The New York Mets have a major decision to make this offseason.
Mets star Pete Alonso opted out of his two-year, $54 million contract and is set to be a free agent again this offseason. The 30-year-old first baseman is a five-time All-Star coming off a season in which he slashed .272/.347/.871 with 38 home runs and 126 RBIs. Alonso has only hit fewer than 34 home runs in one season of his career, the shortened 2020 season, and after seven seasons with the Mets, his time in the Big Apple may have come to an end.
With Alonso’s potential departure this offseason, one intriguing option the Mets could target in free agency would be Yomiuri Giants star Kazuma Okamoto, who will be posted for MLB teams, according to Bleacher Report’s Adam Wells.
“Japanese star Kazuma Okamoto will be posted for Major League Baseball teams this offseason by the Yomiuri Giants,” Wells wrote Wednesday. “Okamoto has spent the bulk of his career playing first and third base, with some experience in the outfield. His primary position has been at the hot corner, though he did play a career-high 130 games at first during the 2024 season.
“Okamoto could be a solid alternate option for teams that want to add a potential power hitter but are nervous about paying what it will likely cost to sign free agents like Pete Alonso, Kyle Schwarber, Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suárez. If the player doesn’t sign within the 45-day window, they are returned to their NPB club for the following season.”
Alonso has been a major part of New York’s offense for years, but if the team does not want to give the 30-year-old a long-term contract, Okamoto offers a cheaper option. Okamoto boasts a .274/.355/.501 career slash line with 248 home runs in 1,074 career NPB games, playing 130 games at first base in 2024. The 29-year-old only played 77 games in 2025 due to injury, but he still mashed 15 home runs.
Okamoto may not be able to replicate everything that Alonso does for the Mets, but if the five-time All-Star walks in free agency, New York should take a look at Okamoto to replace him.
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