The Blue Jays’ lack of pop in 2026 has put their offseason shopping list in plain view, and the search for help could start with a couple of familiar names.
Toronto finished last in the Majors with 152 home runs, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was part of the problem. The first baseman managed only nine homers, a number that underscored just how little thump the lineup produced.
That’s why the winter conversation around the Blue Jays is already turning toward proven power. Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller said Toronto’s needs include the starting rotation and outfield, then pointed to two sluggers who could fit the bill.
"One would also assume Toronto will be heavily in the mix for Randy Arozarena and/or Seiya Suzuki, given how poorly this team slugged in 2026 and the gaping hole in its corner outfield," Miller wrote.
Arozarena is coming off his sixth straight 20-20 season, while Suzuki has put together four consecutive years with a 125 OPS+ or better. Both would come with the kind of price tag that usually means a multi-year commitment, not a short-term fix.
"It doesn’t have to be outfield, either, as this DH spot is up for grabs, too. (Unless you still have faith in Anthony Santander?) That could make Toronto a candidate to sign Teruaki Sato or Brandon Lowe, even though their starting infield looks to be in good shape," Miller added.
Arozarena and Suzuki would likely remain outfield options for the long haul, but either one could also slide into George Springer’s designated hitter role. Toronto’s need for offense is serious enough that adding both isn’t impossible, though doing so would almost certainly tighten the budget for the rest of the roster.
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Blue Jays Prospects Get A Big AFL Stage With Plenty At Stake
The Arizona Fall League has become a useful proving ground for the Blue Jays next wave, and this year it is putting three of their prospects on a bigger stage. Pitcher Jake Bloss, catcher Aaron Parker and outfielder Jake Cook have all earned spots in the Fall Stars Game, a nice snapshot of how much Toronto has to monitor as it looks for help beyond the big-league roster. For a club that is always trying to thread the needle between present contention and future depth, performances in a setting like this can carry real weight.
Parker has already made noise in the AFL with a strong season, while Cook has added value with his speed and offense, even leading his team in stolen bases. Bloss remains the name with perhaps the most long-term intrigue, because the organization still sees him as someone who could fit into a rotation picture down the line. The Fall Stars showcase will not settle any of those questions, but it does give Toronto another chance to measure how these prospects handle pressure against some of the best young talent in the game. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Just Added Flexibility To One Quiet Roster Battle
The Blue Jays quietly added another layer to their pitching depth by bringing back right-hander Lazaro Estrada on a minor league contract with a spring training invitation. Toronto also kept five other minor leaguers in the fold and added teenage left-hander Cheng-Hao Wu from Taiwan, a small flurry of moves that helps keep the organization stocked as camp approaches and the club sorts through its options behind the big league staff.
One of the more interesting ripple effects comes with pitcher Bloss, who now qualifies for a fourth option year because of his injury-related service time. It is the kind of roster wrinkle that can matter later in the spring, especially for a team trying to balance development, depth and flexibility without locking itself into decisions too early. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Offseason Could Hinge On Which Atkins Target They Actually Land
Ross Atkins has rarely been shy about shopping at the top of the market, and this offseason figures to be no different for a Blue Jays front office that has long shown a willingness to chase premium talent when it thinks the fit is right. The usual Atkins blueprint includes both marquee free agents and players from the Asian market, which is why Toronto keeps showing up in conversations around a wide range of possible additions. Among the names that make sense on paper are Freddy Peralta, Teruaki Sato, Seiya Suzuki and Kaima Taira, each carrying a different kind of appeal depending on how the roster is shaped over the next few months.
The challenge for Toronto is less about identifying talent than choosing the right lane and then actually landing the player who matches it. Some targets would strengthen the lineup immediately, while others would give the club more flexibility or upside in different ways, but the Jays can only make so many bets with the offseason market likely to move fast. In that sense, the real story is not just who Atkins likes, but which of those player types the Blue Jays are positioned to secure when the bidding starts. [Read more 🡒]