Does signing Kazuma Okamoto take the Toronto Blue Jays out of the Bo Bichette or Kyle Tucker market?
Photo credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images
With the signing of Kazuma Okamoto, will the Toronto Blue Jays still be able to add Bo Bichette or Kyle Tucker?
The Blue Jays added a high-profile big bat in Japanese star Kazuma Okamoto, when they signed him to a four-year $60 million dollar contract on Saturday.
Welcome to the Toronto Blue Jays Kazuma Okamoto! 🍁
Now the big question is will Toronto still be able to bring in Kyle Tucker or Bo Bichette?
Despite making a big move to get Okamoto, the Blue Jays' offseason is nowhere near complete.
There are still some big decisions for that front office to make. Do you sign Kyle Tucker? Re-sign Bo Bichette?
Bichette and Tucker still in play for the Blue Jays
Bo Bichette could still re-sign with the Blue Jays, even with Okamoto now in the fold.
If Bichette returns to an everyday role at either shortstop or (perhaps more likely) second base, Barger or Okamoto could see more time in the outfield.
I don't view the Okamoto deal as taking the Blue Jays "out" of anything, Tucker and Bichette included. You can't be out of a market you don't know the cost of yet. They, like everyone else, are waiting on the right prices. They're moving like big dogs and should continue to.
On the flip side, if the Blue Jays were to land another rumored target in outfielder Kyle Tucker, Toronto would then likely have to trade from a crowded outfield mix that would include Tucker, Daulton Varsho, George Springer and Anthony Santander.
Splitting DH duty and one corner outfield slot, Nathan Lukes, Myles Straw, Joey Loperfido, and Okamoto, Barger, and Schneider all available in a part-time outfield capacity.
The Okamoto signing does not take the Toronto Blue Jays out of the Bo Bichette or Kyle Tucker market.
However things play out, it adds to what has already been a fascinating offseason for a Blue Jays team that came within two outs of winning Game 7 of the World Series.
The team's efforts to add the final piece of the puzzle have mostly focused on pitching to date, with Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce signed to reinforce the rotation, and Tyler Rogers added to the relief corps.
Bichette and Tucker have naturally dominated the rumor mill when it came to possible lineup additions, and players like Cody Bellinger, Ketel Marte, Alex Bregman, and Yoan Moncada were also reportedly on Toronto's radar.
The Okamoto signing probably closes the door on Bregman and Moncada specifically since the two are third basemen, unless the Jays made the curious decision of using Okamoto primarily as a corner outfielder.
Also read on Blue Jays Central :
Full details revealed on massive Kazuma Okamoto contract with Toronto Blue Jays
Full details revealed on massive Kazuma Okamoto contract with Toronto Blue Jays
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 3 | 338 ANSWERS Does signing Kazuma Okamoto take the Toronto Blue Jays out of the Bo Bichette or Kyle Tucker market? Do you think the Blue Jays will still be able to sign Bo Bichette or Kyle tucker after the Kazuma Okamoto deal? | ||
| Bo Bichette | 152 | 45 % |
| Kyle Tucker | 88 | 26 % |
| Both | 61 | 18 % |
| Neither | 37 | 10.9 % |
| List of polls | ||