Kazuma Okamoto will be posted, is he an option for Padres?
Credit: Japan Times
Is Kazuma Okamoto an option for the San Diego Padres this winter?
This winter, the San Diego Padres will be looking to fill some offensive holes in the lineup.
A.J. Preller and his staff are very creative when looking for talent to fill out the roster. The Padres have picked multiple players over the years from Korea and Japan and will surely explore the Asian market again this winter.
Munetaka Murakami will get all the immediate press as the 25-year-old Japanese infielder is in the prime of his career and considered one of the best players in Japan. The left-handed hitter makes sense for the Padres, but his asking price could be too much for San Diego this winter.
Enter Kazuma Okamoto, who is also a Japanese star exploring the free agent market.
The right-handed hitter is 29 and owns 277 career homers. He has recorded an .856 OPS in over 5,000 at-bats, mostly all for the Yomiuri Giants. Last year, Okamoto had his best statistical year, even though he was slowed by injury and played a little over half a season. He put up a .992 OPS, slugging 15 homers and hitting .322 for the season in 77 games and 270 at-bats.
Okamoto is excited about playing in the majors. In a presser last week, he spoke about MLB.
“I have decided to take on the challenge of playing in MLB through the posting system,” Okamoto said in a news conference. “I’m grateful to all the team officials and fans who respected my decision and gave me their support. “I believe MLB is the best league in the world, and I’ve always wanted to play there. I’ve worked hard with that goal in mind.”
Once he’s posted, all 30 MLB teams will have a 45-day window to negotiate with him. In the event an agreement is reached, the signing team would need to pay a release fee to Yomiuri that would be determined by the guaranteed value of Okamoto’s contract.
San Diego will need to be aggressive to sign him. He will have suitors.
The power is legit from this 29-year-old. From 2018-2023, Okamoto smashed at least 30 homers in a season. For six straight seasons, he provided plus power for one of the most recognized Japanese baseball teams. Take a look at the swing.
The right-handed hitter has some moving parts, like most hitters from Japan.
Will he be able to handle major league pitching? That remains to be seen. San Diego will need to do their homework and also have realistic expectations from this Japanese veteran. He will take time to adjust, but he could provide plenty of power for the Padres.
Defensively, he can play first base, third base, and corner outfield. That is certainly useful to a roster.
Kazuma Okamoto may be an option for the Padres, but it will all come down to cost. San Diego simply cannot go the extra mile when signing players. Too much money is committed already to the roster. A.J. Preller and the Padres will do the work, but in time, we may get more clarity on this situation.
James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. James has written about the Padres and their prospects for over a decade. He also writes about San Diego State as well as other local sports. James is the Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.