The Pittsburgh Pirates made some recent history in the last week.
When they signed Ryan O'Hearn to a two-year free agent contract, it was the first time they'd given a free agent a multi-year deal since 2016.
They've got a chance to double down.
Pittsburgh could use an additional bat in their lineup. And a player whose name has now been floated is Japanese corner infielder Kazuma Okamoto.
MLB.com's Andrew Simon calls Okamoto a "perfect fit" for the Pirates.
"The Pirates have been busy addressing their offensive deficiencies in the past week, swinging a trade for Brandon Lowe and agreeing to a deal with free agent Ryan O'Hearn," Simon writes. "But as long as Pittsburgh has the appetite for another significant expenditure, there is no reason for the club to stop there -- not after it scored the fewest runs in the Majors in 2025 while allowing the fifth fewest. If the Bucs want to give their Paul Skenes-fronted pitching staff the best chance to lead the team back to October, it makes all the sense in the world to bring in Okamoto, a 29-year-old whose bat was a consistent force in NPB, including a 41-homer season in 2023. If Okamoto could play third while lengthening the lineup, that would allow Jared Triolo to continue in a utility role. It would also provide some right-handed insurance for the all-lefty 1B/DH combo of O'Hearn and Spencer Horwitz."
MORE: Team USA's projected WBC lineup is incredible
The Pirates made noise at the start of the offseason that the moves were coming.
Now they've got Lowe and O'Hearn as two new lefty bats.
Okamoto would provide a righty stick with some serious potential.
If the Pirates want to keep taking steps forward, Okamoto would be a great signing for them to take a chance on.