Yomiuri Giants Plan MLB Posting of Star Infielder Kazuma Okamoto This Offseason

Kazuma Okamoto, a 29-year-old slugger for Japan's Yomiuri Giants, has been officially posted for MLB teams this offseason, marking one of the rare times a Giants player has sought to move overseas via the posting system. Okamoto, known for his power-hitting and consistent performance in Nippon Professional Baseball, including a .327 average with 15 home runs in 69 games in 2025, aims to join the MLB and will have a 45-day window to sign with a major league club once posted. The Giants' general manager expressed support for Okamoto's desire to compete at the highest level, despite the team traditionally not posting players for overseas moves. MLB teams, including the Chicago Cubs, are reportedly monitoring Okamoto's availability closely as they consider upgrades at corner infield positions, where Okamoto's power bat could be a significant asset. Meanwhile, the Angels have appointed Kurt Suzuki as their new manager, and several other MLB teams are still searching for leadership hires as they enter the offseason. The posting of Okamoto, alongside other Japanese stars like Munetaka Murakami, is expected to influence the MLB offseason market, especially among teams looking to bolster their infield power hitting.