SYNOPSIS
In “The Opener” we will take a look at the recent arrival of Japanese talent in the MLB. We will analyze the recent signings of Munetaka Murakami, Kazuma Okamoto and Tatsuya Imai.
In the “Versus” we face two of the favorites for the MVP award in LIDOM 2025-2026: Brayan De La Cruz and Raimel Tapia.
And in “Press Room” we will tell you about the contract extension for Matt Quatraro of the Kansas City Royals and the action in LIDOM in its Round Robin phase.
THE OPENER
As many as three players made the jump from the Japanese Baseball League to the MLB this offseason. The last one was Kazuma Okamoto this weekend. He joins infielder Munetaka Murakami and right-handed pitcher Tatsuya Imai.
Today we will see the interesting Japanese invasion that seeks the success of Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, among others.
Let’s see:
KAZUMA OKAMOTO
The Toronto Blue Jays signed Okamoto to a four-year, $60 million contract.
The 29-year-old spent 11 seasons with the Yomiuri Giants, establishing himself as one of the most powerful and complete right-handed hitters in the NPB. Okamoto surpassed the 30 home run mark in each season from 2018 to 2023. He hit 27 home runs in 2024 and battled injuries in 2025, but still proved his worth by hitting .322 last season.
In the MLB, Okamoto profiles as a lower power hitter than Murakami. While Murakami boasts his power as a calling card, Okamoto is less likely to be a 30-homer hitter in the MLB.
However, he is arguably a safer bet thanks to his superior hitting and probably better defense than Murakami.
It is said that he might have the easiest path to adjusting to Major League pitching simply because he has simpler mechanics, puts the ball in play more. Something highly valued in the recent version of his new team.
MUNETAKA MURAKAMI
Surprisingly, the Chicago White Sox kept Munetaka Murakami. They bet on compatibility with Chicago. A team willing to play it every day and that has a local stadium with an attractive right field for a strong left-handed slugger. Murakami hit 246 home runs over the past eight seasons in Japan, including a record 56 in 2022, when he won the NPB Triple Crown. He led the league in home runs, runs batted in, walks, slugging percentage and OPS (.979) during that span.
Murakami, 25, only signed for two years and $34 million. The powerful slugger wants to prove that he can handle the league and then seek another longer-range deal.
There are questions about his strikeout rate, his contact, his ability to adapt to the toughest pitchers in the MLB and his defense.
In Chicago they see it more as a mutually beneficial relationship between a player who needs to show what he can do against MLB pitchers and a team desperate for power and relevance.
White Sox general manager Chris Getz was very practical when talking about Murakami:
“The opportunity to bring him goes beyond the baseball player, it’s the person. We’re talking about someone who is a superstar in Japan. Being able to have him now wearing a White Sox uniform is undeniable how significant it is.”
TATSUYA IMAI
The Houston Astros took Imai for $63 million over three years in a contract that includes buyout clauses after each season.
It was an agreement that attracted attention in the industry since there was talk of figures close to 190 million and eight years.
Interest in Imai centered on the idea that he is a 27-year-old player with a fastball that hovers around 90 miles per hour or more, and has a solid arsenal that includes a slider, cutter, splitter and changeup. The slider is emerging as his best secondary pitch. Scouts have been divided on the quality of his other pitches, which could determine what type of starter he becomes in the MLB.
The 6-foot-10 Imai shoots from a low, deceptive arm angle, which allowed him to dominate the Japanese League for eight seasons with the Seibu Lions. Imai posted ERAs of 2.04, 2.45, 2.34 and 1.92 over the past four seasons.
Those most optimistic about Imai see him as a mid-rotation starter with the possibility of reaching greater potential, although almost all evaluators agree that he is not on the same level as Yoshinobu Yamamoto. There are those who are more pessimistic and see him as a second-line starter who could even represent some risk as a reliever.
VERSUS
BRAYAN DE LA CRUZ VS RAIMEL TAPIA
In the awards schedule for the best of the 2025-2026 LIDOM campaign, Wednesday stands out as the day to meet the MVP. Several players stood out and have solid arguments to win the award. Today we present two of them. One, the great favorite, Brayan De La Cruz of the Toros del Este, and the other, one of the most consistent throughout the harvest, Raimel Tapia of the Estrellas Orientales. We cannot fail to mention other names such as Gilberto Celestino from the Toros del Este and Ezequiel Durán from the Águilas Cibaeñas.
De La Cruz was like an offensive whirlwind that catapulted his team towards qualification. His 40 tows in a 50-game season is not common at LIDOM. For his part, Tapia deployed an offensive that frightened his rivals. His effort could not give the Stars qualification for the postseason.
FROM THE CRUZ TAPIA
JJ 44 50
VB 163 205
CA 29 30
HITS 49 73
2B 9 12
3B 1 1
HR 8 2
CI 40 24
BB 19 15
K 36 36
BR 4 9
AVE .301 .356
OBP .372 .398
SLG .515 .454
OPS .887 .852
BRAYAN DE LA CRUZ
-Leader in RBIs (40) with 11 runs difference.
-Leader in SLG (.515)
-Second in OPS (.887)
-Second in home runs (8)
-Fourth in scored (29)
-Eighth in batting (.301)
RAIMEL TAPIA
-Leader in hits (73). No other batter gave at least 60 hits.
-Second in batting (.356)
-Second in doubles (12)
-Third in scored (30)
-Fourth in OBP (.398)
-Fifth in SLG (.454)
-Fifth in OPS (.852)
-Sixth in trailers (24)
PRESS ROOM
-The Kansas City Royals announced the
three-year contract extension
manager Matt Quatraro. Quatraro was already under contract until 2026, but has now also signed through the 2029 season. The announcement indicates that the agreement includes a club option for the 2030 season.
Quatraro, 52, took over
direction of the Royals after the
2022 season, replacing Mike
Matheny. Before assuming your position
Currently with the Royals, Quatraro
accompanies as bench coach and
third baseman for the Rayas, in addition
from being an assistant hitting coach at
Cleveland.
-The Miami Marlins have several offers on the table to transfer right-hander Edward Cabrera. Yesterday it was learned that the New York Yankees are interested in Cabrera as well as continuing their bid for Freddy Peralta. Miami will have to decide if it leaves Cabrera and where it sends him. Aside from the Yankees, teams like the Mets, Cubs and, more recently, the Giants have also shown interest.
-The LVBP issued a statement yesterday announcing the resumption of its postseason for this Wednesday, January 7. In the letter they indicated that in the next few hours the new Round Robin schedule will be announced. From this instance, only one day has been possible with victories for the Cardinals of Lara and Águilas del Zulia against Caribes de Anzoátegui and Navegantes del Magallanes respectively. Margarita’s Braves have not yet made their postseason debut.
-In the LIDOM Round Robin, the Leones del Esgido (6-1) defeated Las Águilas Cibaeñas (3-4) 5 to 2. The long-haired men silenced Santiago supported by a solid start from Conner Greene, who pitched six innings of just two hits to claim the victory.
For their part, the Toros del Este (5-2) beat the Gigantes del Cibao (0-7) 10-6. The power of Eloy Jiménez and Bryan De La Cruz, who hit home runs, was decisive for the bullfighting troop to consolidate its second position in the table. For the Giants, Francisco Mejía also blew the fence, but it was not enough to avoid his team’s seventh consecutive defeat. Today the fight continues with the duels Bulls against Lions and Eagles against Giants.
-Yesterday LIDOM announced that Gian Guzmán,
general manager of the Águilas Cibaeñas,
was chosen as Executive of the Year
2025-26 championship, after winning in
the vote carried out by a jury
composed of 69 communicators
national sports level.
Guzmán led the scrutiny by
accumulate 284 points, product of 48
first place votes to surpass
Jesús Mejía, from the Toros del Este, who
finished in second position with 228
points.
The eaglet executive received support
on 66 ballots, consolidating his election
thanks to the sporting performance of the
Águilas Cibaeñas, who dominated the
regular phase the season dedicated to
Don Juan Marichal. Today the winner of the Manager of the Year award will be announced.
