*This is a prediction*
One of the bigger questions in MLB free agency is where Kazuma Okamoto is going to end up signing. While a lot of people don’t have the Los Angeles Angels on their radar, this could be the move they need to make.
If you’ve been keeping up with baseball, you know just how rough the past few years have been for the Angels. Despite having Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani on their roster at the same time, this organization has never really made much noise.
In fact, the last time the Angels even made the playoffs was in 2014. The last time they won 85 games was back in 2015.
These statements speak for themselves, and it’s clear the Angels need to make some changes. Here’s the full breakdown on why the Angels should go out and sign Okamoto in MLB free agency.
More MLB Content From TWSN:
Kazuma Okamoto Signs With the Toronto Blue Jays
Bryce Harper Traded to Chicago Cubs in Huge MLB Trade Pitch
Tarik Skubal Will Be Traded to the Houston Astros
Kazuma Okamoto Joining Los Angeles Angels in MLB Free Agency
Previously, we broke down another prediction from Ryan Finkelstein of Just Baseball that had Okamoto heading to the Seattle Mariners. Here’s my brief rundown on Okamoto from that article.
“Okamoto has a ton of experience, playing 11 seasons of professional baseball already. There’s not much more room for development with Okamoto, so he should provide an MLB team with an immediate impact…Last season, Okamoto played in 77 games where he had 15 home runs, a .322 batting average, and a .411 OBP.”
While Okamoto likely won’t turn into the next big thing in the MLB, he projects out to be a really good starter. Even though Okamoto is a bit older, 29 years old isn’t the worst thing in the world.
How Kazuma Okamoto Fits in Los Angeles
Now, if you want to argue that Okamoto isn’t a good fit for the Angels because of their team build, that’s understandable. Last year, the Angels won just 72 games, however, that was actually a big improvement from 2023, when they won just 63 games.
The point is that the Angels need to stop worrying about everything being perfect and just make their team as good as possible. When you haven’t made the playoffs since 2014, getting into the postseason or at least close is extremely valuable.
That’s not to say the Angels should only sign veterans, but Okamoto is going to be productive for years to come still.
Per Fangraphs, Denzer Guzman is the projected starter at third base for 2026. Guzman is only 21 years old, so it doesn’t rule out a possible return to the lineup in the future.
However, this isn’t necessarily someone you feel great betting on over Okamoto. According to Baseball Reference, Guzman is projected for eight home runs, a .249 batting average, and .312 OBP in 222 plate appearances.
Kazuma Okamoto Contract
In terms of what kind of contract Okamoto could see, here’s what Jay Staph of Just Baseball had to say.
“Projected Contract Length: 3-5 years…Projected AAV: $12-$17 million”
This seems extremely reasonable based on everything we talked about above. It’s not a cheap deal, but it’s very affordable for the Angels, and the fit makes sense.
Despite not looking like a playoff team right now, the Los Angeles Angels should still be active in MLB free agency and sign Kazuma Okamoto.