The Blue Jays are already getting a potentially useful break in the Seiya Suzuki chase.
Toronto has been tied to the Chicago Cubs slugger since the end of the 2026 season, and Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reported late last month that the Blue Jays are expected to be among the teams pursuing Suzuki in free agency this offseason. The latest update could make that path a little less crowded.
In a recent piece for The Athletic, Patrick Mooney reported that the Cubs are not expected to join a bidding war for Suzuki once he reaches the market.
"Suzuki, who was 19th in the league in fWAR, put up some of the best overall numbers of his career, which will probably make him a hot commodity," Mooney wrote. "Considering their pitching deficit, it’s unlikely that the Cubs will get into a bidding war for Suzuki’s services, let alone win one."
For Toronto, that’s the kind of development that matters. If Chicago steps back, the Blue Jays lose one of the teams most directly connected to Suzuki’s future, which could trim the competition before the real spending starts. That said, Suzuki is still one of the top pending unrestricted free agents available, so the market figures to be busy if he gets there.
And Toronto has a clear reason to stay aggressive. The Blue Jays could use help in both the outfield and at designated hitter, and Suzuki fits either spot. On a roster that needs a jolt, he stands out as the kind of bat that can change the look of the lineup.
That’s why the Blue Jays shouldn’t be shy about going after him, even if the bidding gets expensive. Suzuki could be the type of addition that helps push Toronto back in the right direction in 2027.
He backed up that appeal with a strong season in Chicago, hitting 26 home runs with 86 RBI and a .270 batting average in 143 games. That came after a 2025 campaign in which he finished with 32 home runs and 103 RBI in 151 games for the Cubs.
With power at a premium, Suzuki looks like the Blue Jays’ top offensive target this winter. The question now is whether they can land him.
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