Japanese star Okamoto Kazuma has reached a deal to play for the Toronto Blue Jays in Major League Baseball.
The Blue Jays announced on Sunday that they have acquired the 29-year-old Okamoto through the posting system.
US media are reporting that he signed a four-year contract worth 60 million dollars.
Okamoto won the home run and RBI titles in 2020 and 2021 as a member of the Yomiuri Giants. He has also won Japanese professional baseball’s Golden Glove Award both as a third and first baseman.
Okamoto excels both in batting and fielding and had drawn much attention during the offseason.
The Blue Jays are in the American League’s East division and are the only MLB team based in Canada.
Last season, the team advanced to the World Series for the first time in 32 years but lost in seven games against the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
Okamoto is expected to bolster a Blue Jays’ batting order that is centered on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Meanwhile, the Houston Astros say Seibu Lions pitcher Imai Tatsuya has joined the team.
US media report that Imai signed a three-year contract worth up to 63 million dollars including incentives.
The right-hander’s fastballs clock in at 160 kilometers per hour. He also throws a variety of sliders.
Imai won 10 games and lost five, with an ERA of 1.92 last season. He was given one of the highest evaluations among starting pitchers this offseason.