Red Sox Predicted to Sign Next Big Superstar Out of Japan

The Boston Red Sox have played decent baseball for much of the year, with some down spots at times. The Red Sox are 7-3 over their past 10 games. 

However, they’re now just 3.5 games out in the American League East. 

If everything goes as well as it can for the Red Sox over the next month, there’s a good chance the team could win the division. With a three-game set against the New York Yankees starting in about a week, they’ll have an excellent opportunity to take down New York when it matters most. 

Heading into the offseason after that, however, there are some questions about how the Red Sox will look. Boston clearly needs a long-term first baseman to address its issues at the position. 

Looking for ways for the Red Sox to improve that, Jake Elman of FanSided predicted that they’d land an international star in the form of Kazuma Okamoto, who many consider to be one of the top players in Japan right now. 

“It’ll be interesting to see if teams view Okamoto as a traditional corner infielder or if they’d prioritize making him a designated hitter. The Boston Red Sox make plenty of sense either way, and Okamoto could immediately slot in at first base — a spot the Red Sox haven’t adequately filled since Triston Casas went down earlier this year,” he wrote.

Will the Red Sox Land Kazuma Okamoto?

Adding a player like Okamoto would be enticing for the Boston Red Sox. However, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN, it isn’t a guarantee that he’ll have an opportunity to play in Major League Baseball next year. 

Because Nippon Professional Baseball teams have the final say in players like Okamoto, the Red Sox have to be cautious about whether they’ll have an opportunity to land him. 

Throughout the year, Okamoto has 11 home runs and has driven in 33 RBIs, but he’s played in just 56 games due to a left elbow injury. 

“The Japanese revolution in MLB is not slowing down, and another impressive group is expected to come stateside for the 2026 season. Right-hander Tatsuya Imai and a pair of slugging third basemen — Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto — hope to play in MLB, according to sources, though their doing so depends on their Nippon Professional Baseball teams’ willingness to enter them into the posting system that serves as a conduit to the big leagues for those NPB players who have yet to play the nine years necessary for international free agency,” Passan wrote.

Alternative to Kazuma Okamoto

If the Boston Red Sox don’t have an opportunity to land Okamoto, or they simply don’t want him, there will be other first basemen out there for them to consider. 

SportsNaut recently linked them to Pete Alonso, who could be another excellent fit. 

“The Red Sox have been seeking a reliable first baseman for months after Rafael Devers refused to play the position. Alonso will be the best option in MLB free agency, but All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman could exercise his opt-out clause and re-signing him would become Boston’s top priority,” Matt Johnson wrote.

One could even argue that Alonso would be a better fit than Okamoto, considering what he’s done in Major League Baseball already. 

There are always questions about players coming over from other countries.

For Alonso, however, he has another 33 home runs this year with 113 RBIs.

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