Imai agrees to three-year, $54 million deal with Astros (source)

By AJ Eustace | January 1, 2026 at 11:10am CDT

The Astros and right-hander Tatsuya Imai are in agreement on a three-year, $54MM contract, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Heyman adds that Imai can earn up to $3MM per year in incentives if he reaches 100 innings. The deal contains opt-outs after every year, per Jesse Rogers of ESPN.

Imai was one of the top starters available in free agency and coming off a career-best 1.92 ERA season with the Saitama Seibu Lions of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. It was reported several days ago that he was meeting with teams in-person in advance of his January 2 signing deadline. The Yankees, Mets, Cubs, Phillies, and Orioles were among the clubs interested in signing him, so the Astros are a bit of a surprise destination.

We at MLBTR ranked Imai No. 7 on our Top 50 Free Agents list and projected him for a six-year, $150MM contract. This deal with Houston comes in at half the length of that projection, with around a third of the guaranteed money. Meanwhile, the annual opt-outs will allow Imai to test the market if he can prove himself in MLB.

More to come.

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Blue Jays Sign Kazuma Okamoto

By Mark Polishuk | January 3, 2026 at 12:29pm CDT

Japanese slugging third baseman Kazuma Okamoto and the Blue Jays are in agreement on a free agent contract, a source told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. The club has not confirmed the news.

Okamoto was the biggest star of Nippon Professional Baseball's most storied franchise, the Yomiuri Giants -- Japan's version of the Yankees.

The 29-year-old, right-handed-slugging corner infielder was a six-time All-Star in Japan and a three-time home run king, leading NPB's Central League in homers in 2020, ’21 and ’23. Beginning with his breakout season as a 22-year-old in 2018, Okamoto posted six consecutive 30-homer seasons for the Giants, capped by a career-high 41 home runs in 2023.

Defensively, he can play either third base or first base, having won Golden Glove Awards in Japan at both positions -- two at third and one at first.

In 2025, Okamoto was limited to 69 games due to a left-elbow injury suffered in a collision with a batter running down the line while he was playing first base. But in those 69 games, he hit .327 with a .416 on-base percentage, .598 slugging percentage, 1.014 OPS, 15 home runs and 49 RBIs.

Over 11 seasons in NPB, Okamoto boasted a .277/.361/.521 slash line and .882 OPS, with 248 home runs and 717 RBIs.

Okamoto also starred for the Japanese World Baseball Classic team that won gold in the 2023 tournament. In seven games for Japan, Okamoto had a .333/.556/.722 slash line, 1.278 OPS, two home runs and seven RBIs. One of those home runs came against Kyle Freeland in Japan's win over the U.S. in the championship game.

Okamoto was one of three Japanese stars to be posted by their NPB club this offseason -- along with fellow superstar slugger Munetaka Murakami of the Tokyo Yakult Swallows and ace pitcher Tatsuya Imai of the Saitama Seibu Lions.

"I believe MLB is the best league in the world, and I’ve always wanted to play there," Okamoto said when the news that he would be posted was first announced in October. "I’ve worked hard with that goal in mind."

It's rare for the Giants to post their players, let alone a star in his prime like Okamoto. But they agreed to let Okamoto pursue a career in MLB in 2026.

Okamoto is the second Yomiuri star to come to the Major Leagues in the last two years, after longtime ace Tomoyuki Sugano did so in the 2024-25 offseason. But the then-35-year-old Sugano, who signed with the Orioles, was an international free agent by that point and not subject to the posting system.

The last time a Yomiuri Giants hitter of Okamoto's caliber jumped to the Major Leagues was when the legendary Hideki Matsui signed with the Yankees ahead of the 2003 season. Okamoto will try to follow in the footsteps of Matsui, who hit 175 home runs over 10 Major League seasons and was a two-time All-Star and the 2009 World Series MVP for New York.

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Okamoto’s third base defense was strong enough to earn Golden Glove awards when playing with Yomiuri Giants in 2021-22, though he has played an increased amount at first base in the last three years. Scouts generally view Okamoto as at least a decent defensive third baseman at the MLB level, and his ability to also capably handle first base and left field adds to his versatility around the diamond.

Moreso than his glovework, however, Okamoto’s biggest plus is his bat. One of the top hitters in Japan for most of the last decade, Okamoto has hit .277/.361/.521 with 248 home runs over 4494 plate appearances with the Giants. He had a run of six straight seasons of 30+ homers from 2018-23 before dropping to 27 long balls in 2024, and he hit 15 homers with a .322/.411/.581 slash line over 314 PA in 2025 in a season interrupted by an elbow injury that cost Okamoto roughly three months of the NPB campaign.

A six-time NPB All-Star and a member of Japan’s World Baseball Classic-winning team in 2023, Okamoto is known for his ability to generate power while still making a lot of hard contact without many strikeouts. This approach fits right into the offensive gameplan that worked so well for the Jays in 2025. Blue Jays hitting coach David Popkins drew raves for his work in helping several Toronto hitters break out last season, and he could certainly aid Okamoto in making a smooth transition to MLB, perhaps particularly when it comes to adjusting to higher-velocity pitching. As noted by Fangraphs’ Eric Longenhagen, Okamoto has been inconsistent against higher-velo (94mph+) pitches, but he already showed improvement in this department in 2025.

The signing also represents a breakthrough for the Jays in their efforts to land a high-profile Japanese star. The Blue Jays’ attempts to sign Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki during the previous two offseasons were all thwarted by the Dodgers, which added some extra sting when all three players (particularly World Series MVP Yamamoto) contributed heavily to Los Angeles’ narrow win over the Jays in the Fall Classic.

While the Dodgers weren’t publicly known to be in on Okamoto, such teams as the Red Sox, Pirates, Cubs, Angels, Mariners, and Padres were all linked to his market. Earlier this afternoon, MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand indicated that San Diego “could be the frontrunner,” but instead it was Toronto who ended up sealing the deal.

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A Santander rebound could be the boost Blue Jays need next year

December 29th, 2025

Keegan Matheson

TORONTO -- No one in baseball will be happier to see the sun rise on a new season than Anthony Santander.

The Blue Jays’ biggest offseason splash from a year ago was barely a factor in 2025. It was a lost year, bogged down by injuries, poor performance and all the frustrations that come along with those things. Nothing went right, and there’s no silver lining to reach for.

This team needs Santander, though. It needs the man to whom it handed a five-year, $92.5 million deal. It needs the slugger who belted 44 home runs with the division-rival Orioles in 2024. All the Blue Jays can do for now is hope, but they still believe in Santander for all the same reasons they handed him that contract. If one player in this organization can bounce back in 2026, it needs to be the 31-year-old Santander.

“Tony is going to be huge for us,” said manager John Schneider. “Speaking to him at the end of the year and in the postseason, he battled to get back. … He wanted to be part of it so bad. He wanted to get off on the right foot. It didn't happen.”

Santander started slow -- as he often does -- then injured his left shoulder midway through the season and never quite escaped that injury. He tried to grind through it for a bit, but it was eventually revealed that he’d dealt with a shoulder subluxation and the recovery from that took much longer than anyone expected, at least externally.

Santander missed nearly four months of the season rehabbing from the injury and the inflammation that followed, only to return in late September for the stretch run. After appearing in five postseason games, he was removed from the American League Championship Series roster midway through that series against the Mariners with a back injury.

This was all a frustrating ride for the Blue Jays, sure, but it also had to be incredibly difficult for Santander as he tried to familiarize himself with a new organization.

“He is motivated. He is hungry to get back to the player we know he is,” Schneider said. “He's a big part of what we're doing. Again, I don't want him -- I've told him this, ‘I don't want you to think you have to do anything you don't do well. You don't have to come back and hit .300 with 50 homers to make up for last year.’ We need Tony to fit in the way we know he can when we signed him.”

Over 54 games, Santander hit just .175 with six home runs and a .565 OPS. Expecting a 44-homer season from Santander might be asking too much at this point, but what would success look like?

Given that Santander’s career OPS is .762, would a .750 OPS with 20-plus home runs be acceptable? That could end up looking even better if a slow start is offset by a strong finish that sees Santander show up in big moments in September and October. This may not be the ceiling the Blue Jays dreamed of when they signed Santander, but it would sure beat 2025.

Regardless of what the Blue Jays do next -- from Bo Bichette and Kyle Tucker to the rest of the free-agent market -- they simply need this bounce-back season from Santander. There’s no way around it, especially when you consider the possibility of regression elsewhere.

Will George Springer repeat his career renaissance from 2025? It would be one heck of a story, but the odds are against it. Will the Blue Jays get all the right contributions from their depth players at all the right times? Again, it’s likelier that these things take a step back instead of a step forward.

There are other ways to balance this. Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s regular season was very good this past year, but by no means great. Daulton Varsho was excellent when healthy, so perhaps a full season of a motivated Varsho adds the power this lineup still needs. Perhaps Addison Barger takes another jump, from good to great. None of these feels as simple as Santander, though, a non-factor a year ago who could, at the very least, be a useful power bat near the middle of this lineup.

The Blue Jays have ideas, too. They’re speaking about ways to help Santander shake those slow starts he’s known for, and he’ll be the most eager player in that complex to get the new season rolling.

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Cleveland North!!

Just think! If the Jays had a productive Santander and Okamoto during last seasons world series, the outcome, in my opinion, would have been much different. The 2026 version of the Blue Jays will be fun to watch.

Look for a re-play of the 2025 world series only with the additions of Kazuma Okamoto AND a revived Anthony Santander on an already potent lineup. We know the Jays can match the Dodgers when it comes to pitching. The Dodgers will have to add MORE pitching to stop the Jays in my opinion.

I think Okamoto's addition just put pressure on the Dodgers to make that trade for Tarik Skubal !!

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Cease signs largest free-agent contract in Blue Jays franchise history

December 2nd, 2025

Keegan Matheson

TORONTO -- The Blue Jays just jolted the MLB offseason to life with a major statement, agreeing to terms on a seven-year, $210 million deal with right-hander Dylan Cease, the team officially announced on Tuesday.

This deal is the biggest free-agent contract in Blue Jays history, blowing past the six-year, $150 million deal signed by George Springer five years ago. Arguably the top pitcher on the market, Cease, who turns 30 in late December, gives the Blue Jays a top-of-the-rotation starter to build around while they chase the World Series title they fell so painfully short of just four weeks ago.

While Cease is not coming off his strongest season, posting a 4.55 ERA over 168 innings for the Padres, he possesses all of the traits worthy of this big swing from Toronto.

One of the game’s more durable starters, Cease has pitched more than 165 innings in each of the past five seasons, showing the same durability the Blue Jays have coveted greatly in past pitching splashes like Kevin Gausman, José Berríos and Chris Bassitt. Doing this with Cease’s upside and strikeout rates, though, is what makes this deal so appealing.

Cease has struck out 200-plus batters in each of those five seasons, good for a rate of 11.3 per nine innings. That’s right in line with Gausman’s peak season in 2023, but Cease has maintained that level along with his excellent velocity, averaging 97.1 mph on his fastball last season. Pair that with a slider that gives hitters fits and a deep arsenal beyond it, Cease is a dream project for Pete Walker and the Blue Jays’ coaching staff, who have shown an ability to take veteran starters and turn them up a notch.

What a dream start to the offseason this has been for the Blue Jays, who have quickly given fans a pair of bright, shining distractions from that Game 7 loss to the Dodgers. There’s still more to come, but after Shane Bieber picked up his $16 million player option earlier this month, the addition of Cease makes the Blue Jays’ rotation a juggernaut.

Behind Cease, who surely slots in as the Opening Day starter, the Blue Jays will have Gausman, Bieber, Berríos and rookie sensation Trey Yesavage, who was their breakout star of the 2025 season, shooting from Single-A to the World Series. This is one of the best rotations in baseball and the Blue Jays still have all offseason to pad their depth group, currently led by Eric Lauer. This is officially becoming an identity of this era of Blue Jays baseball: rock-solid rotations built on big-name veterans and big spending.

This is an aggressive contract, too, which represents the Blue Jays completely jumping the market before it even had a chance to unfold through the Winter Meetings in early December. The front office is sending a message to the rest of baseball that the Blue Jays’ trip to the World Series was not just a blip, it’s the new expectation.

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Best Rotation In Baseball ???

Completely forgot about the Dylan Cease deal.

Behind Cease, who surely slots in as the Opening Day starter, the Blue Jays will have Gausman, Bieber, Berríos and rookie sensation Trey Yesavage, who was their breakout star of the 2025 season, shooting from Single-A to the World Series. This is one of the best rotations in baseball and the Blue Jays still have all offseason to pad their depth group, currently led by Eric Lauer. This is officially becoming an identity of this era of Blue Jays baseball: rock-solid rotations built on big-name veterans and big spending.

I think the pressure is on LA to make that trade for Skubal. I'll be very surprised if it doesn't get done.

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The Blue Jays officially signed Okamoto to a four-year, $60 million deal, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post. That's a solid deal that gives the front office some wiggle room to possibly sign or re-sign another star player to the roster.

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Wish the Guards had some of that wiggle room

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New prediction about Tarik Skubal trade should be music to Guardians' fans ears

By Henry Palattella

2 hours ago

There’s no pitcher in the modern MLB who is more dominant than Tarik Skubal.

After being a bit of a middling starter through his first three seasons in MLB, Skubal authored a breakout (yet truncated) 2023 season (2.80 ERA in 80 1/3 innings) that made it seem like he could be a solid middle-of-the-rotation option for the Tigers for years to come.

And then his 2024 season happened where he had rode an American League-leading 2.39 ERA to a Cy Young win. Then came last season where he was arguably even better (2.21 ERA in 195 1/3 innings) and won his second straight American League Cy Young.

And most of that ascension came at the expense of the Guardians, as Skubal has a career 2.33 ERA against the Guardians along with turning in starts of 7+ innings against the Guardians in back-to-back postseasons.

But he’s also an impending free agent, which has led to plenty of rumors and scuttlebutt about whether or not the Tigers will trade him at some point in the next seven months as opposed to letting him walk for nothing.

While it seems like the ship has sailed in regard to him being traded this offseason, the focus seems to have shifted to if the July trade deadline could be the moment he leaves the Tigers’ roster. On Friday, ESPN’s team of baseball writers put out a story focusing on their bold predictions for the 2026 season, where writer Jesse Rogers wrote a prediction that should make every Guardians fan smile: Skubal is traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

“They can even afford to trade for Skubal as a rental if the move leads them to a third straight championship, whereas just about any other team would need to immediately sign him to a long-term deal in order to justify giving up the prospects it will undoubtedly take to land a back-to-back Cy Young Award winner. If the Tigers fall out of the race, L.A. simply makes too much sense as a landing spot for Skubal -- that is assuming he's not traded in the coming weeks,” Rogers wrote.

Tarik Skubal may not be in the Guardians’ way for much longer

While a potential trade of Skubal to the two-time defending champion Dodgers would undoubtedly result in plenty of pearl-clutching about the rich getting even richer, it would be a great thing for the Guardians given that it means they wouldn’t have to worry about Skubal for the second half of the 2026 season.

Earlier this offseason, MLB insider Jon Heyman reported Skubal, who is entering his final year of arbitration, and the Tigers were $250 million apart in extension talks. While there’s been some mixed messages about Skubal’s future in recent weeks, it seems like they’re clearly listening to offers on the 29-year-old.

It makes sense the Dodgers would be at the top of the list for potential Skubal suitors given they’re one of the few teams in baseball that has no concerns about spending money while also having the amount of prospect capital needed to pry Skubal away from the Tigers.

The Dodgers were reportedly interested in Steven Kwan last trade deadline and were at least considering giving up some of their top prospects for him. Skubal’s potential asking price would likely be much more than that, even if he’s a rental.

Skubal has been utterly dominant against the Guardians in the time since he made his MLB debut, so any world where he’s out of the American League Central (and potentially the American League as a whole), would be a clear win for the Guardians — even if it would make the Dodgers that much better.

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[ With the additions of Cease, Okamoto, and a resurgence of Santander, I think the Dodgers have to make the move before the trading deadline. I also believe the Jay have now passed the Dodgers on offense & pitching. At least the trading deadline is enough time to shake the tree and see what falls out ]

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Predicting 3 Final Blue Jays Offseason Moves After Kazuma Okamoto News

There has to be more in store...

Jackson Roberts

8 minutes ago

Coming off an American League pennant, the Toronto Blue Jays have thus far done all they could to establish themselves as the front-runners to return to the World Series.

The Blue Jays struck early with the starting pitching additions of Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce, then added lockdown reliever Tyler Rogers in December. Then, on Saturday, multiple reports confirmed that they'd acquired Japanese free-agent third baseman Kazuma Okamoto on a four-year deal.

Still, nearly everyone who covers the Blue Jays closely seems to expect them to add at least one more big bat, and there's room to improve in other areas as well. So with spring training approaching faster than ever before, here are three more moves we believe the Jays will make.

Sign free-agent outfielder Kyle Tucker

The "big one" is still out there, and with Alex Bregman likely out of the picture because he plays Okamoto's primary position, it's probably down to either Tucker or Bo Bichette for these Blue Jays.

Bichette is the incumbent; he just hit a massive home run for Toronto in Game 7 of the World Series, and the fan base adores him. But Tucker is likely going to be the more impactful player over the next half-decade, and the Blue Jays are proving this offseason that they're willing to spend extra money if they think they're getting the best player.

Trade outfielder Davis Schneider

If Tucker comes to Toronto, there will be a major surplus of outfielders. Daulton Varsho isn't going anywhere as the center fielder, George Springer will still play the field on occasion, and Addison Barger, Anthony Santander, Nathan Lukes, Myles Straw, Joey Loperfido, and Schneider are all still in the mix.

Schneider is mostly a platoon player for the Blue Jays, but there may be a team out there that believes he can be more. Signing Tucker essentially eliminates a platoon spot, as the four-time All-Star would play every day, so the 26-year-old Schneider would maximize his utility as a trade piece.

Sign left-handed pitcher Taylor Rogers

Maybe this one is wishful thinking, but the Blue Jays could absolutely use one more left-handed middle reliever. And what better way to make Tyler Rogers more comfortable in the first year of his $37 million Blue Jays contract than to acquire his twin brother?

Taylor Rogers is likely being undervalued in this free-agent class because his last contract was too expensive, and his second half with the Chicago Cubs was subpar. But this is a former All-Star with a 3.34 career ERA who still struck out more than a batter per inning last year.

[ Looks like the Jay are in the drivers seat - DODGERS OF THE EAST ]

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Joe: What outfit does Henry Palattella write for?

Berea Elementary !

https://awaybackgone.com/

Sorry. Accidentally deleted my last post.

All I'm saying, you can make fun of the guy all you want. I like his writings. He brings a lot of good stories and player information that you don't get from local outlets.

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Are the Blue Jays building a juggernaut after narrowly missing a World Series win?

Updated: Jan. 05, 2026, 12:05 p.m.|Published: Jan. 05, 2026, 11:58 a.m.

By Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Blue Jays have established themselves as one of baseball’s biggest spenders this offseason, making significant financial commitments to reshape their roster with an eye toward sustaining championship contention.

Toronto’s latest move came this past weekend when they signed Japanese third baseman Kazuma Okamoto to a four-year, $60 million contract with a $5 million signing bonus. The 29-year-old brings impressive power credentials from his 11 seasons with the Yomiuri Giants in Japan, where he accumulated 277 home runs and 872 RBIs.

“This is a guy who can hit home runs,” noted Cleveland.com Guardians beat reporter Joe Noga when discussing the acquisition.

Okamoto’s signing continues Toronto’s aggressive approach to roster building this winter. The Blue Jays previously secured right-handed pitcher Dylan Cease with a massive $210 million deal and brought back starter Cody Ponce from Japan on a $30 million contract. The organization also picked up the $16 million option on former Cleveland starter Shane Bieber for the 2026 season.

“This is a big off season for Toronto and it’s gotten even bigger with Okamoto signing,” Noga observed during a recent Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast.

The addition of Okamoto could trigger further changes to Toronto’s infield alignment. The move signals the potential departure of longtime shortstop Bo Bichette, which could create more opportunities for two former Guardians infielders.

“If they feel he can play third base perhaps it means the end of Bo Bichette staying in Toronto,” said Cleveland.com beat reporter Paul Hoynes. “And if that’s so, that opens the door for two former Guardians infielders. Andres Gimenez who replaced Bichette late in the season... and Ernie Clement could go to second base to replace Gimenez.”

Gimenez moved from second base to shortstop late last season when Bichette was sidelined with a foot injury, while Clement made a significant impact in the postseason.

Toronto’s spending spree hasn’t been limited to high-profile signings. The organization also demonstrated its commitment to long-term planning by signing former Guardians pitcher Nic Enright to a two-year minor league contract. Enright, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery and completed treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma, won’t pitch in 2026 but represents a potential future asset.

“The Blue Jays decided to take a flyer on him. It’s good to see Enright land on his feet,” Noga said.

Toronto’s aggressive approach stands in stark contrast to Cleveland’s more measured offseason strategy, which has focused primarily on bullpen reinforcements. While the Guardians have signed multiple right-handed relievers, including Pedro Avila, Sean Armstrong, Colin Holderman, and Connor Brogden, they’ve yet to make significant moves to address offensive needs.

The Blue Jays’ willingness to commit substantial financial resources to established talent and promising international players signals their intention to compete immediately for an American League pennant. With their combination of experienced stars and emerging talent, Toronto has positioned itself as a formidable presence in the AL East and potentially throughout the postseason in 2026.

Whether this spending spree translates to on-field success remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: The Blue Jays are going all-in on building a potential juggernaut in the Great White North.

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Royals smartly sign former Guardians coach to long-term extension as manager

By Henry Palattella
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Jan 5, 2026

In 2023, Matt Quatraro took over as the Kansas City Royals manager to near-disastrous results. While the injection of Quatraro gave the team a little more long-term momentum than it had the year prior under previous manager Mike Matheny, the on-field results weren’t, as they finished the year 56-106.

But all that changed in 2024 when the Royals shocked the baseball world by authoring one of the best turnarounds in MLB history to go 86-76 and make the postseason as a Wild Card team. And although they took a step back last season and missed the postseason, the future is still clearly bright in Kansas City.

On Sunday, the Royals’ front office confirmed exactly how bright they think that future is by signing Quatraro to a three-year extension. It’s a huge badge of honor for the 52-year-old, who spent seven years working as a coach in Cleveland’s system before going down the path that led to him managing the Royals.

Even though the Royals didn’t really stand in Cleveland’s way last season, their star turn under Quatraro can’t be ignored, and having in the fold long-term will make them a dangerous club for years to come.

The Royals were smart to sign manager Matt Quatraro to an extension

Quatraro's 2024 season was the stuff of legend, as he helped lead Kansas City on a turnaround that included a 36-win improvement and postseason berth. He ended up finishing second in the American League Manager of the Year voting behind Guardians manager Stephen Vogt.

He started his post-playing career by working as a hitting instructor and manager at a variety of minor league levels in the Tampa Bay Rays’ system before being hired to Terry Francona’s Major League staff in 2014.

Quatraro spent three years working in Cleveland as the assistant hitting coach before being hired as the Rays’ third base coach after the 2017 season. He was with the Rays until he joined the Royals as the man on the top step of the dugout.

His previous deal with the Royals was set to expire after the 2026 season so it makes sense the Royals elected to work out a deal with Quataro as opposed to having him enter the season as a lame duck manager.

He’s not the first figure on the team to earn an extension recently either, as Kansas City’s front office inked starter Seth Lugo to a two-year extension during the season and third baseman Maikel Garcia to a five-year, $52.5 million deal.

They also signed former Guardian Lane Thomas to a deal in free agency and swung a trade for Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Isaac Collins. Those aren’t the kind of moves a team does if they don’t think they can win next season.

The Guardians went 8-5 against the Royals last season, with three of those wins coming in the final month of the season as the Guardians made their mad dash toward the postseason. It’s hard to believe Kansas City will be the same kind of afterthought next season, especially given the amount of continuity on their roster.

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