Will Kazuma Okamoto, who has challenged Major League Baseball, make his big league debut with the Los Angeles Angels like Shohei Ohtani?
Okamoto has tapped 'the devil's agent' Scott Boras as his representative and is seeking to enter MLB through posting. Okamoto's posting window closes at 7 a.m. on Jan. 5 (5 p.m. on Jan. 4 local U.S. time). One week remains.
Nikan Sports of Japan reported on the 29th, According to multiple people, the Los Angeles Angels, San Diego Padres and Pittsburgh Pirates are actively in contact with Okamoto's agent Boras.
The outlet said, In terms of geography the Angels and Padres have the advantage, but neither team is in a position to engage in a high-dollar money battle. Pittsburgh is a small market, and it said the Boston Red Sox, who are negotiating to retain Alex Bregman, and the Toronto Blue Jays, who could re-sign Bo Bichette, are interested in Okamoto as a backup option.
U.S. outlet MLB Trade Rumors estimated Okamoto's price at $64 million aggregates over four years (about 91.9 billion won). Earlier, home run king Munetaka Murakami signed a short-term two-year $34 million (about 49.1 billion won) deal with the Chicago White Sox that fell far short of expectations because of defensive and strikeout weaknesses.
Okamoto, who served as the cleanup hitter for the Yomiuri Giants in Japan, played in 1,074 games in Japan with a .277 batting average, 1,089 hits, 248 home runs, 717 RBIs, 574 runs and an OPS of .882. He had 796 strikeouts and 481 walks. He hit 30 or more homers in six consecutive seasons from 2018 through 2023. He strikes out less than Murakami and has good contact skills. This season he played in 69 games due to injury but hit .327 (82-for-251) with 15 home runs, 49 RBIs, 38 runs, a .416 on-base percentage, a .598 slugging percentage and a 1.014 OPS.
◆LA Angels
Third baseman Anthony Rendon signed a seven-year free agent contract with the Angels worth $245 million aggregates (about 355 billion won), and 2026 is the final year of that contract. Rendon's salary next year is $38 million (about 55 billion won).
The Angels want Rendon, who has been called the worst free-agent flop, to retire, but even with a buyout negotiation they would have to bear a huge sum. If Rendon retires, rookie Cristian Moore, who hit seven home runs this year, would be at third base. First base has been occupied by Nolan Schanuel (12 home runs, OPS .742). If Okamoto, who can play both third and first base, puts on an Angels uniform, he could immediately become a core player.
◆San Diego Padres
At third is Manny Machado, who has 369 career home runs and is under contract through 2033. If San Diego acquires Okamoto, he would likely be used at first base. With Luis Arraez becoming a free agent, Gavin Sheets (19 home runs, OPS .746) and Song Seong-moon are candidates for first base and designated hitter. If second baseman Jake Cronenworth moves to first base, Song Seong-moon could play second base.
San Diego signed starting pitcher Michael King to a three-year $75 million free agent contract and signed Song Seong-moon to a guaranteed four-year $15 million (about 22.2 billion won) contract, so it does not seem easy for them to make a large investment.
◆Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh finished 13th among the 15 National League teams. They are reinforcing the infield in the off-season. In a three-team trade they acquired Tampa Bay second baseman Brandon Lowe (31 home runs, OPS .785). They also signed free agent first baseman Ryan O'Hearn to a two-year $29 million (about 42.4 billion won) contract.
If O'Hearn plays as the designated hitter, there is third-year first baseman Holwitz (11 home runs, OPS .787) who played first base this year. Third base saw Jared Triolo (7 home runs, OPS .667) play in the second half after Ke'Bryan Hayes was traded to Cincinnati. Acquiring Okamoto would shore up third base.
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