Worst possible Kazuma Okamoto suitor emerges as Pirates make final play

The Pittsburgh Pirates have made several splashes already this winter, and although the lineup looks a whole lot stronger with Brandon Lowe and Ryan O'Hearn in the fold, the club doesn't seem to be done. The apple of their eye is Japanese slugger Kazuma Okamoto, and with things coming down to the wire, it has been looking like there's a real shot that he lands in Pittsburgh.

It's a strange feeling, but the Pirates seemed well-positioned here. It appeared that this would be a three-team race between Pittsburgh, the San Diego Padres, and the Los Angeles Angels. The Padres are always a threat, though some ownership turmoil (plus a sizeable deal handed out to Michael King) makes it questionable how much more they can afford. The Angels' dysfunction in recent years has at times made the Pirates look competent, so while they can't be counted out, it's hard to say that they're a true contender.

However, with Okamoto's posting window set to close at 5 p.m. ET on January 4, more teams have jumped into the mix. The Boston Red Sox have come into the fray, but it would seem that Alex Bregman is still their priority. Ditto for the Seattle Mariners, who could reunite with Eugenio Suarez.

The latest entrant to the market is the Toronto Blue Jays, and that is a scary proposition for Pittsburgh.

The Blue Jays' interest in Kazuma Okamoto could complicate everything for the Pirates at the 11th hour

The Blue Jays' interest in Okamoto stems from a potential desire to play the versatile 29-year-old in the outfield. While the last time he roamed the grass came in 2024, Okamoto does have 68 games of experience playing left field.

That is a need for the Blue Jays, who have previously been linked to high-end outfielders like Kyle Tucker. Toronto fired off the first significant signing of the offseason, throwing the bag at Dylan Cease with a seven-year, $210 million deal. They've remained active since.

Not only does Toronto have money, with the fifth-highest payroll in 2025, but they also have a compelling value proposition for Okamoto.

The Blue Jays won the American League pennant, then took the Los Angeles Dodgers to the brink, losing the World Series in a Game 7 for the ages. If winning is at the forefront of Okamoto's calculus, no suitor offers him a better chance than Toronto.

If it comes down to money, the deep-pocketed Jays can throw more his way than any of the other known clubs in the mix.

What this will ultimately come down to is how badly Toronto really wants him. Is this a ploy to bring down Kyle Tucker's price or leverage to hold over Bo Bichette? Or is this something they really want to go after? If it's the latter, it could be hard to see Okamoto choosing Pittsburgh over Toronto.