Who Will Sign Kazuma Okamoto? Latest on Top MLB Landing Spots and Contract Projections

MLB teams in the market for a first baseman that may not want to play in the very top of the market could turn their attention to Kazuma Okamoto.

Per ESPNs Kiley McDaniel, the big-market clubs looking for help at first base and/or DH are the New York Mets, New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies.

Other potential options cited by McDaniel that could emerge include the Arizona Diamondbacks, Houston Astros, San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates and Miami Marlins.

The contract predictions for Okamoto are relatively modest, particularly when compared with fellow NPB players Munetaka Murakami and Tatsuya Imai who are both eyeing nine-figure deals.

MLB Trade Rumors is projecting a four-year, $64 million contract for Okamoto. McDaniel was a little more bullish in suggesting Masataka Yoshida's five-year, $90 million deal with the Boston Red Sox signed in December 2022.

Since 2018, when Murakami made his NPB debut, Okamoto has one more homer than the revered slugger (247 to 246). He doesn't have close to the same raw power, but there is plenty for an MLB team to work with.

FanGraphs' international scouting page lists Okamoto as having an average hit tool (50-grade) and above-average raw and in-game power. Murakami, by comparison, has a well-below-average hit tool (30-grade), but elite raw power (80) and high-end in-game power (70).

Given that Okamoto is more than three years older than Murakami, he is unlikely to command a significant investment in terms of the length of his contract. It's an appealing package for teams that might be concerned about the long-term viability of free agents like Pete Alonso or Kyle Schwarber, who could reasonably expect to receive deals worth at least $100 million.