The Toronto Blue Jays came into this offseason with a clear mission: replace the production of Bo Bichette. So far, that mission remains unaccomplished.
They swung big-offering Kyle Tucker a 10-year, $350 million deal-but the Dodgers stepped in late with a shorter, richer per-year offer (four years, $240 million), and Tucker took it. That makes it three straight offseasons the Blue Jays have been outbid for a marquee free agent. And with Bichette now heading to the Mets on a three-year, $126 million deal, Toronto still hasn’t filled the massive hole he left in their lineup.
Let’s not understate what Bichette brought to the table last season: a .311/.357/.483 slash line, 18 home runs, 78 runs scored, and 94 RBIs. His 134 wRC+ was the second-best mark of his seven-year career. That’s elite-level production, and it’s not easily replaced-especially not from within.
Cody Bellinger remains the last big bat on the market who could potentially fill that void, but if the Blue Jays don’t land him, they’ll need several players already on the roster to step up. Here are four names who will be under the spotlight in 2026:
Anthony Santander: Bounce-Back Season Required
When the Blue Jays signed Anthony Santander to a five-year, $92.5 million deal last offseason, they thought they were getting the power-hitting outfielder who mashed 44 home runs with 102 RBIs in his final season with Baltimore. What they got instead was a frustrating mix of injuries and underperformance.
Santander’s 2025 stat line was a far cry from expectations: just six home runs, 16 runs scored, and 18 RBIs. A brutal 27.6% strikeout rate and a .219 BABIP told the story of a hitter who never found his rhythm. A shoulder injury kept him out for nearly four months, and just as he returned for the playoff push, a back issue knocked him out of the ALCS.
Now, with Bichette gone and the offense needing a spark, Santander becomes a key figure. He doesn’t need to replicate his 2024 numbers immediately, but he can’t afford another season like 2025. If he can stay healthy and rediscover his swing, he could be a middle-of-the-order force again.
Daulton Varsho: Health Is the Missing Piece
Daulton Varsho’s 2025 season was a tease of what could’ve been. In just 71 games, he launched 20 home runs and drove in 55 runs-production that suggests he was on pace for a career year. But injuries once again derailed his momentum.
After rotator cuff surgery ended his 2024 season, Varsho missed the start of 2025 and then sat out two more months midseason with a hamstring issue. The talent is there.
The power is real. The defense in center field is a plus.
But availability is what’s holding him back.
If Varsho can stay on the field, he’s not just a replacement for Bichette-he’s a potential breakout star. The Blue Jays don’t need him to be perfect; they just need him to be present.
Addison Barger: Time to Take the Leadoff Role Seriously
Addison Barger’s first two seasons in the majors have been a mixed bag. He struggled in his 2024 debut with a 69 wRC+, but bounced back last season with a 107 mark-enough to show he’s capable of adjusting to big-league pitching.
Now, with Bichette gone, Barger is the leading candidate to take over the leadoff spot-at least against right-handed pitching. But to thrive in that role, he’ll need to clean up a few things. His .284 BABIP and 24.1% strikeout rate are both areas of concern, especially when paired with a below-average 7.2% walk rate.
The encouraging part? Barger showed better plate discipline in the minors, regularly posting walk rates north of 11%. If he can bring that approach back to the majors, he could become a reliable table-setter for the likes of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Santander.
Kazuma Okamoto: The X-Factor from Japan
Kazuma Okamoto is the lone major addition to the Blue Jays’ lineup this offseason, and he arrives with plenty of intrigue. The 27-year-old slugger comes over from Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league, where he crushed 41 home runs and drove in 93 runs in 2023.
The power is legit, but the transition to MLB pitching is always a question mark. How quickly Okamoto can adjust to the speed, movement, and sequencing of American arms will play a huge role in whether he can help fill the offensive void left by Bichette.
Toronto doesn’t need him to be an MVP candidate out of the gate. But if he can settle in quickly and provide consistent pop in the middle of the order, it’ll go a long way toward stabilizing the lineup.
The Bottom Line
The Blue Jays still have a talented core, and the pieces are there to compete. But replacing Bichette’s production won’t come down to one player-it’s going to take a collective effort.
Santander needs a rebound. Varsho needs to stay healthy.
Barger needs to take a step forward. And Okamoto needs to hit the ground running.
And if the front office can still reel in Cody Bellinger? That changes the equation entirely.
But even if no more moves are made, the Jays have internal options with the potential to rise to the occasion. Now it’s just a matter of who steps up-and how soon.