3 good free agent fits for Blue Jays that are somehow still available

The Toronto Blue Jays have taken plenty of swings this offseason, and despite the signing of Anthony Santander, there is still work to be done regarding the roster's makeup. Starting pitching, a position player with some pop, and at least one more bullpen add would seem to be the bare minimum.

Surprisingly, several big names are still available on the open market, many of whom would make sense for the Blue Jays.

3 free agents (who are surprisingly still available) who'd be perfect fits for Blue Jays

Alex Bregman

The Jays have been linked to the two-time World Series champion for much of the past few months, and he’s considered the best infielder on the free-agent market. The Detroit Tigers have also been rumored to be interested in the third baseman hitting the market at a somewhat inopportune time. Bregman is coming off arguably the worst full season of his MLB career, but he still hit .260 with 26 home runs, 75 RBI, and a .768 OPS (118 OPS+) with the Astros last season, winning his first Gold Glove at the hot corner. Houston signaled their intentions to move on from the 30-year-old by trading for Isaac Parades (and signing Christian Walker) back in December.

Pete Alonso

There has been plenty of speculation that there’s mutual interest between Alonso and the Blue Jays, and his return to the Mets now seems unlikely.  His fit on Toronto’s roster isn’t as natural as some other players who are still unsigned. Still, the combination of Alonso, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and the newly signed Anthony Santander would give the Jays a formidable power-hitting trio. He’s a right-handed hitting first baseman, so he’d be splitting time with Vladdy with no platoon or sending the incumbent to third base/DH. Still, he’d be a valuable insurance policy if an extension with Guerrero doesn’t get worked out. 

Jack Flaherty

Flaherty has had an interesting career. When he made his MLB debut late in the 2017 season, he was the Cardinals' top pitching prospect and projected to be one of the best arms in the majors for the next decade-plus. By the end of the 2019 campaign, the former first-round pick was on his way to becoming just that. He finished in the top five of NL Cy Young voting and had a sub-3.00 in just under 200 innings of work.

Over the next few years, the 29-year-old struggled with injuries and inconsistencies before returning to form last season. He pitched to a 2.95 ERA for the Tigers, was traded to the Dodgers, and helped them capture the World Series, although his playoff performance (22 earned runs over 18 innings) was less than stellar. 

The Jays’ offseason has lacked spark for many fans, but with the Santander signing and the bullpen improvements, it’s at least starting to take shape. Any of these signings would serve as a satisfactory finishing touch.