The Toronto Blue Jays came out swinging this offseason. They opened free agency with a statement, landing right-hander Dylan Cease to bolster their rotation.
Then they followed that up by bringing in Kazuma Okamoto, a power-hitting infielder from Japan with serious upside. For a while, it looked like Toronto was building something special.
But momentum in the offseason can be fleeting-and lately, it’s started to slip away.
Bo Bichette is gone. Kyle Tucker slipped through their fingers.
And now, with several big names already off the board, the Blue Jays find themselves in a bit of a bind. If they want to make one more major move to solidify their lineup, the clear target is Cody Bellinger.
The problem? Just about every team that missed out on Tucker, Bichette, or Alex Bregman is now eyeing Bellinger as the last big bat standing.
That includes the New York Yankees, where Bellinger just enjoyed a strong 2025 campaign. So if Toronto wants him, they’ll have to outbid not just anyone-but everyone.
And if they don’t land him? Well, that’s where things get tricky.
Right now, the Jays are a team that went toe-to-toe with the best in baseball. They pushed the World Series to a Game 7 and took it all the way to extra innings.
That’s not a team in need of a rebuild-it’s a team that needs a final piece. Cease gives them a true frontline starter.
Okamoto brings intrigue and potential. But losing Bichette leaves a hole in the lineup that hasn’t been filled yet.
As MLB.com's Will Leitch put it: "The Jays arguably are still a bat away from where they need to be, but the options are dwindling fast. Cody Bellinger is still out there, but if the Jays can't pry him away from the Yankees, Toronto might suddenly have some concerns with its lineup."
That’s the reality. This is a club with World Series aspirations, but right now, they’re one impact bat short of looking like a complete contender. And at this stage in the offseason, Bellinger might be the only player left who can move the needle in the way they need.
Toronto’s front office has already shown it’s willing to be aggressive. They’ve made bold moves.
But now comes the hard part-closing the deal that could define their season. It’s not just about adding talent anymore.
It’s about making sure the gains they’ve made don’t get overshadowed by what they’ve lost.
At this point, it’s Bellinger or bust.