The Toronto Blue Jays have a simple offseason problem and a complicated way to solve it: they need runs, badly, and they need a bat that can change the shape of the lineup.
Toronto finished 2026 last in nearly every major offensive category, including runs scored, RBI, and home runs. That kind of season puts the front office on the clock, and general manager Ross Atkins has already shown he’s willing to be aggressive when the roster needs a jolt. A year ago, he attacked the pitching side with the additions of Dylan Cease, Tyler Rogers, and Spencer Miles, while also bringing in Kazuma Okamoto, who wound up being the lone bright spot among Toronto’s position players in 2026.
Now the challenge flips. The Blue Jays need help in the outfield, and the revolving door in left field was tough to watch.
George Springer also appears to be nearing the end, and he was the only other Blue Jay to top 15 home runs this season. That leaves plenty of room for change, and not much reason to stand pat.
Anthony Santander is part of the equation in name only at this point. He has been slowed by injury over the last two years, and Toronto needs to act as if he won’t be the answer.
Addison Barger is another uncertain piece after his season was derailed by the injured list, even if he avoided full Tommy John surgery. For a team desperate for offensive punch, banking on either player to carry the load would be a risky bet.
That’s where Randy Arozarena comes in. The Seattle Mariners left fielder is set to become an unrestricted free agent once the World Series ends, and he should be near the top of Toronto’s wish list.
He just finished his sixth straight season with at least 20 home runs and 60 RBI, and in 2026 he put up 26 homers and 79 RBI. That production would have ranked behind only Okamoto on the Blue Jays.
There will be other power bats available, but Arozarena is a clean fit for what Toronto needs right now. If Atkins doesn’t land him, he still has to bring in somebody. The Blue Jays can’t afford another offseason without a real answer in the outfield, especially not after a year like this one.
In Other News...
Blue Jays Face A Vladimir Guerrero Jr Decision They Can't Miss
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.s 2026 season left the Blue Jays with a bigger question than they expected to be asking so soon. A player who had long been counted on as the middle-of-the-order anchor finished with a sharply reduced power output, and the drop-off was stark enough to force Toronto to take a hard look at where things stand heading into the offseason.
For the Blue Jays, this is not just about one down year. It is about whether Guerrero can get back to the kind of impact that once made him look like one of the leagues most reliable run producers, because that answer could shape how aggressively the club moves around him this winter. The organization has to decide how much faith to place in a rebound before it starts making larger roster choices. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Suddenly Have A Risky Second Base Decision To Make
Ross Atkins has already hinted that the Blue Jays may not view second base as a settled spot for the long term, saying Ernie Clement would need to earn playing time in 2027. That alone suggests Toronto could be looking ahead to a different kind of everyday answer at the position, one with a more established offensive ceiling than the club has gotten there recently.
One name that has surfaced in that conversation is Jazz Chisholm Jr., a player whose power-speed mix would certainly fit the profile of an upgrade if Toronto decided to shop in the higher end of the market. The appeal is obvious, but so are the questions, because Chisholm is a pending free agent with a track record that comes with real upside and real risk, and there is no sign yet that the Blue Jays are actually pushing hard in that direction. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays May Have Found A Long Term Lineup Answer In That Trade
When the Blue Jays dealt Kevin Gausman to the Cubs at the trade deadline, the return looked like the kind of move that could pay off later rather than immediately. Brett Bateman has made sure Toronto has reason to keep watching, settling into a leadoff role and giving the lineup a spark, while Ty Southisene has also shown some promise in the minors. For a team that is always balancing present needs with future depth, that kind of return matters.
Gausman, meanwhile, gave Chicago a lift down the stretch and helped get the Cubs into October, even if his results were not as clean as the club had hoped once the playoffs arrived. His season now leaves Toronto with an interesting question beyond the trade itself, since the Blue Jays may still be looking at a familiar arm when the offseason market opens. For now, though, the bigger takeaway may be that the deal has already produced one useful answer for a lineup that has been searching for one. [Read more 🡒]