(Toronto) The Toronto Blue Jays must quickly look for other options after coming up short with free agent Shohei Ohtani, who agreed to a 10-year, $700 million US contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Ontario team has significant holes to fill as they aim to return to the playoffs in 2024. Here are five players who could now be targets for the Jays:
The Blue Jays could well stay in familiar territory to solve their third-sack problem. Matt Chapman brings a two-time Gold Glove-winning defense, but he can sometimes experience long stretches in the desert on offense.
Represented by Scott Boras, Chapman should reap the dividends of a thinner free agent cohort behind Ohtani.
Chapman, however, lost some power last year, hitting only 17 homers after 27 in 2021 and 2022, but his defense remains on point.
A left-handed power hitter is exactly what the Blue Jays need at the heart of their offensive role.
Hiring Bellinger will be expensive, however, as he is at the height of his glory at 28 and has just bounced back with the Chicago Cubs. He hit 26 homers and drove in 97 runs while hitting .307/.356/.525. His .307 batting average is a career high for him.
Those stats looked more like what he did in his first three seasons with the Dodgers rather than his last two, during which he struggled.
Bellinger, who usually plays center field but can play first base, won the NL MVP award in 2019.
The Blue Jays rotation is one of the deepest in the majors. Adding a pitcher like Japanese Yoshinobu Yamamoto would give the Jays another ace and greater flexibility on the transaction side.
The Nippon won’t come on the cheap: he has attracted the attention of notorious spendthrifts and is expected to command a long-term contract worth more than 150 million.
With 2022 Cy-Young finalist Alek Manoah looking to bounce back from a poor campaign and prospect Ricky Tiedemann knocking on the door, the Jays have plenty of trade options on the mound.
Signing the 25-year-old pitcher would demonstrate that the Jays are serious about the 2024 playoffs. It would likely lead to other trades to fill the club’s other needs.
The Jays could take a chance with Rhys Hoskins, who underwent anterior cruciate knee ligament reconstruction last year and missed the entire season. The ex-Phillie could prove to be an interesting solution as a designated hitter if he returns to form.
Hoskins had four seasons of 27 or more home runs in Philadelphia, including one of 30 and another of 34, and could also serve as a backup at first base and in the outfield.
It could be that Hoskins is only interested in a one-year deal to prove his power is still there. This could be interesting for the Jays.
If Lourdes Gurriel Jr. returns to Toronto, he would give the Jays a left fielder with power and easily allow Daulton Varsho to transition to center field after the departure of Kevin Kiermaier.
Gurriel, traded to Arizona for Varsho a year ago, made the All-Star Game for the first time in 2023. His defense improved while hitting 24 home runs and producing 82 runs.
At 30 years old, Gurriel wouldn’t break the bank and would fill several needs for the Jays. Another ex-teammate – Teoscar Hernandez – is also a free agent and could be brought back to the Jays fold.
Hernandez isn’t known for his defense, but his power would be welcome.
