3 lower-ranked right-handed hitting outfielders that might be worth Blue Jays interest

With the Toronto Blue Jays sporting the worst offence in baseball in 2026, changes are needed. They finished last in runs (648) and home runs (152) and they were the second-worst in team OPS (.691). While they are still being linked to the biggest names, like Seiya Suzuki and Randy Arozarena, there is another tier of free agents who will likely cost less and sign for shorter deals.

Randal Grichuk, Ramon Laureano and Tyrone Taylor aren’t at the top of the market, but all three are right-handed hitting outfielders who could be worth Toronto’s interest.

Three cheaper right-handed outfielders who fit the Blue Jays’ needs

Randal Grichuk
Grichuk had the best season offensively of the three this past season. The former Blue Jays outfielder helped a younger White Sox team reach the playoffs for the first time since 2021. In 117 games and 280 plate appearances, he hit .287/.314/.566 with 15 home runs, 46 RBIs, a 139 wRC+ and 1.7 fWAR.

At 35-years-old he might not be able to reach 15 home runs again, and his .314 on-base percentage could be a flaw. However, he smashed lefties last year. He hit 11 home runs and slashed .327/.371/.655 with a 1.025 OPS and a 181 wRC+ against southpaws.

if the Blue Jays are looking at him as a bat-first corner option, and not a table-setter, he could be a perfectly fine one-year fit. Of all the reunion stories this winter, not many expect Grichuk to be the one that comes to fruition. But the Blue Jays need someone with his skill set and reliability.

Ramon Laureano
Laureano could be a bounce-back candidate. His 2026 season in San Diego was uninspiring. In 53 games, he slashed .203/.286/.374 with seven home runs before his season ended on June 2.

The year before, split between Baltimore and San Diego, he hit .281/.342/.512 with 24 home runs and 76 RBIs. So which version is real? If the Blue Jays believe in the 2025 numbers, he’s a cheap power bat and a corner outfielder with a plus arm. If they believe in 2026, he is better off avoided.

The 32-year-old Laureano might only get “prove-it” type offers anyway, so why not pounce on the chance to get a player who, at his best, could give you 10 to 20 homers in a platoon role? He also has some value on the bases. He has never stolen more than 13 bases in a season, but his sprint speed has consistently ranked from the high-50th to the mid-60th percentile.

He has never played more than 132 games in a season, which feels like a player who would work well in a platoon with Addison Barger or Nathan Lukes.

Tyrone Taylor
Taylor would be the cleanest fit as a fourth outfielder. In 2026, he combined for 97 games with a .279/.325/.502 line, 11 home runs, 38 RBIs, a 127 wRC+ and 1.5 fWAR, the best offensive season of his career.

He hit .241/.290/.503 with 10 homers for the Mets, then .351/.390/.500 in 30 games after an Aug. 3 trade to the Cubs. Against left-handed pitching, he hit .318/.348/.573 with six home runs, and he covers all three outfield spots.

He isn’t the middle-of-the-order answer, but like Grichuk and Laureano, he is a platoon and bench answer, with plus defence and a 17% strikeout rate. His speed also ranked in the 92nd percentile in 2026, which would give the Blue Jays some flexibility late in the game.

Toronto just declined its $8 million option on Myles Straw, and he and Taylor are close in age heading into 2027, so this really comes down to cost and projection. If the Blue Jays think they can get more out of Taylor for less money (he made $3.8 million in 2026), he may be the smart play.

The Blue Jays are going to need more than one big swing to fix their offence, and the cheaper, shorter-deal tier is where they can add real depth.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow