Yesterday offered the second notable Japanese free agent signing of 2026, and once again, the Yankees didn’t seem to be a factor. The divison rival Blue Jays came to terms with Kazuma Okamoto on a four-year, $60 million contract. Are there red flags and would it have taken some time to figure out his specific spot on the Yankees’ roster? Sure, but it’s not like that’s not true of the Jays either — especially with a far-more entrenched first baseman. So even though he’s probably a shaky third baseman,
they’ll try Okamoto there and shift around Addison Barger and Ernie Clement. We’ll see how it goes; either way, the Yankees are still just floating along — seemingly content with rolling back their 2025 team despite competitors improving.
Today on the site, Matt will continue our Yankees Birthdays series with a look back at the man who was given the utterly impossible task of taking Babe Ruth’s old spot and still turned in a pretty nice career: George Selkirk. Later, Estevão will ponder if the free-wheeling Rays might be interested in a trade to send bullpen piece/erstwhile Twins righty Griffin Jax to New York, and John will check out the Yankees’ New Year’s activities and more for this week’s Social Media Spotlight.
Questions/Prompts:
1. Do you have any thoughts on the Blue Jays signing Okamoto?
2. Think the Yankees will sign anyone to an MLB deal from outside the organization? (No, I’m not counting Rule 5 pick Cade Winquest.)
