Signing Okamoto would be an interesting pivot for Seattle, as the Mariners have focused more on second base as a target for an upgrade in the field. The M’s want to see what they have in top third base candidates Foal Emersonor other young people like Cole Young And Ben Williamson.
Former sailor Eugene Suarez has been pretty much the only third baseman on Seattle’s radar, and even if Suarez were to re-sign with the team, it seems likely that Suarez would get a healthy dose of usage as a designated hitter instead of an everyday assignment at the hot corner. Trading purpose Brendan Donovan also has some experience as a third baseman, but Donovan’s versatility makes him a candidate who can be deployed anywhere on the diamond, and second base would likely be his most common position if the M’s manage to pry him away from the Cardinals.
However, while Okamoto has spent much of his career at the hot corner, he is more of a corner infielder than a true third baseman. During his time with the Yomiuri Giants, Okamoto recorded 662 games played at third base and 478 games at first base. He also played 77 games in the outfield, so a Major League team might be open to using Okamoto as a left fielder on occasion. Will Sammon of athletics recently noted.
Seattle has Josh Naylor And Randy Arozarena drafted for everyday duty at first base and left field respectively, but Okamoto could see some work at those positions if Naylor or Arozarena get a DH day or a full off-day. Arozarena is also a free agent after the 2026 season, so any playing time for Okamoto in left field could be viewed as a potential audition to see if he could be a longer-term fit in the future.
If Okamoto can deliver anything close to his NPB numbers, he would be a great addition to the Mariners (or any team’s) lineup. Okamoto has a .277/.361/.521 slash line and 248 home runs over 4,494 plate appearances with the Giants, and his stellar resume includes six NPB All-Star nods, two NPB Golden Gloves and a gold medal as a member of Japan’s winning team at the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
MLB Trade Rumors ranked Okamoto 19th on our list of the top 50 free agents this offseason and projected a four-year, $64 million contract. Given how Tatsuya Imai And Munetaka Murakami both had to settle for contracts that were far below our and others’ expectations. It certainly seems possible that Okamoto will also sign for a lower price tag than expected. This opens the door for the Mariners or any number of other suitors to get involved.
A short-term, ‘bet on yourself’ type contract with opt-out clauses could appeal to the Mariners, with some additional financial outlay potentially preferable to meeting the high demand for a player like Donovan or Kettle Marte. Seattle would seemingly have a particular appeal for Okamoto, given that the M’s appear poised to compete again in 2026, and the Mariners’ long history of welcoming Japanese players.
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