The Toronto Blue Jays came into this offseason already reeling from the loss of Bo Bichette, who signed with the New York Mets in free agency. That’s not just a bat leaving the lineup - that’s a cornerstone player, a dynamic offensive engine gone.
But the plan, at least internally, seemed to hinge on a bounce-back year from Anthony Santander. A healthy Santander was expected to help stabilize the lineup and soften the blow of losing their All-Star shortstop.
Now, that plan’s taken a serious hit. Santander will be sidelined for five to six months following surgery on his left shoulder - a brutal development for a team already trying to patch up its offensive identity. With spring training on the horizon and the free agent pool thinning, Toronto may be forced into a late move to find a power bat who can help keep them afloat until Santander returns.
Here’s a look at three remaining free agent hitters who could be realistic fits for the Blue Jays - not perfect solutions, but potentially key contributors in a lineup that suddenly needs a spark.
Nathaniel Lowe: A Bat-First Option with Platoon Upside
If Toronto’s priority is simply replacing some of the lost production - not necessarily replicating Bichette’s skillset, but just getting quality at-bats back into the mix - Nathaniel Lowe checks a few boxes. Over a full season pace, he’s averaged 21 home runs, 80 RBIs, and a .771 OPS - not elite, but certainly dependable. And against right-handed pitching, he’s been especially effective, with a career OPS approaching .800 from the left side.
That kind of lefty power could help balance a lineup that leans right-handed. But here’s the catch: Lowe is primarily a first baseman or a DH, and the Blue Jays already have Vladimir Guerrero Jr. locked in at first.
That means Lowe would likely have to slot in as the designated hitter - which could push George Springer, now 36, back into the outfield more regularly. That’s not an ideal scenario defensively, but if the offense needs a jolt, it’s a trade-off the Jays may have to consider.
Jesse Winker: A Lefty With Pop - And a Bit of Speed
Jesse Winker might not be the flashiest name left on the market, but there’s a reason he’s still drawing interest. He was an All-Star not too long ago - 2021 with the Reds - when he hit .305 with a .949 OPS and 24 homers.
Injuries and inconsistency have clouded the years since, but the underlying tools are still there. Over a full season pace, he’s averaged close to 20 home runs and 70 RBIs, with a career OPS over .800.
What’s intriguing is the speed he flashed in 2024 - 14 stolen bases in 18 attempts, which was a surprise development for a player not known for his legs. He missed most of 2025 due to injury while with the Mets, but if he’s healthy now, he could offer a blend of power, on-base ability, and sneaky athleticism.
Winker also brings left-handed balance, which the Jays could use, and he has enough defensive versatility to play either corner outfield spot. If he’s anywhere near his 2021 form - or even his 2024 version - he could be a low-risk, high-upside signing.
Michael Conforto: A Bounce-Back Candidate with Championship Pedigree
The Blue Jays have flirted with the idea of Michael Conforto before, and this might be the right time to finally bring him in. He’s coming off a tough season with the Dodgers - a .199 average and .637 OPS over 138 games - but there’s more context here.
Just a year prior, in 2024 with the Giants, he hit 20 homers with a .759 OPS in 130 games. That’s not vintage Conforto, but it’s respectable production from a left-handed bat who knows how to work counts and hit for power.
At 33, he’s probably not returning to his peak numbers - the 33-homer, 92-RBI version of Conforto is likely in the rearview. But he still profiles as a capable contributor, especially in a platoon role.
He’s historically crushed right-handed pitching, with a career OPS north of .800 against righties. That fits nicely into a Blue Jays lineup that could use more matchup flexibility.
Defensively, he’s solid - a career .986 fielding percentage in the outfield - and he’s already embraced a semi-platoon role in recent years. That makes him a logical short-term fit until Santander is ready to return, especially if the Jays want to avoid overextending Springer or Daulton Varsho early in the season.
The Bottom Line
There’s no replacing Bo Bichette with a single move. And now, with Santander sidelined for much of the first half of the season, the Blue Jays are staring at a lineup that needs help - and fast. None of these three options are perfect, but each brings something Toronto could use: left-handed power, veteran experience, and positional versatility.
The front office has a decision to make. Do they patch the hole with what’s left on the market, or ride it out and hope for internal solutions? If they choose the former, Lowe, Winker, and Conforto all bring different strengths to the table - and any one of them could be the kind of under-the-radar move that keeps the Jays in the fight until their lineup is whole again.