The Toronto Blue Jays have bolstered their team with the signing of Japanese third baseman Kazuma Okamoto. On Jan. 3, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan reported, citing sources, that Toronto and Okamoto have agreed on a free-agent contract.
Heading into 2025, Okamoto had recorded 27 or more home runs each season of his career with the Yomiuri Giants. Still, he managed just 15 last year after missing about half the season because of an elbow injury sustained in a collision at first base.
Okamoto offers limited long-term value on defense and is expected to become a regular first baseman, though he mostly played third base in Japan. Still, with 474 career games at first, his adjustment should come relatively smoothly.
With the Blue Jays adding another veteran bat, Jeff Joyce spoke on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM and shared his thoughts on the big move from Toronto.
“They’ve got the big bat in Toronto in Vladdy,” Joyce said on Jan. 3. “They didn’t need to go out and spend 400 million or 300 million on Tucker or some of these other guys. I will be curious to see what the contract is. But yeah, I think adding another solid veteran bat into the mix there.
“Obviously, Vladdy is going to play mostly at first, so you’d assume he’d be over a third, but you can move [Addison] Barger around a little bit. The outfield might be a little crowded out there, but that was what the Blue Jays had last year—a strong lineup top to bottom. You feel like you’re adding another pretty solid bat into the middle of that.”
Blue Jays Urged to Sign Free-Agent Hitter Kyle Tucker
With Okamoto giving Toronto a third baseman or potentially an outfielder, the question is where that leaves the Blue Jays with Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is the face of the franchise, but he needs a running mate in that lineup, and there’s still a chance that Toronto secures one of Tucker and Bichette to play the Robin role.
For “Foul Territory’s” Erik Kratz, the answer is simple: Tucker.
“I think the value of Kyle Tucker added to this lineup outweighs the value of Bo Bichette because once the money’s paid, once we’re over the luxury tax, under the luxury tax, all you have is the product out on the field,” Kratz said on the Jan. 2 edition of “Foul Territory.” “Kyle Tucker will be a better offensive player if both players stay healthy. It’s apples to apples. He’ll be a better offensive contributor to this lineup.”
Blue Jays Defense Improves Under Kyle Tucker
Moreover, when it comes to Toronto filling out its defensive scheme, Tucker allows Blue Jays manager John Schneider more flexibility around the infield, especially now with Okamoto in the fold.
“I also think it makes this lineup and this defensive configuration that the team could put out there a better defense and overall team,“ Kratz added. “If you bring Bo back, we talked about before, does he play second base? And if he does, that’s fine, but now you’re running Ernie Clement at third, more of an offensive position.
“If you would have Barger at third, now you’re talking about more power at third and played well. Barger wouldn’t have to go to right. [Anthony] Santander’s locking down the DH. So, there’s a lot of pieces that move. And I think just, if you’re going player to player, not worrying about the money, Kyle Tucker is the route the Blue Jays should go because he doesn’t need to be the superstar.”
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