Blue Jays’ latest blockbuster move hurts, but could also help Red Sox

The deal, which includes a $5 million signing bonus and no opt-outs, could also be a boon for the Boston Red Sox, who remain in pursuit of veteran third baseman Alex Bregman.

Okamoto, 29, primarily played first and third during his 11 seasons with the Yomiuri Giants in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league and is expected to be Toronto’s everyday third baseman.

The infield corners, as well as Okamoto’s ability to hit for both contact and power, were Boston’s top position-player areas of need at the start of the offseason, and they were among several teams linked to him. He hit at least 30 home runs in six consecutive seasons before ‘25, when a left elbow injury limited him to 69 games (he still managed to hit 15 home runs). Over 1,074 games for the Yomiuri Giants since his 2015 debut at age 19, Okamoto hit .277 with .361 on-base and .521 slugging percentages.

The Red Sox checked first base off their list with last month’s acquisition of veteran catcher-turned-first-baseman Willson Contreras from the St. Louis Cardinals, but third base remains a question mark.

Bregman has been at the top of the Red Sox wish list since he opted out of the remaining two seasons of his three-year, $120 million deal, but he’s seeking a longer-term deal. The Red Sox, who spent most of the first two decades of this century making blockbuster free-agent signings, have pivoted almost exclusively to team-friendly extensions for young players. Since 2019 they have only signed two free agents to deals longer than two years: Trevor Story and Masataka Yoshida.

Though Toronto is presumably out of the running for Bregman, the Red Sox still have competition in the Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs, and Detroit Tigers.

Sources say Boston has ramped up their pursuit of Bregman in recent days. On Friday ESPN’s Buster Olney reported that they “have made an aggressive offer.” The Red Sox are, however, also interested in Bo Bichette, the other top free agent infielder.

After losing the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers in extra innings in Game 7, Toronto has been one of this offseason’s biggest spenders. The defending AL pennant winners have already signed starting pitcher Dylan Cease (seven-year, $210 million), starter Cody Ponce (three years, $30 million) and reliever Tyler Rogers (three years, $37 million). Starter Shane Bieber also exercised his $16 million player option for ‘26.

As of 7 p.m. ET Saturday, the Red Sox remain one of two major league teams without a dollar spent in free agency this offseason.