Now that Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto are off the table for the Toronto Blue Jays, it is time to explore other options for the 2024 season. While both Soto and Ohtani would have been phenomenal additions to the Blue Jays lineup, there are still other quality players out there that the Jays can try to add to their roster. While fans have been frustrated and disappointed with striking out on two superstars, it is evident that Ross Atkins has been busy this offseason trying to bolster the Blue Jays offense. The fact that the Blue Jays were finalists to get Ohtani is huge. But now that the Ohtani train has made its way to the Los Angeles Dodgers, it’s time to move forward. Let’s look at what players are still available for the Blue Jays and who makes the most sense for them to target for 2024.
Possible Blue Jays Targets for 2024
Cody Bellinger
Cody Bellinger’s fiancée posts Toronto photo after Blue Jays miss on Shohei Ohtani https://t.co/DQmq6kyKbt pic.twitter.com/FfBJn47e0m
— New York Post (@nypost) December 11, 2023
Cody Bellinger would be a grand signing and acquisition for the Blue Jays as they want to spice up their offense. His name continues to float near the top of Toronto fans’ wishlists. Bellinger was available during the trade deadline in the 2023 season, and was a desired Jays target then also. Adding him to the 2024 roster would be a massive step in the right direction. He finished the 2023 season with 26 home runs, 97 RBI, and a .307 batting average. The Blue Jays need more hitters hitting .300 or above in the lineup.
J.D. Martinez
Give me 2-3 of these guys and the off-season is saved…
Mike Trout
Luis Robert Jr.
J.D. Martinez
Justin Turner
Teoscar Hernandez
Joey VottoWho else you like?
— VOT6 (@ViewsOnThe6) December 10, 2023
In 2023 with the Dodgers, J.D. Martinez finished the season with 103 RBI and recorded 117 hits. Martinez previously spent time with the Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Boston Red Sox. He made his MLB debut in 2011. Martinez would be a solid veteran that the Blue Jays could add to their lineup. His batting average has been decent throughout his career, and he has spent many seasons hitting .300 or more.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto
Where will Yoshinobu Yamamoto sign? pic.twitter.com/ioE2fF9wQf
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) December 10, 2023
Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto has been a popular name linked to the Blue Jays, along with many other teams. While he can land anywhere, it would be compelling to pick him up. Although the Blue Jays’ focus is on offense and not pitching, considering that Alek Manoah‘s 2023 performance is leaving many nervous about pitching in 2024, adding a strong pitcher to the roster will help boost the lineup. Yamamoto is just 25 years old and is a star pitcher in Japan who is testing MLB free agency.
Blake Snell
MLB hitters batted a combined .079 against Blake Snell’s curveball this season. I know that looks like a typo but it’s not. pic.twitter.com/iLZkFQxr3n
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) December 5, 2023
Blake Snell, the 2023 NL Cy Young winner, would be a lethal addition to the Blue Jays starting rotation. His best pitch in 2023 was his curveball, and it was evident that players had trouble with it, hitting a combined .079 against the pitch. He would make the Blue Jays’ pitching arsenal stand out even more alongside 2023 Cy Young finalist Kevin Gausman and 2023 Gold Glove winner Jose Berrios.
Teoscar Hernandez
Most Hits for the Blue Jays since the start of 2019:
706 — Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
653 — Bo Bichette
447 — Teoscar Hernandez
421 — Lourdes Gurriel Jr.The only players with more than 400. pic.twitter.com/kkcmJNbwrj
— BlueJays Muse (@BlueJays_Muse) December 9, 2023
Former Blue Jay Teoscar Hernandez will forever be a fan favorite. He had mentioned in the 2023 season how he would love to come back to the Blue Jays, and his power bat in the lineup would be helpful. Teo spent 2017-2022 with the Blue Jays, and in 2023 with the Seattle Mariners, he finished the season with 93 RBI and 161 hits. He was known for racking up hits when playing for the Blue Jays. Adding another strong hitter, especially a player familiar with the Blue Jays, would surely be a good move.
Final Thoughts
Other names that have come up as potential additions to the Blue Jays roster are Joc Pederson, Jorge Soler, and re-signing Jordan Hicks. Hicks had a bounceback season after struggling in the pen with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2022. Since he fared well with the Blue Jays, it would be wise to re-sign one of the fastest pitchers in baseball. He would likely pick up where he left off in the 2023 season. While he still has to work on some pitching mechanics and control, Hicks showcased impressive skills that make him a solid pitcher that the Blue Jays should consider keeping. It will be interesting to see who the Blue Jays ultimately add to the 2024 roster.
Photo Credit: © Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
