The Blue Jays have had Seiya Suzuki circled for a while as they hunt for a much-needed power bat, but Toronto may not be alone for long. With the free-agent market looking thin, the competition was always going to be real. Now there’s a new wrinkle: the Orioles could be jumping into the mix.
According to Aaliyan Mohammed of Baseball Now, former GM Jim Bowden believes Baltimore is a serious threat to Toronto’s plans. On a recent episode of GM Territory, Bowden pointed to the Orioles’ outfield as the clearest place to upgrade and put Suzuki near the top of the list.
“Their biggest need is the outfield, which is kind of interesting. They’re also looking for starting pitching, but the outfield is their biggest need … There are a couple of free agent outfielders that make a lot of sense for them. Seiya Suzuki is at the top of the list,” Bowden said.
Suzuki’s 2026 season with the Cubs gives plenty of reason for teams to line up. In 143 games, he hit .270 with an .841 OPS, scored 96 runs, doubled 31 times, launched 26 home runs and drove in 86. That production also earned him a Silver Slugger finalist nod, and if he wins, it would be the first time he’s taken home the award in his five-year MLB career.
Toronto’s interest makes obvious sense after a rough offensive year. The Blue Jays didn’t have a single player named a Silver Slugger finalist, and Suzuki would give them the kind of middle-of-the-order punch they were missing. His bat would fit alongside Kazuma Okamoto, who broke out in his first season with the Blue Jays this past year, giving Toronto a pair of hitters capable of changing the look of the lineup.
But Baltimore’s possible entry changes the picture. The Orioles finished ahead of Toronto in the standings in 2026, and they already added one major bat last offseason by signing Pete Alonso. If they decide Suzuki is the next piece, the AL East race for him gets a lot tighter.
That matters for the Blue Jays because the rest of the division isn’t standing still. The Yankees, Red Sox and Rays all made the playoffs in 2026, and none of them look like they’re backing off. If the Orioles add Suzuki too, Toronto’s path gets even steeper, and the fallback options in the outfield won’t carry the same impact.
For the Blue Jays, the next few weeks could decide whether they land the bat they need or watch a division rival get stronger with the same move.
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