Good Morning San Diego: Padres one of three teams linked to Kazuma Okamoto; Potential minor league addition could impact major league roster

Kazuma Okamoto is the next position player from Japan expected to sign with an MLB team and there are some prognosticators who believe he will be a better major league player than Masataka Murakami who recently signed a two-year, $34 million deal with the Chicago White Sox. Okamoto has to sign a deal prior to the Jan. 4 deadline, or he returns to his team in Japan.

It was reported Sunday that three teams are thought to be in the running for the right-handed hitting slugger. The San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Angels and Pittsburgh Pirates are listed as the final candidates for Okamoto’s services. He would fill a need for the Padres in that he can play first base or serve as a designated hitter. Okamoto also has experience at third base and could spell Manny Machado when he needs a day off, giving San Diego multiple options in those situations after the team signed Korean infielder Sung-Mun Song earlier this offseason.

It is unknown which way Okamoto is leaning and the majority of reporting about that is speculation. All the Padres, Angels, Pirates or any other MLB team can do is wait for word from Okamoto himself or the team that signs him.

Padres News:

• San Diego has been adding players at the minor league level throughout the offseason and Thomas Conroy of Gaslamp Ball believes one more minor league addition could eventually pay dividends at the major league level.
• MLB.com identified a bounce back candidate for the 2026 season from each team and they settled on Jackson Merrill from the Padres. He had a difficult year because of injuries but returned to his 2024 form as the season ended. San Diego is looking for more of the same in 2026.

Baseball News:

• The Detroit Tigers were interested in signing free agent Alex Bregman last offseason and the interest remains this offseason although it may not be at the previous level.
• The Cleveland Guardians agreed to terms with pitcher Pedro Avila on a one-year split contract.
• Zach Eflin and the Baltimore Orioles agreed to a one-year, $10 million contract that will allow him to return to the O’s for the 2026 season.
• Former Padre Nabil Crismatt agreed to a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers with an invitation to Spring Training.
• The Athletics announced the passing of a longtime scout who started with the organization in 1987 as a player. Will Schock, 61, was a career minor league pitcher before becoming a scout.
• Pitcher Andrew Heaney announced his retirement after 12 years in MLB and later in the day Joe Kelly followed suit and announced the end of his 13-year playing career.