
Next up: Okamoto.
Kazuma Okamoto makes more contact but has less power than Munetaka Murakami, giving him perhaps a higher floor and lower ceiling. He turns 30 in June, making him about three and a half years older than Murakami. And some evaluators believe he, too, ultimately will wind up moving from third to first base.
So, will Okamato beat the two-year, $34 million free-agent deal Murakami signed with the Chicago White Sox? It certainly is possible, considering that teams seem to consider him a safer bet. But with his 45-day negotiating window expiring on Jan. 4, he is operating in the same crowded infield market.
Signings of free agents such as Bregman and Bichette and trades of third basemen such as Isaac Paredes and Nolan Arenado might create greater clarity for Okamoto, if they happen before Jan. 4. If not, Okamoto, like Murakami, might end up signing with a lesser club. The Pittsburgh Pirates are known to be interested.
Edit: Posted this from the athletic article because it's behind a paywall. The only team that he listed as interested in him seems to be the pirates which is great news for us.
3 comments
Pirates are in on okamoto and rosenthal is hinting that the pirates are going all in on him. Okamoto and lowe are very nice upgrades for us in terms of power and hitting ability next season.
Okamoto 3b
Griffin SS
Lowe 2b
Horwitz 1b with platoon partner potentially.
That’ll 100% work ‘griffin will 100% be up sometime next year so i’m putting him at SS’.
Btw jon heyman also said this about the pirates and okamoto.
Are the Pirates on Okamoto?”
“Yes Absolutely, they could be the team for Okamoto.” –
@JonHeyman
https://x.com/KodyDuncanPGH/status/2003197416967926175
They’ll do nothing and you’ll be happy
Seriously this is just lip service theyre not making any splash signing