Poll: Will the Blue Jays add another big bat?

The Blue Jays were the most active team of the winter and made splashes in the rotation (Dylan stops, Cody Ponce), bullpen (Tyler Rogers), and especially recently the lineup with their signing of the third baseman Kazuma Okamoto. While Okamoto has a chance to be an impact bat, given his track record as one of the best hitters in the NPB, he isn’t on the same level as a few other hitters Toronto has been linked to. On some level, the Jays are tied to most of the top free agent hitters this offseason. Recently, reports have focused on three names: Outfielder Kyle Tuckerinfielder Bo Bichetteand third baseman Alex Bregman.

Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reported yesterday that while the Blue Jays could add more from here, that might require the team to subtract payroll elsewhere on the roster. ESPN’s Buster Olney and Jesse Rogers wrote this morning that Okamoto’s signing doesn’t take the Jays out of the running for Tucker or Bichette.

Things have been relatively quiet on the Tucker front, though Rogers and Olney suggest he has both short- and long-term options in front of him. Whichever route he chooses, the annual commitment will be significant. Toronto has expressed its willingness to negotiate Jose Berrios this winter, but his contract is underwater. They wouldn’t be able to forgive the entire freight of the $66 million he still owes. Anthony Santander also makes significant money, but it would be even harder to trade him after a career-worst season in which injuries limited him to 54 games; Santander also posted a .175/.271/.294 slash (61 wRC+) when healthy enough to play.

Neither Berrios nor Santander would deduct enough wages to fully offset the addition of a Tucker, Bichette or Bregman. Berrios has $18 million in debt in 2026 and a $24 million salary in 2027-2028. Santander owes $16.5 million in 2026 and ’27, $14.75 million in ’28 and $12.75 million in ’29. A hefty $10 million of his salary will be deferred in each of those seasons.

If the Blue Jays are truly approaching maximum capacity when it comes to payroll, it’s hard to imagine them coming out on top for one of those star free agents. The Red Sox, Cubs, Dodgers and Mets are among the other major market clubs that have been linked to at least one of those free agents in some capacity.

Of course, it’s possible that the Jays don’t feel the need to cut salary at all. Their $279 million salary and $308 million in luxury tax liabilities (according to Grid source) are franchise records that put them in the top tier of luxury penalties, but the Jays have taken a lot of money off the books after this season. George Springer, Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, Daulton Varsho, Yimi GarciaAnd Eric Lauer are all primed to hit free agency after 2026. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projects Varsho and Lauer for a combined $14.1 million in arbitration this year, while the other four will bring in a combined $70.5 million. That’s almost $85 million in salary that will come off the books, and denying Myles Straw’s club option for next season would push that figure even further.

Some of that money should certainly be reinvested into the roster to replace the departing veterans, but next year’s free agent class won’t boast a transformational, middle-of-the-road bat on the level of Tucker or even Bichette. Seiya Suzuki, Randy Arozarena, Nico HoernerAnd Jazz Chisholm Jr. are among the top position players set to hit free agency next winter. While they are all talented players in their own right, none is a surefire, perennial All-Star like the top bats in this winter’s class. That could make it wise for the Jays to throw caution to the wind this year and make some offseason shopping a year earlier.

How do MLBTR readers expect the Jays to proceed this winter? Will they bring in another top free agent before opening day, or will Okamoto be their best asset on offense? Have your say in the poll below: