Cubs Reportedly Involved in Kazuma Okamoto Sweepstakes
Jon Heyman reported on his Monday livestream that the Cubs, among several other teams, are involved in the sweepstakes for Kazuma Okamoto. The other teams mentioned were the Angels, Pirates, Red Sox, Blue Jays, and Diamondbacks. Okamoto, a 29-year-old from Japan, has until January 4 to sign with a team.
His defensive versatility makes him an intriguing option for clubs in need of infield help, as he is capable of playing both third base and first base. He has also played 154 games in the outfield, so serving as a utilityman is possible. This makes him a strong fallback option for teams interested in third baseman Alex Bregman, although it remains to be seen which player will sign first.
In their free agent predictions published last month, MLB Trade Rumors projected Okamoto to land a four-year, $64 million deal. If the Cubs determine that Bregman is not within their budget, pivoting quickly to Okamoto would make sense. Because Okamoto has a firm deadline to sign and Bregman can wait as long as he wants, teams considering both players may be forced to make a decision before Bregman’s negotiations conclude.
Okamoto spent 11 seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball, all with the Yomiuri Giants. Across 1,074 games, he hit 248 home runs with an .882 OPS. He posted identical 11.3% strikeout and walk rates in 2025, along with a career-best 210 wRC+ with 12 home runs over just 69 games due to injury. Okamoto averaged 33 homers a year over his seven previous seasons, so the power is there to go with the plate approach.
【巨人🆚DeNA】
5回裏
🎦巨人 岡本和真選手
本日2本目！第5号2ランホームラン！！
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🔷ただいま日テレジータスで生中継!!
🔶『GIANTS TV』でも配信中⚡️
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─・─・─・─・─・─・─・─・─ pic.twitter.com/ULk2fEmNcf— DRAMATIC BASEBALL 2025 (@ntv_baseball) April 16, 2025
As the offseason progresses, the idea of the Cubs signing a big bat feels less and less likely. Bregman remains the best fit, but doing so would likely take Tatsuya Imai off the table for financial reasons. Bringing in Okamoto would help fill some of the void left by Kyle Tucker, while also giving the front office an opportunity to further shore up the rotation. That’s still a long shot, but it is definitely something to keep on your radar as the New Year gets closer.
Jed Hoyer loves a deadline, and if Okamoto’s market sinks to a level the Cubs are comfortable with, they may pounce on a favorable deal.
Fun note: When the Cubs traveled to Japan for the Tokyo Series in March 2025, they faced the Giants in an exhibition game. Okamoto started at first and drove in both of his team’s runs; he singled off Jameson Taillon and later recorded a two-RBI double against Daniel Palencia.
