Blue Jays Rumors: Jays reportedly eyeing better free agent fit over Munetaka Murakami

Munetaka Murakami is one of the most intriguing free agents available this offseason, with titanic power that earned him a NPB Triple Crown and the nickname "The Babe Ruth of Higo". However, for all of his prodigious talents, the 25-year-old slugger comes with serious defects, like questionable defensive ability and a significant strikeout problem that stems from an inability to catch up to elite velocity.

His best skills are hard to ignore, but at his reported price tag, is he really the best fit for a Toronto Blue Jays team that just won an American League pennant thanks to timely hitting and elite bat-to-ball skills?

Kazuma Okamoto is a cleaner Blue Jays fit than Munetaka Murakami

It appears the front office has the same question. Like Murakami, Kazuma Okamoto is a NPB star who was posted and will sign with a major league team this offseason. Unlike Murakami, the 29-year-old doesn't require heinous strikeout habits to tap into his elite raw power.

Could the Blue Jays be tipping their hand as to which Japanese star they prefer? As originally reported by Yahoo Japan, they were one of six teams with scouts in attendance for Okamoto's exhibition game against Korea.

Again, Murakami is the name with the star power. He burst onto the scene during the 2023 World Baseball Classic, showcasing his true 80-grade power that has had fans and scouts drooling ever since. However, he struck out at a 28.3% rate in 2025, and given that it seems like he'll be stuck at first base in the major leagues, he simply might not be a great fit in Toronto.

Though four years older and facing similar defensive capability questions, Okamoto is a more refined hitter who has very similar raw power to the scale-breaking Murakami. He has no issues with velocity, and his strikeout rate hasn't landed above 20% in a single season since 2019. In fact, Okamoto ran equal 11.3% walk and strikeout rates in 2025.

Though an elbow injury limited to just 69 games in 2025, Okamoto still hit .327/.416/.598 with 15 home runs and a 210 wRC+. In conjunction with his elite plate approach, he's a truly gifted slugger; Okamoto averaged 33.1 home runs per year from 2018-24.

For what it's worth, he also has (very limited) professional experience at second base and in the corners of the outfield. With his bat, he wouldn't even need to play league-average defense to be exceptionally valuable at those positions.

Alongside Tatsuya Imai, Murakami and Okamoto represent one of the strongest classes of international free agents in baseball history. The Blue Jays would be wise to pursue all of them if possible, but it appears that the elder hitter could be the best fit for their lineup in 2026 and beyond.