Why Cubs Could Pass On MLB’s Next Japanese Superstar

History would suggest the Chicago Cubs won't want anything to do with one of Japan's potential next MLB stars.

Chicago Cubs logo on the jersey of third base Matt Shaw (6) | Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Dodgers would not have won the 2025 World Series without the help of their three Japanese-born superstars.

Baseball fans are well familiar with these three players. The first is Shohei Ohtani, who is arguably already the greatest baseball player of all time, given that he's producing MVP-caliber numbers as a hitter and as a pitcher.

The second is Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who threw 2.2 scoreless innings to close out the Dodgers' Game 7 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on November 1, just one day after throwing 96 pitches in a Game 6 start. This (combined with him throwing a complete game in Game 2) was enough to earn Yamamoto the World Series MVP trophy.

Oct 31, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) celebrates after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2025 MLB World Series at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images | John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

And the third player is Roki Sasaki, who was arguably the most sought-after free agent aside from Juan Soto last offseason. While the 23-year-old pitcher had an up-and-down regular season for Los Angeles, Sasaki emerged as the team's most reliable reliever in the postseason and was key to them capturing a second straight World Series.

While it feels like the Dodgers have a monopoly on baseball's best Japanese players, the reality is that multiple teams have standout Japanese players, including the Cubs with Shota Imanaga and Seiya Suzuki.

Several elite Japanese players should become available for MLB teams to sign this winter. And all of them could potentially be on the Cubs' radar.

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Why Cubs Might Ditch Pursuit of Kazuma Okamoto

29-year-old infielder Kazuma Okamoto is one of three Japanese players (along with Munetaka Murakami and Tatsuya Imai) who are expected to make an immediate impact for whichever teams secure them in 2026.

Japanese utility man Kazuma Okamoto is expected to be posted this offseason and could be a fit for the Cubs.

2025 (NPB):
.322/.411/.598 | .992 OPS
77 G | 15 HR | 34 BB | 36 K

Primarily 1B/3B, can play OF.
Projected: 4 yrs, $90M

pic.twitter.com/oMS4t6uC0a

— The Wrigley Wire (@TheWrigleyWire) October 27, 2025

Some analysts and fans have believed that Okamoto (who plays both third and first base) would be a great fit for the Cubs. However, The Athletic MLB writers Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma explained why they don't think this is the case in a November 2 article.

Simply put, these writers don't see the Cubs' front office giving Okamoto the money other teams will be willing to, given that he's a 29-year-old corner infielder.

And history would suggest this stance is correct. The Cubs have been notoriously picky about who they give big contracts to, and their not being interested in New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso (who was a free agent last season when he was 29 years old), despite Alonso already having proved himself as one of baseball's best power hitters, suggests they'd feel the same way about Okamoto.

Kazuma Okamoto is another NPB bat that will be posted this offseason.

He dealt with injuries in 2025 but he has led the NPB in home runs 3 times in his career including a career high of 41 in 2023

Contract predictions for him seem to be 4/$90M range.
pic.twitter.com/M45OZ2EBec

— John Hunter (@JohnnyFBaseball) October 27, 2025

Instead, the Cubs might be more inclined to pursue 27-year-old pitcher Tatsuya Imai if they want to try to snag Japan's next MLB star in free agency.

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