How the Mets can help themselves from Japan's free agent market
Two Japanese sluggers could be good fits at the two corner infield spots this offseason. Plus, two former coaches end up in Atlanta with the Braves...
What’s up with the Mets? 🍎
Former Mets coaches Jeremy Hefner and Antoan Richardson officially joined the Braves as pitching coach and first base coach, respectively
Richardson revealed that he didn’t return to the Mets because he couldn’t agree to terms on a new deal with the team (NY Post)
Richardson was credited with helping the Mets steal 147 bases in 2025 - the fifth-most in baseball - and his departure will be seen as a huge blow
The Mets announced their full spring training schedule, with their first Grapefruit League game taking place on Feb. 21 against the Marlins (Full schedule)
Rumor Mill 🔎
The Mets are among the possible suitors for Yomiuri Giants 3B Kazuma Okamoto (MLB.com)
Could these NPB stars be a good fit for the Mets? ✍️
It is no secret that the Mets have a lot of tough sledding to do this winter if they want to bounce back in 2026.
That’s stating the obvious.
The front office has a to-do list as tall as the Empire State Building, and a plethora of needs to try and address all in one offseason.
Chief among them will be working out what the infield will look like in 2026 and beyond.
Will Pete Alonso return?
Is it time to move on from Jeff McNeil?
And can this team really afford to risk another year with Mark Vientos at the hot corner?
The key to all of those questions could be two stars from the Nippon Professional Baseball league in Japan…
Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto, who will both be posted this winter.
Let’s start with Murakami.
We already know that the Mets could have some interest in Murakami given that president of baseball operations David Stearns flew to Japan in August in order to see the slugger in action in person.
Stearns has yet to really dip his toes into the Japanese waters for players, although that isn’t for the lack of trying given that he showed interest in both Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki before they ultimately signed with the Dodgers.
Murakami could be an intriguing fit for the Mets, and also a smart way in which to address several potential needs this offseason.
Firstly, the 25-year-old is a left-handed hitting slugger with a lot of power at his disposal. He has eclipsed 30 homers five times in the past six seasons, and hit 22 home runs in just 56 games in 2025 after missing most of the year with an oblique injury.
He is primarily a third baseman but has logged time at first, with scouts viewing the 25-year-old as a long-term first baseman. Therefore, Murakami could be viewed as a potential high-upside replacement for Alonso, while also having the versatility and flexibility to play third base if needed too. There is also the potential to log some time at DH too.
Alternatively, if the Mets decide to move on from both Vientos and McNeil, then Murakami would offer plenty of power at the hot corner while Brett Baty could be moved over to second base. There are several ways to fit Murakami into the lineup if the front office views the slugger as a real fit.
Plus, at just 25 years old, there is still room for improvement and there is the potential for Murakami to get even better as a power hitter. He could be a low-risk, high-reward fit at both corner infield spots.
The two biggest rubs against Murakami are that he strikes out a lot, with his SO% now above 28% for the last three straight years. Plus, if McNeil is still on the roster in 2026, there could be an imbalance in the lineup with Murakami, Juan Soto, Brandon Nimmo, and McNeil all pure lefties.
Another road to go down, especially if Alonso returns, could be to pursue Kazuma Okamoto. Per Jon Morosi of MLB.com, the Mets and the Tigers are the two teams with an interest in the Yomiuri Giants star.
Okamoto posted six straight seasons of at least 30 home runs between 2018 and 2023, and finished the 2025 season with a 1.000 OPS and 15 home runs despite missing a chunk of the year through injury. His career-high for home runs in a single season is 41.
Furthermore, Okamoto is a third baseman who can also log reps at first, and he profiles to be a better defensive infielder than Murakami. So, if the Mets wanted to move on from both Vientos and McNeil this offseason, Okamoto could be an intriguing option to slide in at third base given his power and his glove. Again, Baty could then become the team’s everyday second baseman.
Both Okamoto and Murakami clearly possess a lot of upside, and they could also offer New York a lot of flexibility given that both players can play both corner infield spots. That could be important for a team with a lot of holes to fill this winter.
All in all, the Mets have a lot of question marks hovering over both corner infield spots this offseason. They need a long-term solution at the hot corner, and potentially a power-hitting slugger at first if Alonso decides to sign elsewhere in free agency.
With not a whole lot of star power available in free agency at either of the two corner infield spots, maybe the Mets would be best thinking outside of the box and going overseas for their answers.
I mean, shopping in Japan has worked out pretty well for the Dodgers, hasn’t it?
Around the League 🚩
The Giants are finalizing a deal for Bruce Bochy to return to San Francisco in a special assistant role (San Francisco Chronicle)
The Orioles reached an agreement to sign veteran outfielder Leody Taveras (Mike Rodriguez)
The Mariners acquired RHP Cole Wilcox from the Rays in exchange for cash considerations
INF Jorge Polanco turned down his $8 million mutual option from the Mariners and is now a free agent (NY Post)
The Braves will exercise their club option on LHP Chris Sale, who will make $18 million in 2026 (NY Post)
When I hear the words "strikeouts" and "injury" in your description of these Japanese ballplayers, my immediate reaction is "walk away"!
Too much is being made of Richardson leaving. The reason the Mets stole so many bases last season was because they actually ran. I am sure he helped them be more successful in pointing out what to look for, and he gave them more confidence. But it was also the players being more willing to run, to be aggressive. Get another competent first base coach, one with a positive, aggressive approach, and the team should see continued success stealing bases. With two base stealers coming up from the system in Williams and Morabito, the running game should continue to flourish, as long as the first time someone gets thrown out, the entire Mets Universe doesn't go into a meltdown mode.