Infielder Kazuma Okamoto and the Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to a US$60 million, four-year contract, two people familiar with the negotiations said on Saturday.
Okamoto is to receive a US$5 million signing bonus, a US$7 million salary this year and US$16 million in each of the following three seasons, the people said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not been announced.
A six-time All-Star, Okamoto has a .277 average with 248 homers and 717 RBIs in 11 Japanese big league seasons, leading the Central League in home runs in 2020, 2021 and 2023. He homered off Colorado’s Kyle Freeland to help Japan beat the US 3-2 in the 2023 World Baseball Classic final.
Photo: AP
Okamoto, a 29-year-old third baseman and first baseman, hit .327 with 15 homers and 49 RBIs in 69 games last year for the Central League’s Yomiuri Giants. He injured his left elbow while trying to catch a throw at first base on May 6 when he collided with the Hanshin Tigers’ Takumu Nakano, an injury that sidelined Okamoto until Aug. 16.
With five-time All-Star Vladimir Guerrero Jr at first, Okamoto presumably would play mostly at third. Addison Barger had 67 starts there last year, Ernie Clement 66, Will Wagner 22, Isiah Kiner-Falefa six and Buddy Kennedy one.
Barger also plays right field, and the addition of Okamoto could mean Andres Gimenez would move from second to shortstop if free agent Bo Bichette does not re-sign. Clement and Davis Scheider could share time at second.
Under the MLB’s posting agreement with Nippon Professional Baseball, the Blue Jays would owe the Giants a posting fee of US$10,875,000.
After coming within two outs of their first World Series title since 1993, the Blue Jays have made significant additions to the roster. Toronto signed right-hander Dylan Cease to a US$210 million, seven-year contract, agreed to a US$30 million, three-year contract with right-hander Cody Ponce and reached a US$37 million, three-year deal with reliever Tyler Rogers.
Right-hander Shane Bieber also exercised a US$16 million player option for this season rather than become a free agent.
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