The Pittsburgh Pirates are no strangers to cautious spending, but this offseason, they’ve been acting like a team ready to make a real move - and their pursuit of Japanese slugger Kazuma Okamoto might just be the clearest signal yet.
According to reports, the Pirates have held multiple virtual meetings with Okamoto, continuing a dialogue that started nearly a month ago. While it’s unclear whether Okamoto plans to make any in-person visits before his 45-day posting window closes on January 4, the fact that conversations have progressed beyond the exploratory phase is telling. The Pirates aren’t just kicking the tires - they’re in the mix.
Now, let’s be clear: Pittsburgh isn’t alone. The Red Sox and Blue Jays are also reportedly in on Okamoto, though their situations might complicate things.
Boston, for example, just brought in Willson Contreras to handle first base duties, and they’re also eyeing Alex Bregman - a player who, like Okamoto, primarily plays third. If Bregman’s decision stretches into the new year, the Sox may hesitate to commit to another big infield bat and risk taking themselves out of that race.
Toronto’s in a similar boat, juggling the potential re-signing of Bo Bichette while also being linked to other marquee names like Kyle Tucker and Bregman.
That kind of uncertainty could open the door for a team like Pittsburgh to sneak in. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves - the Pirates have historically struggled to land top-tier international talent or big-name free agents, and Okamoto would be a major swing.
MLB Trade Rumors pegged Okamoto as the 19th-best free agent this offseason and projected him to land a four-year, $64 million deal. That kind of contract would be uncharted waters for the Pirates.
For context, the largest free-agent deal in franchise history remains Francisco Liriano’s three-year, $39 million pact from nearly a decade ago. But this winter has already hinted at a shift in approach.
Reports suggest the Pirates were ready to offer Kyle Schwarber a contract in the $120-125 million range and showed interest in Josh Naylor before he re-upped with the Mariners. They’ve also been linked to Ketel Marte, whose contract extension with Arizona won’t come cheap.
So yes, the Pirates are spending - or at least trying to.
They’ve already made some notable moves, including a three-team trade that brought in second baseman Brandon Lowe and outfielder Jake Mangum. Another deal with Boston landed them Jhostynxon Garcia.
In the process, they dealt from their pitching depth, moving Johan Oviedo and Mike Burrows. But GM Ben Cherington has made it clear: the Pirates are still hunting for one more “proven bat.”
That’s where Okamoto comes in - though “proven” is a bit of a gray area here. The 29-year-old has never played in MLB, and there are questions about how his bat will translate against Major League velocity.
Defensively, he’s considered steady at third base, but not elite. Still, the offensive track record in Japan is impossible to ignore: a .277/.361/.521 career slash line with 248 home runs over nearly 4,500 plate appearances with the Yomiuri Giants.
That’s not just good - that’s middle-of-the-order production.
For a Pirates team that finished near the bottom of the league in offense, Okamoto would be more than just a nice addition - he could be a foundational piece. Lowe is only under contract through next season, so adding Okamoto would give the Bucs some longer-term stability on the infield.
Slotting him in at third would allow Pittsburgh to use Jared Triolo, Nick Gonzales, and Nick Yorke in more flexible roles, perhaps off the bench or in platoon situations. That kind of depth matters, especially considering that none of those three managed to hit consistently in 2025.
So where does that leave things?
The Pirates are clearly serious about upgrading their offense, and Okamoto fits the profile of a player who could help them do just that - even if he doesn’t come with a traditional MLB résumé. There’s still time for other teams to jump into the mix before the posting window closes, and the market could shift quickly depending on how things shake out with Bregman, Bichette, and Tucker. But for now, Pittsburgh remains in the conversation - and that alone is a sign of how different this offseason could be.
If they can close the deal? It would be a bold, meaningful step for a franchise that’s long been defined by its reluctance to spend.