Story by
Could Toronto Blue Jays Pursue International Contributors?
- Story by
- Could Toronto Blue Jays Pursue International Contributors?
(Darren Yamashita/Imagn Images)
The Toronto Blue Jays are coming off arguably the most disappointing season in franchise history.
Less than 12 months after winning its first American League pennant since 1993, the Blue Jays were eliminated from playoff contention and finished last in the American League East.
Advertisement
One of the few bright spots for Toronto this season was third baseman Kazuma Okamoto.
The 30-year-old attendant for the Blue Jays at the hot corner, who's up for All-MLB honors , led the team in home runs and RBIs. He slashed .232/.310/.452 with a .762 OPS in 156 games with 26 doubles and 33 home runs and 92 RBIs.
Okamoto signed a four-year, $60 million deal this offseason with Toronto after an 11-season stint with the Yomiuri Giants of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.
On the heels of a successful first season in MLB, there's already a push from some for the Blue Jays to pursue more talent from Japan this offseason: one with major league experience and one that will be looking to make the same transition from NPB to MLB that Okamoto did.
Advertisement
Both outfielder Seiya Suzuki, who's coming off a five-season stint with the Chicago Cubs, and third baseman/outfielder Teruaki Sato, who's played the last six seasons with the Hanshin Tigers, will both be free agents this offseason.
Sato will be posted by the Tigers in early November and will have one month to agree to terms with a team before the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the MLB and MLB Players Association expires Dec. 1. Suzuki will also have one month to sign with a team.
Toronto Star columnist Gregor Chisholm opined in a recent column that Torotno should pursue both players in free agency.
According to Chisholm's column, the Blue Jays will be sending a group to Japan this offseason to pursue "business opportunities." The columnist also said there's a "strong possibility" the team attempts to negotiate with Suzuki or Sato.
Advertisement
From a business perspective, continuing to pursue players in the Japanese market can lead to an extended fanbase overseas and more money for the team.
From a roster standpoint, either hitter could provide a boost to a roster that was constantly re-tooled and plagued with injuries throughout the season.
Both players are capable of playing the corner outfield spots. Suzuki has been a consistent hitter for the Cubs since coming stateside. This past season, he slashed .270/.368/.473 with an .841 OPS in 143 games and hit 31 doubles, a triple and 26 home runs with 86 RBIs.
Suzuki has played at least 111 games each season in the major leagues and hasn't finished with an OPS lower than .769. His OPS has been above .800 each of the past four seasons.
Last year's top position players posted from NPB, Okamoto and Chicago White Sox corner infielder Munetaka Murakami, came in with opposite hitting profiles. Okamoto was considered the better contact hitter of the two and Murakami was considered the best power hitter.
Advertisement
Sato's contact skills are considered by scouts to be better than Murakami's but worse than Okamoto's. His power is considered better than Okamoto but worse than Murakami's.
This past season with the Hanshin Tigers, Sato has slashed .314/.392/.622 with a 1.015 OPS in 138 games and has hit 40 doubles, three triples and 38 home runs with 102 RBIs. He had 40 homers and 102 RBIs last season.
Sato has played primarily third base for the Tigers, but has also played more than 200 games in the outfield, which could allow the Jays valuable flexibility in a lineup. It could also allow the team to be versatile with its designated hitter spot, with George Springer, Okamoto, first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Sato all capable of taking reps there.
