Report: Blue Jays interested in Japanese slugger Tsutsugo

The Toronto Blue Jays are definitely interested in signing Japanese first baseman/outfielder Yoshitomo Tsutsugo once he's posted, according to Scott Mitchell of TSN.

However, the market for the Japanese star's services remains unclear and Toronto likely isn't a front-runner to land him at this time, Mitchell added.

Tsutsugo, who will turn 28 later this month, has spent 10 seasons with the Yokohama BayStars in the Japanese Central League. He's coming off a year in which he hit .272/.388/.511 with 29 home runs in 131 games. His best campaign came in 2016 when he mashed 44 homers with 110 RBIs while posting a 1.110 OPS in 133 games.

All told, Tsutsugo has slashed .285/.382/.528 across 968 games with the BayStars while recording 205 home runs, 615 RBIs, and 195 doubles. Now, he's ready to take his talents to Major League Baseball.

"I’ve dreamed of playing in the majors since before I turned pro, since I was a child," Tsutsugo said recently, according to Jason Coskrey of the Japan Times.

With Justin Smoak hitting free agency, the Blue Jays have a potential opening at first base, though Rowdy Tellez is still in the fold.