Otani. But for each one of those, you’re getting some Sawamoras, some Yoshidas, uh some Kodai Senas somewhere in the middle. So, this is a big risk to get anyone from Japan. But Okamoto like that big hulking right-handed swing at Fenway Park that will have Red Sox fans absolutely salivating. So number four on the list signed Kazuma Okamoto. Clearly it’s not at the top of their priorities. But let’s move closer to that. Number three top priority for the Red Sox in this off season. Now trade Jiren Durant to the Kansas City Royals for Cole Reagan’s. This one feels like a little bit of a weird one to bring up now from what we’ve learned in the last week because the Royals have literally said that the price for Durant is too high and they believe that that price is going to be giving up Cole Reagan’s and so that’s something that showed they didn’t want to do this deal. But that does not mean this kind of deal is dead because the good news is they want Jiren Duran. That has become clear. They have not been shy about that. there’s real interest from Kansas City for Jiren Durant and we know that team control that he’s got for another couple of years uh becomes very sexy uh for a lot of other teams. Now both these guys we’re talking about here, Duran and Reagan’s both have a handful of years at least of team control. So they’re both relatively cheap. I think Duran is just under 8 million and Reagan’s is about 12 million. The other good news is this. The Red Sox have more to offer than Jiren Durant. And this is where I think kind of the the discourse is is really interesting around Durant in this off seasonason. You know, we went over a lot of the trade packages that these publications are putting out and they’re all centered around just Jiren Durant going somewhere. And I think the Red Sox can put together a package with Durant and other players, specifically prospects, because that’s how you’re getting major league arms. and put together quite a good offer here. Like you look at I I I didn’t like the Luis Parales trade that they just made for Jake Bennett, but if you had thrown him in a deal like this, I would have absolutely signed off for sending Luis Parales and Jiren Durant for someone like Cole Reagan’s. That said, you could sweeten the pot with someone like David Sandlin, another top 10 prospect in your system, right-handed pitcher, ready to make the jump to the major leagues. probably spent the last couple of months of last season in AAA, albeit struggling in AAA, but it’s a guy who could still touch 100. He’s got a great um has a great strikeout per nine rate, more than a strikeout per inning. And that’s one that and he’s one guy that the Royals actually drafted. So, you know that they would have some interest in David Sandlin. More likely though, they’re going to ask for someone like Payton or Connelly Early. Uh and that might be a stretch for the Red Sox. And I know a lot of Red Sox fans that might feel like a bit of a stretch, but it’s probably the price of doing business. Um, that said, when we talked with Brian Burroughs yesterday, he made the great point that the Red Sox are in a position that they can take a risk here on a trade because they’ve got a lot of tradable assets. they are ready to win and they’ve still got a fairly solid rotation. Even if they don’t bring in a number two, um it’s not good enough to win in the playoffs if you don’t bring in a number two. You’re you’re counting on Garrett Crochet to have another Sai Young caliber season. You’re counting on Brian Beao to repeat his career best season. Um and you’ve replaced Lucas Gilito with Sunonny Gray. Um, but if they aren’t going to risk on free agents, risking on a trade like this would be the next best thing because let’s let’s also be clear here. Reagan’s is a risk as well. He’s one of the most dominant pitchers in all of MLB in 2024 when he was healthy when he finished fourth in the Sai Young voting that year. But the injuries are a concern. The guy is absolutely nasty when he’s out there, but the injuries are definitely a concern. And outside of 2024, he’s never pitched 100 innings in the major leagues and this would be his third organization. Can an experiment like that work two years in a row? You took a risk on Garrett Crochet last year who hadn’t pitched more than 164 innings and that worked out. Can it work out two years in a row? Because when Reagan is out there, he’s absolutely disgusting. Disgusting. 10.8 strikeouts per nine in his last full season. And it was over 14 strikeouts per nine in his 61 innings before he got hurt last year. So, I mean, the dude can absolutely shove an absolute pig. Would be a perfect number two next to Garrett Crochet in a playoff series. Speaking of that particular role, number two behind Garrick Crochet in a playoff series. Number two on the list, trade for Joe Ryan and a deal that in a package that probably is highlighted by Jiren Durant or William Abrau. Now, I know that this has come up a lot. Some Red Sox fans are sick of hearing about it because it didn’t work out at the trade deadline. That does not mean this deal is done. But it is starting to get weird this whole situation. Like I think Joe Ryan is an absolute perfect fit for the Red Sox and for this rotation. Um his swing and miss stuff is still there. Right-handed pitcher, you know, to complement your your lefty ace and Garrick Crochet. Just love the prospects that he brings with him to this organization. Um but this is weird because nobody knows what Minnesota is doing. Like that’s what’s kind of held everything up. Like the Twins were clearly packing it in at the trade deadline last year. They traded 10 guys and none of them were Joe Ryan, their best tradable asset. Um that was that didn’t have a no trade clause like Byron Buckton, but we’ll get to him in a second. Uh so like clearly they’re not going to contend in the next two years at least. So, if you’re blowing this thing up, why not trade Joe Ryan? Michael King has gone back to San Diego. Dylan CE is going to Toronto. I just don’t think there’s any team in the market for a 30-year-old starter that can offer as good a package as the Red Sox can. Like, you’re talking either Jiren Durant or William Rayu. guys who were costcrolled major leaguers, successful major leaguers, right? You’re talking about a guy in Durant who finished top 10 in the MVP voting in 24. Will you rebrau two gold gloves in two seasons and a power hitter to boot like that? That is a really attractive offer right off the bat. And then apparently they Red Sox boalked at that in July going for either one of those guys because they were in a stretch run. now you have time to replace them if you actually go and send one of them out right now. Um so you get an everyday outfielder with team control and then you’re looking at someone like Ptoni or Connelly early. U and I think the Red Sox would be more than willing to trade one of those guys if Joe Ryan is the return. And both of those pitchers have shown real promise in the major leagues already. They’re not just prospects. They’ve gone to the major leagues and they’ve pitched well. And here’s another thing. If you want to get really crazy, if you want to get so insane you’re about to hang up the phone, hear me out here. You can trade Jiren Durant and William Abrau. One of those two pitchers, Connelly Earlier, Payton Tolley, and someone like Christian Campbell or Marcelo Meyer to get Joe Ryan and Byron Buckton. Buckston is apparently willing to wave his no trade clause because the Twins are not contending and he’s 31 years old and he’s coming off maybe his best season in the majors. He’s coming off a 35 home run season. It would be absolutely massive, massive, showstoppping kind of stuff. But it does help out both sides in incredible fashion. both teams win that trade if everyone stays healthy. More likely though, it’s just going to be for Joe Ryan and he’s still the best guy on the market in terms of a number two starter who’s actually on the market. You’re not getting TKO. Um, and I don’t think they’re paying for Ranger Suarez. So, if you’re looking for that number two starter, the most likely option would be Joe Ryan from Minnesota. Which takes us to our number one priority for the Red Sox in this off season, and that of course is resign Alex Bregman. Don’t overthink it. That is your number one priority right now. And apparently the market has heated up more than you thought it would a week ago. The Diamondbacks sounds like have real interest there and they’re willing to go six years. And that is frightening for Red Sox fans. If if someone is actually realistically offering six years, he is going to that team. He is not going the Red Sox are not going to sign him for a six-year deal. Whether that’s right or wrong, they are not going to do it. But don’t overthink this. He should be your number one priority here. He is still a gold glove stop defender at third base. Uh greatly improves your infield defense. He was a terrific hitter when he was on the field last year in two different long spurts before the injury and then right after the injury. Um he’s still a guy who who has the most postseason experience not only on your team but of pretty much anyone in Major League Baseball. You know, he’s played over a 100red postseason games. He’s been to the World Series four times. He is a great presence, veteran presence in your uh in your clubhouse for a guy like Roman Anthony. He is your manager’s favorite player. So, it really doesn’t go any farther than this. Like, we’ve talked about Alex Bregman at Nauseium. All right? Like, I don’t need to get in this full detailed report like I need to with Okamoto or someone like that. You know, Alex Bregman, we loved Alex Bregman and he would be a terrific fit once again. in the middle of this order. And more importantly, if you don’t resign Alex Bregman, it sends another clear message to your fan base. And despite how much we love Roman Anthony and how much we love Garrett Crochet, if you’re sending another message like that to your fan base, they’re not going to be around for long. They don’t want to put up with this anymore. And it is It is total Everyone that’s contending in Major League Baseball is running their organization differently than the Red Sox are. And if they don’t resign Alex Bregman, which is no foregone conclusion, like it like they tried to make it out to be a couple of weeks ago, like it’s no foregone conclusion that you’re going to resign him because his wife likes Boston. And if they don’t do that, you’re once again sending a message to your fans that’s that’s saying, “Hey, everyone sees how winning baseball clubs are running their organization. We don’t want to do it that way. Hope you understand. Hope you’re willing to pay over a hundred bucks to just to get into our ballpark.” I don’t think it’ll be the case. I don’t think it will be. I don’t think people will be interested in paying the highest ticket prices in all of Major League Baseball if they don’t resign Alex Bregman. But let me know what you think. What are the priorities for the Red Sox? Specifically, the players that are priorities for the Red Sox in this off season. Let me know in the comments section below. Be sure to like the video, subscribe to the channel. We come at you live on YouTube every weekday noon Eastern time and then we’re available wherever you get your podcasts as well. Your lunchtime alternative to Boston Sports Talk Radio. It’s right here on the Wicked Boston Show with Cam Stewart.

⚾ Red Sox Offseason Reset | Wicked Boston Show w/ Cam Stuart ⚾

After missing out on Pete Alonso and Kyle Schwarber, Cam Stuart lays out the Red Sox’s new offseason priority list and what comes next for Boston. With power bats off the board, Cam explains why the Sox may need to pivot internationally, targeting one of the elite Japanese sluggers from the NPB — Munetaka Murakami or Kazuma Okamoto.

Cam also dives into the pitching side of the equation, breaking down potential impact trades for frontline arms like Cole Ragans or Joe Ryan, and why acquiring a true ace has become even more urgent. Are the Red Sox finally ready to think big, or are they once again setting themselves up for half-measures?

This segment is a must-watch for anyone tracking Boston’s offseason direction and long-term competitiveness.

👇 Like, subscribe, and comment — which move should be Boston’s top priority: a Japanese power bat or a blockbuster pitching trade?

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