Among the "Big Three" Japanese free agents this offseason — Munetaka Murakami, Kazuma Okamoto, and Tatsuya Imai — most would figure that the Boston Red Sox would be prioritizing Imai, especially given their affinity for quality starting pitchers.
However, following the additions of Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo via trade, those priorities may be shifting, at least slightly. The team's need for a power hitter in the middle of the order still looms large as the Winter Meetings roll on, especially if Alex Bregman departs for greener pastures elsewhere in the league.
Thus, it should be no surprise to learn that the Red Sox are pushing hard for Okamoto, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.