How Do the Top Left-Handed Free Agent Hitters Fit on the Blue Jays?

The Toronto Blue Jays enter the offseason with a few offensive holes to fill, with a corner outfielder being a top priority. Anthony Santander and Addison Barger should be healthy entering the season, but they struggled at the plate the last time we saw them. 

Staying healthy is another question mark, as Santander played only 54 games in 2025 and missed all of 2026. Because of his health issues over the last two seasons, he’ll likely spend much of next season as the designated hitter to ease the load on his body. Barger returns this season after elbow surgery. However, his biggest strength is his arm, so it’s unclear how he'll rebound once he starts ramping back up. 

The Blue Jays could also use an upgrade at second base over Ernie Clement. He was outstanding defensively in 2024 and 2025 but took a major step backward this past season. Offensively, he’s never been much of a threat, despite his historic 2025 postseason run. The Blue Jays offense needs a boost, which makes second base an obvious spot to improve. 

The offensive free agent market is pretty weak this offseason, but teams can target solid players, and Toronto has plenty of room to add payroll. DiamondCentric has compiled a list of the top right- and left-handed hitters available in free agency. I’m going to look at their list of the top eight lefties (sorted by 2026 OPS) and see how each would fit on the Blue Jays. 

1. Teruaki Sato - 3B/1B/OF

Offensively, Teruaki Sato would be an excellent addition, bringing much-needed pop to Toronto. He’s coming off a Triple Crown-winning season in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, slashing .306/.383/.609 with 100 runs, 39 home runs, and 106 RBIs. However, that’s really the only way Sato fits in Toronto. 

Strikeouts are a massive concern for Sato, who posted 164 over 614 plate appearances this past season. That's a part of his game that doesn’t meet the Blue Jays’ standards. However, with a thin free agent market, especially in the power area, and Kazuma Okamoto’s success, I expect the team will likely do their due diligence and check in on Sato.

Defensively, he has struggled, posting a .943 fielding percentage over his six seasons in the NPB. He played outfield early in his career but has primarily played third base since 2023. Many MLB scouts believe Sato will be best moving to first base. 

Either way, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Okamato occupy both corner infield spots. Also, if Santander is healthy, he'll be the Blue Jays' DH. The only way Sato makes sense with Toronto is if the organization doesn’t believe Santander will be healthy. 

2. Jake Bauers - 1B/OF

Jake Bauers didn't do much at the plate over his first six seasons. However, he turned it all around in 2026, posting his best statistics, slashing .266/.389/.484 with 93 runs, 26 homers, and 86 RBIs over 578 PAs. The consistent power was a surprise, as he posted only 58 home runs over his first six seasons. Bauers also played 144 games, marking the first time he played more than 120 in any season. 

The highlight of his season was earning the NLCS MVP after the Milwaukee Brewers swept the Los Angeles Dodgers. He slashed .286/.412/.571 and scored a run, hit a homer, and drove in six runs in the series. The question surrounding Bauers is whether this season was a fluke or a breakout. Some teams will pay to find out, but the Blue Jays shouldn't. 

They can’t afford to sign Bauers and be wrong. He could handle a corner outfield spot and give Guerrero a day off at first base, but his inconsistent bat is too big a risk. Bauers shouldn't be on the Blue Jays' radar. 

3. Brandon Lowe - 2B

Signing Brandon Lowe would be a massive upgrade for Toronto. However, he was given a qualifying offer, meaning if a team signs him, they’d have to give up a draft pick or two. In the Blue Jays' case, because they paid the competitive balance tax this season, they’d give up their second- and fifth-highest 2027 draft picks and $1 million from their international pool. 

This wouldn’t bother Toronto, but they also gave up draft picks during the last two offseasons when they signed Santander and Dylan Cease, who declined qualifying offers. They’re also likely going after either Seiya Suzuki or Randy Arozarena, both of whom have qualifying offers attached. They’d be the priority, and the Blue Jays can’t afford to pursue one of Suzuki or Arozarena and Lowe. If they signed a second player who declined a qualifying offer, they’d also have to give up their third- and sixth-highest picks.

Although Lowe would fit in perfectly for the Blue Jays, it’s just not smart to give up four of your top six draft picks, assuming they sign Suzuki or Arozarena too.

4. Joc Pederson - DH

Joc Pederson had a bounce-back campaign, hitting 26 home runs, his most since 2019. The key part of his season was staying healthy. He played in 136 games, which was his most since 2021. He’s been primarily a DH over the last three seasons, and the Blue Jays would play him there as well. This makes Pederson, like Sato, not a good fit unless the organization doesn’t think Santander will be healthy. 

5. Michael Conforto - OF

Michael Conforto has spent 11 seasons in MLB, but he’s been a typical platoon hitter. However, he can produce when he’s at the plate, posting double-digit home runs in nine of his campaigns. The Blue Jays already have several left-handed hitters who can play the outfield on the 40-man roster: Barger, Nathan Lukes, Brett Bateman, Josh Smith, Sean Keys, Jonatan Clase (switch-hitter), and Yohendrick Piñango. So if they’re all healthy, the Blue Jays wouldn’t add Conforto unless it was on a minor league contract, as he signed with the Cubs last offseason. However, it's unlikely he will have to settle for a non-guaranteed deal this time around. It would be nice to have an option who has some power, though.

6. Luis Arraez - 2B

Luis Arraez could be a slight upgrade over Clement in terms of defense, but a big upgrade in contact. However, the Blue Jays don’t need another contact hitter in their lineup. They need someone who can drive in runs because they can’t repeat finishing last in RBIs. If Toronto wants an upgrade at second base, I’d prefer they go after a guy further down this list.

7. Nathaniel Lowe - 1B

Despite the slight power surge Nathaniel Lowe could bring to the Blue Jays, he’s a platoon first baseman. Guerrero is an everyday starter at the same position. Like the other first basemen on this list, Toronto would pursue Lowe only if Santander isn’t going to be healthy enough next season. 

8. Jazz Chisholm Jr. - 2B 

Jazz Chisholm Jr. wouldn’t necessarily be an upgrade over Clement in the field, but he’d be a massive boost at the plate. The former Yankee has had mixed results at second base over the years. In 2026, he produced a +8 FRV but a -6 DRS. His career .974 fielding percentage at second ranks last among active players (min. 1,500 innings) since his debut in 2020.

However, Chisholm has hit 127 home runs and stolen 171 bases over his career. Power and speed are two things the Blue Jays could greatly benefit from more of, and he would cost about the same as Arraez. If they want to pay up for an upgrade at the position, Chisholm or Gleyber Torres would be ideal targets because they don’t have qualifying offers attached and will be cheaper than Lowe.

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