The Pittsburgh Pirates have been linked to Kazuma Okamoto for a while now, but it’s starting to feel like it might not end with him being in Pittsburgh.

The interest has been real, according to many reports, so the conversations have happened, but as the process continues, it feels like many other teams are in the mix to land him now.

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Okamoto must sign by Sunday, Jan. 4.

Alex Stumpf of MLB.com discussed where things currently stand, adding that while the Pirates have been involved, he’s not too optimistic.

“I mean, they have been involved the entire time,” Stumpf said. “Like ever since he’s been posted, they’ve had conversations, they’ve had virtual meetings, as Colin Beazley of the Post-Gazette pointed out, but as it stands right now, I’m less than optimistic that they’re going to be able to land him.

“It doesn’t mean that it’s impossible. They are still involved, they are still in the running. It’s not like, they signed O’Hearn, so therefore they have to go out on him or anything like that. It’s just that I think it’s more of a longshot at this time.”

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Being involved isn’t the same as being in a position to land him.

When it comes to international signings or any big-time bats, Pittsburgh has historically struggled to beat out larger-market teams or organizations that are contending.

Okamoto will have a decision to make, and that decision likely includes teams that can offer both money and an immediate competitive outlook.

The Pirates have signed some impressive offensive players, so we should be happy in that regard, but Okamoto would be an incredible addition.

According to Mike Axisa of CBS Sports, however, while the Pirates are interested, so are other teams.

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“Among the teams interested in Japanese first baseman Kazuma Okamoto are the Angels, Padres, and Pirates, reports BeisbolFR. Okamoto’s 45-day posting window closes at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, Jan. 4. There is some thought he is more likely to hit right away in the big leagues than Munetaka Murakami, who signed a two-year deal worth $34 million with the White Sox last week,” he wrote.