Tatsuya Imai, Kazuma Okamoto meeting with teams ahead of deadline on Friday
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The Toronto Blue Jays among the teams that have reportedly shown interest in Japanese stars Tatsuya Imai and Kazuma Okamoto, who are nearing the end of their respective 45-day posting windows.
Imai has until Friday at 4:00 pm Central to sign; Okamoto's contract must be finalized by the same time on Sunday.
Reporting out of Japan over the weekend revealed that Okamoto was traveling to the U.S. for a final round of in-person meetings.
Kazuma Okamoto is reportedly in the US for in-person meetings as his posting deadline approaches at the end of the week.
The Blue Jays, Cubs, Red Sox, Diamondbacks, Padres, Angels, and Pirates are listed as potential suitors.
The Blue Jays, Cubs, Red Sox, Diamondbacks, Padres, Angels, and Pirates are listed as potential suitors.
Imai is evidently doing the same. Katie Woo and Will Sammon of The Athletic wrote last night that Imai had spoken with multiple teams and would continue to do so throughout the week.
Mark Feinsand of MLB.com relays that Imai and Okamoto, both of whom are represented by the Boras Corporation and are conducting in-person interviews in Los Angeles (link via MLB.com's Brian Murphy).
Scott Boras is based out of Southern California, so the location of the meetings shouldn't be viewed as an indication that the Dodgers or Angels are favorites.
Imai has been publicly tied to the Yankees, Mets, Cubs, Phillies and Orioles since his posting period began.
While a recent Yahoo! Japan article listed the White Sox as another possibility, MLB.com's report downplays the likelihood of the White Sox landing the right-hander.
Chicago shockingly added Munetaka Murakami last week, but that only came after the slugger's market cratered because of concerns about his strikeout rate.
Blue Jays meeting with Okamoto before Friday deadline
The Blue Jays sent scouts to to watch Okamoto in the Japan series in back in November
Murakami wound up settling for a two-year, $34MM contract. Imai is expected to do far better given the cost of high-upside starting pitching.
Okamoto, 29, has been linked to a host of teams this offseason, including the Bluie Jays, Padres, Angels, Pirates, and Red Sox.
He is a six-time All-Star in NPB and boasts a career .277/.361/.521 slash line over 11 seasons with the Yomiuri Giants.
Although injuries limited him to only 77 games in 2025, Okamoto still hit 15 homers and batted .322 with a .992 OPS.
He strung together six consecutive 30-homer seasons for the Giants from 2018-23.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 31 | 136 ANSWERS Tatsuya Imai, Kazuma Okamoto meeting with teams ahead of deadline on Friday Do you think the Blue Jays have a shot at signing Tatsuya Imai or Kazuma Okamoto? | ||
| Kazuma Okamoto | 41 | 30.1 % |
| Tatsuya Imai | 14 | 10.3 % |
| Both | 11 | 8.1 % |
| Neither | 70 | 51.5 % |
| List of polls | ||