Jon Heyman reported on his Monday livestream that the Cubs, among several other teams, are involved in the sweepstakes for Kazuma Okamoto. The other teams mentioned were the Angels, Pirates, Red Sox, Blue Jays, and Diamondbacks. Okamoto, a 29-year-old from Japan, has until January 4 to sign with a team.
His defensive versatility makes him an intriguing option for clubs in need of infield help, as he is capable of playing both third base and first base. He has also played 154 games in the outfield, so serving as a utilityman is possible.