The Toronto Blue Jays are prepared to, apparently, make a surprising move with newly-signed Japanese infielder Kazuma Okamoto.

According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Blue Jays are hoping to make Okamoto a super-utility player. This would allow them to remain competitive for either Kyle Tucker or Bo Bichette in the free agent market.

Per Nightengale on Tuesday:

Even after signing infielder Kazuma Okamoto to a four-year, $60 million contract, with a formal press conference scheduled Tuesday, they still want to add another power hitter. Their preference is to make Okamoto a super utility player.

Why this would be surprising

Simply put? Teams don't pay guys $60 million to not play every day, or to not see them in the same spot most days.

Why this could actually be good

The Blue Jays are apparently living in a world where the money really doesn't matter, so we need to operate in that world as well. Any time a player comes over from Japan, there's pressure and uncertainty. No one is quite certain how Okamoto's hitting prowess will transfer to the big league, so if the Jays make him a super utility player who plays a lot, but not every day, they can shield him from some of the pressure. If he performs well enough that they eventually have to make him an everyday player, then great, but they can help deflect some of that pressure if he's in this role - especially early on.

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What it could mean for a signing of Bichette

We've talked about the Blue Jays' roster crunch ad nauseam this offseason, but this would open up a new dynamic.

Bichette could play second base, with Andres Gimenez at shortstop. Ernie Clement could stay at third and Addison Barger could go to right field. Okamoto could see some time at designated hitter, some time at third, some time at first, and some time in the outfield.

What it could mean for a signing of Tucker

Well, if Tucker comes in, then Daulton Varsho would be in center and one of Anthony Santander and George Springer would be in left, presumably. This would force Barger to third and Clement to second.

Okamoto could continue to fill in at all those positions as listed above, and he'd provide a late game pinch-hitting option, should the team's loaded lineup actually call for one.

About Okamoto

About to be 30 years old, he's a .277 career hitter in the NPB with 248 home runs. He makes exceptional contact and only struck out 11.3 percent of the time in 2025. He has six seasons of 30 home runs or more under his belt.

He also helped Team Japan win the 2023 World Baseball Classic, pairing with the likes of Shohei Ohtani, Munetaka Murakami and Yu Darvish. That team beat the United States in an epic gold medal final.

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