The Toronto Blue Jays have reportedly agreed to a four-year, $60 million contract with Japanese third baseman Kazuma Okamoto, adding a proven power hitter from Nippon Professional Baseball to their roster ahead of the 2026 season. Okamoto, who turns 30 in June, impressed in 2025 with a .327 batting average and 15 home runs in 69 games despite an elbow injury. This signing positions him among Toronto's highest-paid players and highlights the team's interest in international talent.
Kazuma Okamoto's move to Major League Baseball comes after a standout career with the Yomiuri Giants in Japan's NPB. In his most recent season, he posted a .327/.416/.598 slash line, including 15 home runs, though limited to 69 games due to a left elbow injury. Over the seven prior seasons, Okamoto averaged 33.1 home runs and appeared in 138.5 games per year, demonstrating durability and productivity. His profile features a high batting average, double-digit walk rate, low strikeout rate, and significant power, with improvements against velocity noted in 2025 despite league-wide offensive declines.
The contract includes a $5 million signing bonus and no opt-outs, reflecting a calculated investment in a player entering his age-30 season. While NPB hitters have faced mixed results transitioning to MLB—such as Seiya Suzuki's solid establishment with the Chicago Cubs and Masataka Yoshida's struggles with the Boston Red Sox—Okamoto has shown promise against major-league pitching in limited exposure. In the 2023 World Baseball Classic, he batted .333 with a 1.278 OPS for Team Japan, including a solo home run against USA pitcher Kyle Freeland in the championship game that proved decisive. Earlier in 2025, during an exhibition against the Cubs, Okamoto went 2-for-3 with two RBI.
For the Blue Jays, Okamoto addresses needs at third base with his contact skills and pull-side power, fitting their strategy of targeting hitters who balance average and pop. At 29 years old, concerns about potential decline exist, but his complete offensive toolkit offers upside in a full MLB season.
