MLB Report: 1 Team Surprisingly Out of the Bidding for Okamoto, As Deadline Approaches

Less than 48 hours for Japanese star corner man Kazuma Okamoto. His posting window closes on Sunday January 4th at 5pm. If he doesn't have a contract with an MLB team by then, he'll be heading back to Japan for another year.

As we learn more about which teams are in, and which are out, we're now getting a report from insider Jon Heyman in the New York Post that one team thought to be in the mix, the Los Angeles Angels, has bowed OUT.

Angels on the outside looking in?

Jon Heyman is reporting that the Angels just might not be aggressive in their pursuit of Japanese slugger Kazuma Okamoto. Things looking better for the Pirates in their pursuit?

(Via @JonHeyman) pic.twitter.com/L3lCd3pKvn
— 𝐍𝐒𝟗 (@NorthShoreNine) January 1, 2026

Heyman writes, "the Angels showed interest, but aren't expected to bid aggressively even after getting Anthony Rendon to defer the $38 million due him."

It's a surprise revelation, for two reasons:

One, we heard a rumor from an LA podcast just a few days ago that the Angels were Okamoto's prefered landing spot in the majors. And two, the big sigh of relief of getting Rendon off their books and out of their clubhouse opens up third base for the Angels — Okamoto's primary position.

The Japanese slugger has been in the U.S. meeting with interested teams, a list that also reportedly includes the Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks.

All of those squads have spots either at third or first base, or in the outfield, another position that Okamoto has played some.

The 29-year-old has spent his entire 11-year career in Japan, where he's posted a .277 average with 248 home runs and an .882 OPS. In 2025, while missing half the season due to injuries, he posted a 1.014 OPS. He's a six-time Nippon league All-Star, and a three-time Central League home run champion.