This offseason has not been a kind one to the top Japanese free agents. Munetaka Murakami's market didn't materialize at all, and he signed for a very small deal with the Chicago White Sox. The same is happening to Tatsuya Imai.
While not to the same extent, a similar scenario is happening with Kazuma Okamoto. He's not getting a lot of traction, at least until recently. Brian Murphy of MLB.com reports that Okamoto is meeting with teams in Los Angeles.
With the San Diego Padres emerging as one of the potential suitors, alongside the Los Angeles Angels and the Pittsburgh Pirates, these meetings in LA could be the start of a contract negotiation ahead of his Sunday, January 4th deadline.
Padres likely to meet with Kazuma Okamoto this week
"And as we enter the final stages of their free agency," Murphy writes, "a source tells MLB.com's Mark Feinsand that both players are holding meetings in Los Angeles this week with interested teams."
With the Padres being one of the teams showing interest in Okamoto this offseason, this report indicates that the Padres would be one of the teams to head out to LA for a meeting with the corner infielder.
The 29-year-old is connected to a few teams this offseason, with the Pirates, Angels, and Padres likely the top landing spots for Okamoto this winter.
He's a six-time NPB All-Star with a.277 batting average and an.882 OPS in 11 seasons in Japan. While not a young player nor a proven MLB slugger, he's worth signing this winter.
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The Padres fit is an interesting one. They don't need him to play third base, but he could come into the Padres lineup as a first baseman.
Plus, for a team looking to shed the contracts of Nick Pivetta and Jake Cronenworth, investing a decent amount more into another infielder.
But, Okamoto would be worth taking a chance on. Despite a slow-moving market, the Padres and a slew of other teams will be meeting with him this week.
With his posting window expiring on Sunday, January 4th at 5 p.m. Eastern time, the Padres have less than a week to figure out whether they want to sign him, and for what price they're willing to spend on another veteran infielder.
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