The Toronto Blue Jays are showing interest in free agent Japanese slugger Kazuma Okamoto, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
Heyman wrote over the weekend that the Jays are among the organizations eyeing the Yomiuri Giants star and names the Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Red Sox alongside Toronto as teams with interest.
Okamoto, 29, was posted by the Giants of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball on Nov. 20 and has until Jan. 4 to sign with an MLB team.
A first and third baseman who bats from the right side, Okamoto played mostly third base in Japan and would be unlikely to see much time at first with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. locked up long-term. He also has experience playing the outfield.
In 77 games last season for the Giants, Okamoto slashed .322/.411/.581 with 15 home runs and 51 RBI. He’s tallied 248 home runs in his NPB career and hit 30 or more in six straight years from 2018 to 2023, including a career-best 41 two seasons ago. He’s spent his entire 11-year career with the Tokyo-based Giants.
Okamoto is one of a few NPB stars set to join MLB this winter, including Yakult Swallows slugger Munetaka Murakami and Seibu Lions right-hander Tatsuya Imai.