The Toronto Blue Jays have routinely been one of the top teams in a lot of different free agency sweepstakes’ over the last two years. Toronto was competitive in the Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto sweepstakes’ as well as being close to landing Max Fried, Corbin Burnes, and plenty of other top talent.
But they’ve come up short each time. This winter, they whiffed on Soto and tried to pivot to Teoscar Hernández. Hernández re-signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Blue Jays are, once again, empty-handed.
After whiffing on Soto and Hernández, it appears the Blue Jays have their sights set on free-agent outfielder Anthony Santander. Santander is coming off a year in which he slugged 44 home runs. He’s reportedly looking for $100 million in free agency.
What happens if Toronto misses on him, too?
The next and likely final option for the Blue Jays is Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. Robert makes a lot of sense for the Blue Jays because he’s young, affordable, and has enough potential to slug 40 home runs and steal 40 bases in a season.
It would cost the Blue Jays quite a bit of prospect capital to acquire the star outfielder, but he smashed 38 home runs and 36 doubles in 2023, so it would be worth it.
For Toronto, it’s less about fit and more about desperation at this point. The New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles are World Series contenders. The Boston Red Sox have one of the best young cores in the game.
If the Blue Jays don’t make a move to compete, they will be left in the basement of the American League East.