TORONTO (AP) — Infielder Kazuma Okamoto and the Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to a contract, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Saturday.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement has not been announced and the person was not authorized to speak publicly about the deal.
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Okamoto, a six-time All-Star, hit 248 home runs and 717 RBI in 11 major league seasons with a .277 batting average and led the Central League in home runs in 2020, 2021 and 2023. He hit a home run off Colorado’s Kyle Freeland in the 2023 World Baseball Classic final, helping Japan defeat the United States 3-2.
Per the publishing agreement between Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball, the deal must be finalized by 5 p.m. ET on Sunday.
Okamoto, a 29-year-old third baseman and first baseman, hit .327 with 15 home runs and 49 RBIs in 69 games with the Yomiuri Giants of the Central League last year. On May 6, he collided with Hanshin Tigers’ Nakano Takumu while catching a ball at first base and injured his left elbow, causing Okamoto to be absent until August 16.
With five-time All-Star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. starting out, Okamoto will presumably play primarily at third. Last year, Addison Barger started 67 games, Ernie Clement 66, Will Wagner 22, Isiah Kiner-Falefa six and Buddy Kennedy one.
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Bugg also plays right field, and the addition of Okamoto could mean Andres Gimenez will move from No. 2 to shortstop if free agent Beau Bichette is not re-signed. Clement and Davis Scheider could share time in second place.
Under MLB’s publishing agreement with the NPB, the publishing fee will be 20% of the first $25 million of a major league contract, including earned bonuses and options. That drops to 17.5% for the next $25 million and 15% for the next $50 million. Any bonuses earned, salary steps and options exercised are subject to a 15% surcharge.
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