Blue Jays’ New $60M Star Matches Bo Bichette In Franchise Record With Surge

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - MAY 02: Bo Bichette #19 of the New York Mets during warm up before the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 02, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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The Toronto Blue Jays added plenty of new talent after reaching the World Series last year, but so far it hasn’t helped much in the standings.

The team brought in win-now free agents like Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce to bolster the roster, but they have posted a losing record to open the season anyway. Still, with plenty of time to go, the Blue Jays can remain optimistic about their chances of returning to the Fall Classic, especially as their newest star infielder heats up.

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Toronto Blue Jays’ $60 Million Star Kazuma Okamoto Leads Team In Home Runs

After joining the team following numerous Nippon Professional Baseball All-Star nods in Japan, slugger Kazuma Okamoto leads the Blue Jays in total home runs, RBI and slugging percentage. That is particularly good news as he is looking to fill in for former franchise shortstop Bo Bichette, who left for the New York Mets in free agency.

“Kazuma Okamoto signed a four-year, $60MM deal with the Blue Jays this offseason after a long tenure as one of Japan’s top sluggers,” AJ Eustace . “That Okamoto is adapting so well to high-velocity pitching is great news for Toronto. The 29-year-old was their main offensive addition in a winter that saw Bo Bichette leave for the Mets and spurn the club’s $350MM offer for a short-term pact with the () . The net result was swapping Bichette for Okamoto, creating some downside risk for what was a Top-5 offense in the Majors in 2025.”