The Blue Jays built their identity around contact hitting, and it helped them nearly win a World Series in 2025. But in 2026, a lack of power, injuries and struggling contact hitters contributed to an offence that fell from fourth in runs scored to 30th. Why Toronto is sticking with its approach.

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I posted about this around the trade deadline, but figured it was worth an update now that the dust has settled a bit. This offseason is going to be a wild and strange one. It sounds like we have until December before the lockout, and according to Ross, the team will be operating business as usual until then.

Heading into next season (if there is a season), I think our pitching is in good shape. It's hard to speculate on which pitchers Ross will target (Ponce came out of nowhere to me last season, for example), but it's clear we need one or two SP and maybe a bullpen arm. There are plenty of good free agents and trade pieces available. The offense, however, remains a really tricky puzzle to figure out. There are some obvious questions and holes heading into next season, primarily:

Vlad

What are you getting out of Barger next season?

What are you getting out of Santander? Is he even on the team next season? (I think he will be, simply because how do you get off that contract?)

Who is playing LF? DH?

Is Ernie your everyday 2B next season?

I don't have the answers to any of that, but I think it's clear we need to bring in at least two bats who take walks and, in a perfect world, can run the bases.

I think there are a number of really interesting combinations of players the Jays could bring in. But first, here's the roster of hitters heading into next season.

For Sure on Team Next Season:

Vlad

Kirk

Oak

Giminez

Bateman

Barger (if healthy)

Not Set in Stone but Likely to Be Around One Way or Another:

Clement

Santander (contract)

Vally (he could be traded, but I think he has a lot of value as a backup for us)

Somewhat Redundant to Have Both:

Lukes

Straw

I love him, but I think they trade Lukes and bring back Straw, either by picking up his option or declining it and signing him to a cheaper deal. Straw has more defensive versatility and, by all accounts, is integral to the locker room.

Bubble:

Josh Smith (arb eligible but has options)

Charls McAdoo

Sean Keys

Davis

Pinango

All this is to say that with Kirk, Vally, Vlad, Ernie, Giminez, Oak, Bateman, Barger, Santander, and one of Straw/Lukes, that's 10 players, leaving us with three open spots on the roster.

IMO, we need an outfielder, a RH thumper, and a 2B. Here are some options for each.

Outfielder/DH

Seiya Suzuki: The most obvious and cleanest fit. However, his age (he turns 33 in August) is a bit scary. If we miss part or all of next season, we're missing most of his age 32/33 season. His defense was good last season, but was that an aberration? He's also the best hitter available, so he won't be cheap. Are you comfortable giving him a contract of something like 120/5?

Randy Arozerana: Another clean fit. He's an electric player, but his defense is horrific, and he'll be entering his age 32 season next year. Is he the kind of player you think will age well?

Teruaki Sato: The NPB Triple Crown winner will have plenty of bidders this offseason. He's 27 and can play the outfield, but he projects to strike out a lot next season and is a LHB. I don't think that's a deal breaker, but it does make things more awkward. Heading into a season with so many uncertainties about the lineup, is Ross comfortable adding another big question mark?

Ian Happ: He's not a sexy player, but he's interesting. He's a switch hitter who plays a good LF and, by all accounts, is a locker room leader. He walks a lot and hits for power, but also strikes out a ton. He'll be pretty cheap compared to the options above, but my biggest concerns are his age and atrocious splits against LHP.

Taylor Ward: He had a rough, rough season but apparently was injured for most of it. He sacrificed a ton of power for an insane walk rate, but if he can tap back into the player he was a year ago, he's got 30+ homers in his bat. My concerns are, again, defense and age. Do you want to bet on a 33-year-old bat to rebound? On the other hand, he murders LHP and won't be that expensive. He's the kind of player who, if you bet on him and you're right, could change the offense. But if you're wrong, things will get ugly fast.

Jake Bauers: He's barely an outfielder. He's a DH who bats LHP, so it's an awkward fit. But man, is he an exciting bat to bet on. Over the last season and a half, he's been one of the best hitters in baseball. His Savant page is as red as the Kenny Rogers' Roasters sign. I, for one, think the breakout is very real. The fit is awkward with Santander on the roster, though. If the Jays really don't think Santander is going to be healthy next season, I would be so psyched to add Bauers.

Trent Grisham: He walks a lot, might be better in LF, and could be due for a bounce back. But he's a LHB, and IDK, I wouldn't be super excited about him.

Some Trade Candidates I Like: Alec Burleson (same fit problem as Jake Bauers, but man, what a cool potential bat), Heriberto Hernandez, Griffin Conine, Jacob Young (Myles Straw++), Trevor Larnach, Casey Schmitt, Jake McCarthy, Steven Kwan.

Personally, out of all these options, I like Bauers, Suzuki, Happ, and Burleson (he will cost the farm) the most. Happ will drive people on this Reddit crazy, though.

I also really like the idea of trading for Jacob Young if we don't bring back Myles. He's incredible defensively and can hit LHP pretty decently. If Bateman gets hurt or underwhelms, Young can easily step in and be an everyday CF. The question is whether Washington would move him.

Second Base

I think this is a position where we could really improve and move Ernie into a super-utility role. Josh Smith might be the answer here, but I think he's better suited as a 13th man on the roster.

Jazz Chisholm: This is a massive gamble. On one hand, Jazz is a 5-tool player who is a year removed from hitting 30 bombs. He's fast as shit, has incredible range, and takes walks. He had a tough year this year, so he'll likely have to settle for a short prove-it deal. However, his struggles this season have been well documented, and there are real questions and rumblings about his focus. Frankly, he doesn't feel like someone Ross will go after.

Gleybar Torres: He's the kind of hitter the Jays should target, and he won't cost a ton. His defense is bad, and he's a bad runner. I'm less into him than others.

Brandon Lowe: Cards on the table, I want nothing to do with him. I don't buy his sudden defensive renaissance, and his swing decisions are Santander-esque. Plus, he'll cost a ton.

Luis Arraez: He's a slap hitter, and I could be talked into him, but I'm also not sure I buy his defensive renaissance. He's younger than Lowe, so maybe?

JP Crawford: He's a SS but isn't very good there, so moving him to second base might be an improvement. He had a terrible year on both sides of the ball, so he'll be cheap. He's a LHB, which would make him an easy fit with Ernie. He's also apparently beloved in the Mariners clubhouse. I just don't think he's very good.

Mauricio Dubón: I'm not super crazy about him, but he's a switch hitter with a lot of versatility. His hitting profile is similar to Ernie's, which isn't exactly what the team needs.

Some Trade Candidates: Bryson Stott, Xavier Edwards (I lowkey feel this is the guy Ross will target), Ketel Marte (huge gamble).

My personal preference would be to trade for either Edwards or Stott.

RH Masher

Ward: Discussed above.

Lane Thomas: .803 OPS against LHP.

Matt Vierling: .766 OPS against LHP.

Randal Grichuck: 1.025 OPS against LHP.

Trade Candidates: Ryan Vilade, Justin Foscue.

e/ I forgot one name. Rumor has it Texas is shedding salary. Jake Burger and his .892 Ops against LHP would be awesome

I'm sure I'm missing plenty of names.

Very curious to see which path Ross takes. Some possible ideas that I like:

Plan A: The Big Swing

Add: Seiya Suzuki + Xavier Edwards/Bryson Stott + RH bench bat

• Suzuki: Middle-of-the-order power bat and everyday outfielder.

• Edwards would be my preference here: Speed, contact and on-base ability. Takes over at 2B, allowing Ernie to become a super-utility player.

• RH bench bat: Trade Lukes and target Randal Grichuk, with Lane Thomas, Taylor Ward and Matt Vierling as alternatives.

Plan B: A Huge Gamble Add: Sato + Ketel Marte + RH bench bat

• Sign Sato to play everyday LF.

• Sign a right-handed OF option to provide a platoon bat against left-handed pitching and add depth.

• Trade for Marte to strengthen the middle infield and add an established bat.

• Keep Ernie in a super-utility role

Plan C: It isn't Sexy but could work

Add: Ian Happ or Taylor Ward + trade for Justin Foscue or Jake Burger

• Happ/Ward: Everyday LF

• Foscue: Right-handed platoon bat with insane splits.

• Against RHP: Barger starts in RF, Ernie at 2B, and the existing lineup stays largely intact.

• Against LHP w/ Foscue: Foscue starts at 2B, Oakamoto moves to DH, Santander moves to RF, Barger sits, and Clement starts at 3B.

• Against LHP w/ Burger: Santander moves to RF, Barger sits, and Burger starts at DH.

Plan D: A Blalanced Roster

Add: Ian Happ/Ward + trade for Bryson Stott + RH Bench Bat

• Happ: Everyday LF

• Stott: Everyday 2B, moving Ernie into a super-utility role and can platoon with Stott against LHP.

• RH Bench Bat

So far we have:

P: Soriano

C: Valenzuela

1B: Guerrero Jr

2B: Nobody

3B: Nobody

SS: Gimenez

LF: Nobody

CF: Nobody

RF: Lukes

UTIL: Nobody

Will update as more Jays if any get announced

I know the fit is really awkward with Santander on the roster (no, I don't think they will be able to get off his contract next season) but man would he be the perfect bat for this lineup. Combine him with someone like Taylor Ward and maybe trade for a new 2B and you could have something there...

Against RHP:

C - Kirk

1B: Vlad

2B: New Addition

3B: Oak

SS: Giminez

LF: Ward

CF: Bateman

RF: Barger

DH: Bauers

Bench: Vally, Santander, Ernie, Lukes or Straw

Against LHP:

C - Kirk

1B: Vlad

2B: New Addition or Ernie

3B: Oak

SS: Giminez

LF: Ward

CF: Bateman

RF: Santander

DH: Bauers (with Santander, Oak, and Vladdy doing some DHing)

Bench: Vally, Barger, Ernie, Lukes or Straw

I still think Suzuki is the cleanest/likeliest add but man, Bauers is something else.

The one that was shown on the preshow before the last game of the season.

In case anyone else has been waiting on your kids jr jays gear, it may still come in. Ordered my son's back in April and it just arrived today. They were just a little behind in shipping them this year apparently.

An update on Jake Bloss, and some of the other Jakes Toronto has sent to play in the AFL with the Mesa Solar Sox.

Happy Thanksgiving, hope everyone is having a wonderful long weekend with family, friends and whomever else you are celebrating with.

Hi everyone.

Our Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) Toronto Chapter will hold our autumn meeting online next Wednesday night at 7:30 pm on Zoom.

Our guest will be author D.M. Fox, an expert in baseball history and Blue Jays prospects.

He'll be discussing his new book about the 1926 Toronto Maple Leafs baseball championship team, "The Howleyites: Toronto’s Changing City, A Stadium Rising, and The Champions of 1926". For many years, the baseball Leafs played at a stadium near Queen's Quay & Bathurst where Little Norway Park sits now. The ballpark opened 100 years ago.

You don't have to be a SABR member to join us!

Send us a message us for registration details!

EDIT Okay! I have a good idea of what to do next. Thank you.

What is this product and how do I find it? (It's for a costume!!)

https://www.instagram.com/p/DeXRf10Frns/

Hello! Our reporter, Irene Galea, spoke with Rogers CEO Tony Staffieri on the company's sports portfolio and its future. It's focused on the business aspect of it all but, as a sports fan and Canadian business nerd, I thought others in the sub might want to read it.

The attached link should let you bypass the paywall. -Bianca, audience editor

Childhood memory of my favourite baseball player, Devon White, on Under the Umbrella Tree. Can skip ahead to the 22min mark.

We need Devo in the Hall of Excellence!