Pirates Predicted to Sign Japanese Superstar

What Makes Okamoto So Coveted?

There are two stars of Nippon Professional Baseball, the professional baseball league in Japan, which includes third baseman/first baseman Munetaka Murakami and also Okamoto.

Murakami is the main prize, and teams with the biggest payrolls will go after the 26-year old, two-time NPB MVP, who broke the record for most home runs in a season in the NPB with 56 in 2022.

Okamoto turns 30 years old next year, but still has the power and hitting that teams crave from a more veteran player.

The Yomiuri Giants posted Okamoto for the start of the offseason, which will allow MLB teams to sign players from Japan, with some of that money going back to their NPB ballclub.

Okamoto has excelled with Yomiuri since starting there in 2015 and spending his last 11 seasons in the NPB.

He slashed .277/.361/.521 for an OPS of .882 in 1,074 games, with 1,089 hits, 212 doubles, three triples, 248 home runs, 717 RBIs and 481 walks to 796 strikeouts.

Okamoto is a six-time NPB All-Star, doing so in back-to-back seasons, 2018 and 2019, and then four straight seasons from 2021-24.

He led the Central League in home runs three times with 31 home runs in 2020, 39 home runs in 2021 and a career-high 41 home runs in 2023. He also led the Central League in RBIs in back-to-back seasons with 97 RBIs in 2020 and a career-high 113 RBIs in 2021

Okamoto also led Yomuiri to seven playoff berths and three Central League pennants, earning Central League Climax Series honors for his play in 2019.

Okamoto also led Yomuiri to seven playoff berths and three Central League pennants, earning Central League Climax Series honors for his play in 2019.

Okamoto has international experience with Team Japan and excelled in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, slashing .333/.556/.722 for an OPS of 1.278, with six hit in 18 at-bats, five runs scored, a double, two home runs and seven RBIs.

He also hit the go-ahead home run in the 3-2 win for Team Japan over Team USA in the gold medal game.

Will the Pirates Sign Okamoto?

MLB Trade Rumors predicted that Okamoto will sign a four-year, $64 million contract, which is about $16 million. This would make Okamoto the second-highest paid player on the Pirates if he signed, behind right-handed starting pitcher Mitch Keller at $16.9 million.

The Pirates haven't spent much in free agency in recent years, let alone, signed a free agent to a multi-year deal.

Pittsburgh last signed a position player to a multi-year deal on Dec. 23, 2015, signing John Jaso to a two-year, $8 million deal. Their last free agent they signed for more than one year was right-handed starting pitcher Iván Nova, for three years, $26 million on Dec. 27, 2016.

The Pirates also regularly feature in the bottom of MLB teams in payroll and it doesn't appear they'll increase that spending in 2026.

Okamoto features towards the cheaper side of international free agents, but recent history shows the Pirates won't make this deal, even if it appears a reasonable one for a team trying to make the postseason.