Kazuma Okamoto might fit the Blue Jays but the team could still add more

The Blue Jays signed six-time Japanese all-star Kazuma Okamoto to add contact ability and defensive versatility, and the club may still pursue another impact bat before spring training.

The Blue Jays have added Kazuma Okamoto as part of an offseason that blends high-profile and mid-tier moves while trying to repeat last year’s deep playoff run. Toronto also signed right-hander Dylan Cease and added Cody Ponce and veteran reliever Tyler Rogers as roster upgrades. Okamoto arrives after 11 seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball and is expected to provide contact hitting and positional flexibility. The signing carries the usual uncertainty for a player who has not yet played in Major League Baseball. Key details: - The club added Kazuma Okamoto, a six-time NPB all-star who spent 11 seasons in Japan. - Ross Atkins praised Okamoto’s offensive and defensive abilities; Okamoto said through an interpreter that he likes to play multiple positions and contribute in different ways. - Okamoto’s NPB record includes a .277 career batting average, an .882 OPS, and at least 27 homers in seven consecutive seasons, with about 0.18 strikeouts per plate appearance. - Projections cited in the article place Okamoto around a .251 average with 22 homers and a .769 OPS (Steamer) or about 24 homers and 67 RBIs (FanGraphs) for 2026. - The article notes other offseason moves (Dylan Cease, Cody Ponce, Tyler Rogers) and references a $60 million (U.S.) figure in the context of roster spending and playing-time trade-offs. - The piece observes there is an element of risk in signing a player who has not yet appeared in MLB, though modern metrics were used to inform the projection. Summary: Okamoto’s profile—contact-oriented hitting, power history in Japan and defensive versatility—aligns with the Blue Jays’ identity and strengthens the roster as it stands. Whether the signing is judged as part of a larger upgrade will depend on whether the club adds another major bat before spring training, which is undetermined at this time.