The Toronto Blue Jays might look to signal one other Japanese participant this offseason.
Toronto signed Kazuma Okamoto this offseason to bolster its lineup, and he made a big effect. The Blue Jays might as soon as once more look to signal a participant from abroad, however this time, a pitcher.
Toronto is predicted to be one of many extra aggressive groups this offseason.
Toronto Blue Jays Might Pursue Japanese Starter
Toronto is predicted to be one of the aggressive groups this offseason, and pitching could possibly be one thing they appear so as to add.
One of many high pitchers set to be accessible is Kaima Taira out of Japan. He will likely be posted, however there are some query marks round him, as he doesn’t have a lot expertise as a starter and is simply 5-foot-8 and 220 kilos.
But, Blue Jays analyst Cynthia Ryley Delaney of JaysNation named Toronto as a touchdown spot for the right-hander.
“In all however two seasons, Taira has completed with an ERA beneath 2. Since 2020, solely two pitches in NPB, Liván Moinelo and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, have pitched 500+ innings with a greater ERA than Taira. Furthermore, Taira’s ERA led all of NPB amongst certified pitchers, although it’s value noting that the league is in a dead-ball period. In 2025, Taira was certainly one of 21 gamers with 50 innings of labor and an ERA beneath 2.00,” Delaney wrote. …
“The Blue Jays don’t must exit and get an ace like they did with Stop through the 2025-26 low season, however including a #4 within the rotation wouldn’t be such a nasty concept. Taira has an opportunity to be a stable back-end-of-the-rotation starter for the Blue Jays.”
Toronto might take a flier on him as a back-end starter, and if he doesn’t pan out, he might shift to the bullpen. He has served as an elite reliever in Japan earlier than going to the rotation.
Taira went 12-5 with a 1.36 ERA in 146 video games final season in Japan. He was additionally named to Japan’s WBC roster however needed to withdraw because of a calf pressure. He did pitch for Japan on the Tokyo Olympics and received the gold medal.
Toronto Seeking to Put Final 12 months Behind Them
The Blue Jays missed the playoffs a yr after reaching the World Collection.
It was an enormous disappointment for the Blue Jays and GM Ross Atkins hopes the crew learns from this yr.
“Baseball simply punches you within the face — even if you’re actually good — fairly frequently,” Atkins mentioned. “So I don’t suppose our gamers got here in with some stage of complacency and wanted any humility. However they’re going to study similar to they discovered from successful.”
The Blue Jays will look so as to add an affect hitter or two in addition to some pitching this offseason.
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