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After reading your post and the more I think about it, Brendan Donovan would be a perfect fit here.
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That's hilarious. Given Buxton’s age and injury history, I don’t think the Twins could realistically demand a massive return.
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I wouldn't want any of those guys playing second base, unless in an emergency. If Suarez is brought in, he’d likely handle most of the time at third base, with Okamoto shifting to left field and occasionally filling in at third or first when Vladdy or Suarez needs a day off or moves to DH.
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Donovan wouldn’t be a true needle-mover, but he offers a solid 3 WAR floor, with upside if Popkins can unlock a bit more with the bat. He brings strong on-base skills with moderate pop and would represent a clear offensive upgrade over both Clement and Giménez. Clement may project around 3 WAR at second base, but given his journeyman track record, some regression is a fair expectation. Giménez, meanwhile, could become a real offensive drag over a full season. Donovan’s versatility is also a big plus. He can move between the outfield, third base, shortstop and second base, giving the Jays flexibility with lineup construction and allowing them to shift Okamoto between left field and third base as needed.
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I don’t think it’s really about “complaining” or being predictable. It’s just a difference in how people evaluate risk and upside. Wanting another high-end bat isn’t a referendum on Atkins as much as it is about maximizing a competitive window and reducing downside. If the offense ends up being top-3 without adding one, great - no one’s rooting against that. But given regression risk, injuries, and how thin the margins are in October, it’s reasonable to argue that adding another impact bat improves both the floor and the ceiling. Disagreement on roster construction is part of the fun of the offseason. No need to make it personal. We’ve turned a corner and have been getting along for almost an entire year now. Let’s not slide back into personal attacks or online feuds.
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That’s a fair point and the internal development last year deserves real credit. The organization clearly did a strong job getting meaningful contributions from AAA, and guys like Barger, Clement, and Lukes were huge in keeping the lineup afloat. That’s absolutely a strength. I don’t think the “add a bat” argument has to contradict that, though. It’s not about panicking or ignoring internal options. It’s about recognizing the limits of relying on multiple role players to repeat breakout seasons, especially in October. Internal growth is great for depth and sustainability, but elite offensive talent still tends to make a more significant impact. Leaning into development and adding one proven impact bat at the right price can coexist. One stabilizes the floor over 162 games, the other raises the ceiling when the margins shrink. The key, as you said, is valuation and not forcing a move, but also not assuming internal growth alone will be enough.
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Totally agree that anyone can have a moment. October baseball is full of unexpected heroes, and those examples are all fair. You don’t need a star to have a big swing. I think the difference is probability, not possibility. Maximizing team WAR absolutely matters over a season, but in the postseason you’re dealing with much smaller samples and elite pitching. Having more peak offensive talent increases the odds that those big moments come from players you trust to create damage consistently, not just occasionally. It’s less about “magic” and more about stacking the deck - raising the floor of the lineup, improving sequencing, and not having to rely on multiple role players all peaking at the same time. Adding Bo does increase overall WAR, but it also concentrates more offensive upside where it matters most in October. Also, think back to Game 3 of the World Series when critical scoring opportunities came up for the Jays in extras, and the at-bats fell to players like IKF, Clement, or Varsho, who were unable to deliver.
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Big Nick Turturro (@nickturturro1) • Instagram reel WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM 34K likes, 2,638 comments - nickturturro1 on January 15, 2026: "YOU REALLY WENT TO THE DODGERS?????? @ktuck_30".
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I agree with the premise, but that’s kind of the point, isn't it? October is where elite talent separates itself. Over a 162-game season you can survive with depth and optimization, but in the postseason you want guys who can change a game with one swing against top-end pitching. You also have to factor in regression and risk. Springer could take a step back, and it’s fair to question whether breakout seasons from guys like Clement and Lukes are fully repeatable. Injuries inevitably happen as well. Expecting Vladdy to carry the offense again feels thin, so adding another top-tier bat alongside him would help stabilize the lineup during the season and raise the ceiling when the margins are razor-thin in October. Adding another top-tier bat alongside Vlad doesn’t just add raw production. It allows for better lineup construction, especially in the Postseason. It gives the Jays the ability to push players like Clement, Giménez, and Varsho toward the bottom of the order rather than asking them to hit near the top or middle. In a tight playoff game, that kind of lineup balance and sequencing can be the difference.
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I agree that Okamoto helps offset some of the loss, and I think that’s an important distinction. This isn’t a straight 4-WAR hole. That said, projections and WAR averages still only capture part of the picture. Adding Bo isn’t just about replacing raw WAR; it’s about where that production comes from and how it’s distributed in the lineup. An extra high-end bat gives you more margin for variance, injuries, and underperformance over a 162-game season, and it allows you to better optimize playing time rather than forcing certain players into roles they’re not ideally suited for. And in October, that difference can be magnified. A projected win or two in the regular season can translate into a much bigger edge in tight postseason games, especially when lineup depth and sequencing matter more than aggregate WAR totals.
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I get that and I agree it shouldn’t be a panic move or a bad contract just for the sake of it. There’s definitely a price point where both Bo and Bellinger make sense, and anything beyond that would be tough to justify. That said, I don’t think adding a bat now is about panic as much as it is about maximizing a real competitive window. Projections only tell part of the story, and over a 162-game season - and especially in the postseason where top-tier offensive talent can swing games. You can always add talent later via trades, but that usually comes at a higher cost in prospects and depth. Free-agent markets also look good on paper years out, but they’re unpredictable. If there’s a chance to add impact offense at the right price now, I think it’s worth seriously considering rather than assuming there will be better opportunities later.
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Also, let’s not forget that bringing back Bo or signing Bellinger would allow the Jays to better structure their lineup, especially in the postseason. It gives them the flexibility to slot bats like Varsho, Clement, and Giménez lower in the order rather than forcing them into middle-of-the-lineup roles. In a tight postseason game, that kind of lineup balance really matters.
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Yup, projections are useful and all, but a lot can happen over a 162-game season and having top-tier offensive talent can make a real difference, especially in the biggest moments, like a tight postseason game. Adding another bat, whether it’s Bo or Bellinger, would be an important upgrade. I don’t think we can just maintain the status quo when it comes to the lineup, especially with World Series aspirations.
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Yeah, same here - but from the sounds of it, Okamoto would play a mix of third base and left field defensively. It also really depends on who else is brought in. In that case, you could potentially make it work with both Okamoto and Suárez on the roster.
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It would definitely be nice to see them become clearer favourites 🙂 The Blue Jays have a lot of solid depth, and their position-player core is already strong - I agree there. Offensively, though, it would be ideal to add one more proven bat. Otherwise, the lineup is largely relying on Vladdy to carry the load, along with Springer playing close to a 2025-level version of himself, Barger continuing his upward trajectory, and contributions from players who broke out in their late 20s but aren’t traditionally known for their offense (Lukes, Clement, Giménez).
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As crazy as it would sound, Eugenio Suárez might not be a bad option if his price tag has dropped, where you can get him on a one or two-year deal. His market pretty much has been quiet. 3.8 WAR last season with 49 HR's. When you look at his career, he always has been a 3-4 WAR guy surprisingly (outside of 2020 and 2021). Can rotate him at 3B/DH. If the Jays can't bring back Bo or sign Bellinger, Suarez might not be a bad alternative if the price is right.
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Outside of North America, the Dodgers are great for baseball.
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Trade market options: - Bryon Buxton (5 WAR in 126 games). - Ketel Marte (4.6 WAR in 126 games). - Brendan Donovan (2.9 WAR in 118 games). - Luis Roberts (1.3 WAR in 110 games). Buxton or Marte would be huge additions. I think the price tag on Buxton could be reasonable. I just can't see the Twins asking for the moon given the context. Donovan would be a nice addition to the infield. Not as flashy with the bat as Buxton or Marte, but he would be a really solid 3 WAR addition, and who knows maybe Popkins unlocks some more potential with his bat where he becomes a 4 WAR guy. Roberts is a reclamation project. Don't feel like giving up a lot for him, but would roll the dice on him since the upside could be huge (4-5 WAR potential). Otherwise, you get a frustrating 1-2 WAR season out of him.
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At the start of the offseason after the Cease signing, a lot of posters on here were salivating that the Blue Jays could sign both Bo and Kyle Tucker possibly, including myself. If the Jays did, nobody on here would be complaining. That would have likely brought the Jays payroll to around $370-$380M for 2026 also, which would be second in all of baseball and not too far behind the Dodgers. Sure, the Yankees, Mets, and possibly the Red Sox, Jays and Phillies could operate that same way if they wanted to. They might not go to the extremes of the Dodgers, will agree.
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It's okay we have Eloy Jiménez signed on a minor league deal. He's going to pull a Jose Bautista!
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Most likely preferred playing in Southern California or a big market like New York anyways.
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People were lining up for hours outside the Jays Shop purchasing ALDS, ALCS and World Series caps, t-shirts etc. maxing out their credit cards and going all crazy. People can really be 🐑 -
Both would be icing on the cake, but one is definitely needed. Need to replace Bo's 4 WAR somehow on the positional player front. Whether that's bringing Bo back or signing Bellinger, or trading for Marte.
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They don't need Glasnow, Snell or Ohtani to pitch a full season. They just need to get 15-20 season starts from them and then all hands on deck in the Postseason. Like pretty much what they did last season.
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What if the Blue Jays signed Tucker to a 10-year deal as were the rumours of what he was being offered? Would other fans quit baseball as well?
