On Wednesday, the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan announced they plan to make corner infielder Kazuma Okamoto available for Major League Baseball teams.
Okamoto, 29, can play third and first base and made his NPB debut as a 19-year-old in 2015. The right-handed hitter is a six-time All-Star and smashed 30 or more home runs in six consecutive seasons from 2018-23. Injuries limited him to 69 games with the Giants’ top team in 2025, but he still managed 15 roundtrippers with a .327/.416/.598 slash line and a 1.014 OPS.
Once posted, Okamoto’s free agency market should heat up quickly. MLB’s 30 clubs will have 45 days to negotiate a contract with the three-time Central League home run champion. With Paul Goldschmidt likely departing the New York Yankees in free agency, general manager Brian Cashman and the rest of the front office may have their eyes on the NPB star.
The Yankees May Need a First Baseman
Ben Rice is ready to become the Yankees‘ everyday first baseman. Still, the Yankees may seek a right-handed power bat this winter, and Okamoto fits the bill.
“American baseball fans got a glimpse of Okamoto’s power during the 2023 World Baseball Classic championship game, when he homered for Samurai Japan off Team USA’s Kyle Freeland in the bottom of the fourth inning,” MLB.com’s Thomas Harrigan wrote Wednesday. “He finished the tournament with two homers, seven RBIs, eight walks, and a 1.278 OPS as Japan won its third WBC title.”
Another strong part of Okamoto’s game at the plate is his low strikeout rate. This past season, he drew the same number of walks (33) as he struck out in 293 plate appearances. Only two clubs finished the year with more strikeouts this season than the Yankees: the Los Angeles Angels and Colorado Rockies.
The last Japanese player the Yankees signed was starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka, back in January 2014. They pursued Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki, but ultimately saw them sign elsewhere.
Kazuma Okamoto Can Play Multiple Positions
Okamoto’s ability to play first and third base could be a tremendous asset for the Yankees. The same can be said about the Tokyo Yakult Swallows’ soon-to-be available slugger Munetaka Murakami. Murakami can also play both corner infield spots, but grades negatively on defense at the hot corner.
“For the Yanks, Okamoto could slide in to replace free agent Paul Goldschmidt at first base,” wrote Danny Abriano of SNY. “Third base is currently held by Ryan McMahon, but Brian Cashman suggested during his end-of-season news conference that McMahon being the starting third baseman in 2026 wasn’t exactly in ink.”
McMahon, a left-handed hitter, struggles against lefty pitchers. He made a few dazzling plays in the field during the postseason, showing why he was a finalist for a Gold Glove Award at third base.
Not Breaking the Bank
Considering his younger age and track record, Murakami should sign a more considerable contract than Okamoto this winter. Okamoto may be one of their best options if the Yankees want to avoid overpaying for aging veterans and add a relatively cost-friendly bat to the middle of their lineup.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post NPB Star Becomes Legitimate Target for Yankees This Winter appeared first on Heavy Sports.