Former MLB All-Star makes case for Pirates to sign Kazuma Okamoto citing momentum from recent $29M addition

The Pittsburgh Pirates are on a roll this offseason and their former All-Star player wants the franchise to continue with the momentum. The Pirates have made notable additions to their roster this winter, adding All-Star 2B/OF Brandon Lowe from the Tampa Rays in a multi-team trade and signing first baseman Ryan O’Hearn to a two-year, $29 million deal.

The franchise is also reportedly interested in landing Japanese slugger Kazuma Okamoto, whose international free agency's posting window will come to an end in the first week of January. The slugger is a power hitter with the ability to play third and first base.

On Monday, former Pirates All-Star Josh Harrison said he wants the franchise to sign the Japanese star and continue with their momentum this winter.

"Me personally, I think we’ve done enough of divvying up, trying to stretch things out on a situation that we’ve always been in," Harrison said on Foul Territory. "I think you have to try to take this momentum that you’ve been able to build over the past couple of weeks and put it to use. "And if you can make Okamoto happen, let’s make it happen. Because offense is something that has definitely improved over the past couple of weeks, they’ve made some really good moves. But pitching has always been a plus."

Harrison also spoke about how the Pirates should not take a step back now, as they usually do. They need to press on the accelerator even harder to reclaim their lost glory.

"Don’t cut any corners, because at the end of the day, cutting corners can get you back into a situation where we’ve always been," Harrison said. "Right now, I think you’ve got this momentum that’s starting to make Pittsburgh look desirable, you know, with the trades, with the signing of O’Hearn, and that’s not to say that you have to spend it all on Okamoto or that you have to spend it on Suárez."

Pirates' interested in signing Kazuma Okamoto?

The Pirates are one of the MLB teams interested in signing Kazuma Okamoto this winter. The Japanese slugger is in the final stage of his free agency and has held in-person meetings with several teams, including the Pirates.

Alongside the LA Angels and the San Diego Padres, the Pirates have thrown their hat into the ring to bid for the Japanese star. They have reportedly offered him a contract worth $64 million over four years, with incentives taking his contract to around $70 million.

We'll know before the end of next week whether the Pirates finally land Okamoto.

Edited by Krutik Jain