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

With a couple of offensive holes to fill, the Toronto Blue Jays have a pretty clear offseason plan. Anthony Santander and Addison Barger should be healthy to start 2027, but questions remain about whether they can stay healthy and bounce back from their performances the last time they were on the field.

Santander played in only 54 games in 2025 and missed the entire 2026 season. If he’s healthy and performing, the Blue Jays will likely prefer him at DH to put less strain on his body so he can be around all season. Barger lasted only nine games this past season before suffering an elbow injury after firing a 101 mph throw from right field.

While he was rehabbing, he suffered a stress fracture in his lower back as well. He underwent an internal brace procedure on his elbow in July, shutting down his season. Barger should be healthy for spring training, but his arm is his strength, so it’s unclear if he can get back to his full form.

With these two question marks and the lack of outfield production on the 40-man roster, the Blue Jays need to pursue a top free agent, with arguably their top two targets being on this list.

They also need to upgrade at second base after Ernie Clement took a step backward from his solid 2025 season. A few left-handed-hitting second basemen are available on the free-agent market, or they may need to pursue a trade. Either way, Clement has never been an offensive threat, despite his historic 2025 postseason run. That, paired with his defense becoming a liability, means it’s time to move on from him or move him to a platoon role.

As for free agent availability, DiamondCentric has published a list of their top eight right-handed free-agent hitters. In this article, I'll look at their list (sorted by OPS) and see how each would fit with the Blue Jays.

All market values are from Spotrac.

1. Randal Grichuk - OF

Randal Grichuk could be an excellent bench bat for Toronto in a platoon role. He has 13 seasons of MLB experience and mashes southpaws. Last season, over 178 plate appearances facing lefties, he slashed .327/.371/.655 with 27 runs, 11 homers, 27 RBIs, and a 181 wRC+.

Grichuk’s market value is around $9 million, making him a valuable veteran bat in a platoon with Nathan Lukes or as a bench piece. Given Grichuk's power potential is greater than that of the other outfield right-handed hitters on the Blue Jays' 40-man roster, the team should at least check in on him. His only competition is Davis Schneider, Charles McAdoo, or Jonatan Clase (switch-hitter).

2. Randy Arozarena - OF

In a weak offensive free agent class this offseason, Randy Arozarena and Seiya Suzuki stand out as the top options. They’re both projected to have a market value around $26 million annually. However, they have qualifying offers attached, which means a team would need to give up a draft pick or two to sign either player.

That penalty won't scare away the Blue Jays, even though they gave up picks to sign Santander and Dylan Cease over the last two offseasons. Once they decline their qualifying offers, the Jays would need to give up their second- and fifth-highest 2027 draft picks and $1 million from their international pool, though Arozarena or Suzuki are worth the penalty.

Arozarena would give Toronto a power and durability boost after hitting at least 20 home runs and playing in at least 140 games in each of the last six seasons. The former Seattle Mariner also brings a speed boost with 151 stolen bases in that same span. I’ll explain later why I prefer Suzuki, but Arozarena would be a viable consolation prize.

3. Ty France - 1B

Ty France has played limited innings at third and second base over his eight-year career, but he’s been primarily a first baseman. Despite him hitting a career-high in home runs (21) this season and playing Gold Glove-caliber defense, France won’t overtake Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

However, if the Blue Jays don’t believe Santander can stay healthy and be productive, it could open a door for France to return to Canada. He came over at last season’s trade deadline alongside Louis Varland in a deal with the Minnesota Twins. Toronto sent away Alan Roden and Kendry Rojas. Varland just won the inaugural AL Reliever of the Year Award, giving the Blue Jays a massive lead in winning the trade.

4. Seiya Suzuki - OF

Suzuki is the top offensive prize this offseason. He has shown a more consistent bat over his career than Arozarena. The former Chicago Cub has also posted 20 or more home runs and 70 or more RBIs in nine of his last 10 seasons, dating back to his years in NPB. He was also exceptional on defense in 2026, posting 5 outs above average (OAA) this season, compared to Arozarena’s -5 rating.

Suzuki's annual market value is $27.5 million, but that price may rise as teams bid against each other. There isn’t much power in this free agent market, which may lead to teams paying a premium to get their guy. Many media platforms are connecting Suzuki to the Blue Jays because of his experience playing in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball against Kazuma Okamoto. The two also played together in this year's World Baseball Classic.

Hearing about the connection between Suzuki and the Blue Jays is scary, after they failed to sign the top offensive free agents over the last three offseasons. They were among the finalists to sign Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto, and Kyle Tucker, only to see them sign massive contracts elsewhere. Luckily, Suzuki won’t cost as much as these players, making him a prime target for the Blue Jays. If the team can’t sign him, fans will be disappointed to watch a fourth straight offseason without adding the top hitter.

5. Tyrone Taylor - OF

Tyrone Taylor is usually a defensive-minded outfielder who had a breakout offensive season in 2026. He slashed .279/.325/.502 with 36 runs, 11 homers, and 38 RBIs over 241 PAs. The power came as a surprise, but Taylor is at best a fourth outfielder. He is mostly useful as a defensive replacement late in games.  

Teams will likely pay up to see if Taylor can repeat his power surge, but that shouldn’t include Toronto. It took eight seasons for the 32-year-old to produce this type of production, which makes him a risk factor. The team doesn’t need to add another defensive player.  

6. Ryan Jeffers - C

Ryan Jeffers was on pace to post career numbers at the plate this season, but he only played in 92 games after suffering a hamate fracture when a pitch hit him. His 14 home runs were seven shy of his career mark set in 2024, when he had 97 more PAs. If healthy, it'd have been a career year for the former Minnesota Twin.

It’s not often that a catcher of Jeffers’s caliber reaches the free agent market, which will mean that catcher-needy teams will be aggressive in pursuing him. This does not include the Blue Jays. They have Alejandro Kirk, Brandon Valenzuela, and Shawn Ross on the 40-man roster, with Valenzuela showing he’s more than capable of being behind the plate if Kirk gets hurt.

7. Gary Sánchez - C

Gary Sánchez is far from the batter who hit more than 30 home runs in both 2017 and 2019. He hit 12 this season and posted a weak .205/.349/.422 slash line over 275 PAs. However, his 16.7 percent walk rate was a career high. These statistics, along with his poor defense, make Sánchez a bench bat only and not worth the Blue Jays pursuing.

8. Paul Goldschmidt - 1B

Paul Goldschmidt had a bounce-back season this year, after a lackluster campaign in 2025. The 39-year-old has had an amazing career at the plate, but his age may be catching up. He’d be a productive platoon DH or bench bat, even though he doesn’t have many years left. Santander is a switch-hitter, so it doesn’t make sense to add Goldschmidt. However, the former Yankee would be a huge discount veteran presence and could provide power in a pinch-hit appearance late in games or to give Guerrero a day off. 

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