Blue Jays officially sign Japanese infielder Kazuma Okamoto to four-year, US$60M deal
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Monthly Digital Subscription
$0 for the first 4 weeks*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*No charge for 4 weeks then price increases to the regular rate of $19.95 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.
Monthly Digital Subscription
$4.99/week*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*Billed as $19.95 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
*Your next subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $16.99 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $23.99 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
TORONTO – The Toronto Blue Jays officially signed Japanese infielder Kazuma Okamoto to a four-year, US$60-million contract Sunday.
Okamoto, whose deal with the Blue Jays was widely reported Saturday, is a six-time all-star in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league.
The 29-year-old third baseman and first baseman hit .327 with 15 homers and 49 RBIs in 69 games last season for the Yomiuri Giants. He missed over half the season with an elbow injury.
Under MLB’s posting agreement with NPB, the Blue Jays owe the Giants a posting fee of $10,875,000.
Okamoto will get a $5 million signing bonus, a $7 million salary this year and $16 million in each of the following three seasons.
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 Andrés Giménez will move from second to shortstop if free agent Bo Bichette doesn’t re-sign. Clement and Davis Scheider could share time at second.
In a corresponding move, the Blue Jays designated right-handed pitcher Paxton Schultz for assignment.
— With files from The Associated Press
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 4, 2026.
Related Articles
Pitcher Kona Takahashi's posting period expires, his rights remain with Seibu Lions Infielder Kazuma Okamoto and Blue Jays finalize $60 million, 4-year contract
Advertisement Advertise With Us