Here are three things we’ll be looking at today in the world of baseball:
1. Okamoto to be released:
Earlier this morning, it was reported that NPB’s Yomiuri Giants will release the slugger Kazuma Okamoto MLB clubs this winter. The 29-year-old NPB career hitter who hit .277/.361/.521 faces questions about his bat-speed abilities and whether he will ultimately play third or first base in the majors, but he has the power and numbers to significantly shake up the corner infield market this offseason along with other NPB sluggers. Munataka MurakamiHe also plays corner infield and is expected to be one of the league’s top free agents this winter. Unlike most free agents, Okamoto and other players who enter MLB through the release system will have 45 days to log into the majors after being officially released five days after the World Series. That scenario is unlikely to happen for at least a month, but MLB teams are certainly already adjusting their offseason plans to account for Okamoto’s availability.
2. Reduce 1 management position:
The Angels concluded their managerial search yesterday, hiring Kurt Suzuki take over Ron Washington Ray Montgomery will be in the dugout next year. While Suzuki assembles his coaching staff and the Angels begin their offseason, the other seven teams still have leadership positions to fill. The Giants, Padres, Braves, Orioles, Nationals and Twins still need to hire a manager, while the Rockies will need to hire a new director of baseball operations who will then decide on an interim manager’s status Warren Shafer. San Francisco appears to be the closest team to finding a new captain right now, with Tennessee head coach Tony Vitlow considered the front-runner for the job.
3. The Brewers and Mariners enter the offseason:
While the focus in recent days has been on the Dodgers and Blue Jays after punching their ticket to the World Series, the two teams that are in the lead for a string of pennants are now heading into the offseason a little earlier than they would have liked. End-of-season press conference with Seattle president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto and Milwaukee general manager Matt Arnold As is likely to happen in the coming days, both clubs will face big decisions in the offseason, Eugenio Suarez and Josh Naylor Both are set to become free agents after joining the Mariners at the trade deadline, and the Brewers are expected to consider the possibility of a trade Freddy Peralta. Perhaps these front office comments in recent days will provide more clues to Milwaukee and Seattle’s offseason plans as they look to return to the playoffs in 2026.
