With the Boston Red Sox reportedly circling multiple star infielders — most notably Alex Bregman via free agency and Ketel Marte via trade — a lesser-discussed potential signing for Boston is Japanese standout Kazuma Okamoto.
There’s still no guarantee that the Red Sox snag either Bregman or Marte, so keep an eye on Okamoto.
On Tuesday, Bleacher Report’s MLB writer Zachary D. Rymer actually called the Red Sox the “best fit” for the 29-year-old Okamoto in free agency.
“After missing out on Pete Alonso, the most straightforward way for the Red Sox to respond is to simply re-sign Alex Bregman and plug him back at third base,” Rymer wrote.
Story continues below advertisement
“Even then, though, they would still need a hitter who would offer more power upside from the right side of the plate. Kazuma Okamoto matches that description as a regular 30-homer slugger in Nippon Professional Baseball, and he has a swing that’s a match made in Heaven for Fenway Park. Though his raw power plays to all fields, his swing is geared to hit the ball in the air to his pull side. That’s where the Green Monster looms at Fenway Park, and even the higher velocity prevalent in MLB might not stop Okamoto from taking aim at it regularly.”
“Unlike countryman Munetaka Murakami, Okamoto is seen as being capable of handling high velo,” Rymer continued. “Of course, Bregman and Okamoto can’t both play third. But the latter also has experience at first base, so he could play both corners while also taking at-bats from Masataka Yoshida at designated hitter.”
The New York Post’s Jon Heyman has already reported that the Red Sox are among the teams in on Okamoto. He’s projected to land a four-year deal north of $60 million.
Story continues below advertisement
Okamoto hit .322/ .411/ .581 last year in NPB with 15 home runs in 77 games.
Featured image via Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
