Bold Predictions: Blue Jays finally land a free agent superstar this offseason

For each of the past two offseasons, the Toronto Blue Jays were in play for two of the biggest free agents in the market. Whether it was two-way Japanese sensation Shohei Ohtani in 2023-24, or slugging All-Star Juan Soto in 2024-25, the Blue Jays had a legitimate shot at reeling in the big fish, but ended up failing on both occasions. 

However, things will be different this winter. Here, we will make the bold prediction that Toronto will finally land a superstar in free agency this year. It won’t be Alex Bregman, not even Kyle Tucker, but former New York Mets slugging first baseman Pete Alonso to shock everyone.

Bold Predictions: Blue Jays finally land a free agent superstar

So why Alonso? One thing is for sure, the 30-year-old veteran brings with him the massive power that even Bregman nor Tucker can match. After all, Alonso has posted at least 34 home runs in every one of his big league seasons other than the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign (which would have been easily accomplished as well by projecting his 16 home runs in 57 games that year over a full season schedule).

Just for comparison, Bregman has done it only once in his 10 years in the majors thus far and Tucker has never even eclipsed 30 home runs in a season. With the Blue Jays ranking only near the middle of the pack last season with 191 long balls in total, Alonso could provide that significant impact of being able to change an outcome of a ballgame with one swing of the bat.

Alonso was huge last season for the Mets hitting in the clutch. He batted a strong .309 with a 1.035 OPS with runners in scoring position. The five-time All-Star has been a consistent run producer throughout his MLB career, having driven in more than 115 runs in three of the past four seasons, and in four of his seven years in the league.

For comparison, the Blue Jays have only had one player surpass the 100-RBI mark just once in the past four seasons, which was Vladimir Guerrero Jr. with 103 in 2024. Speaking of Guerrero, he is the incumbent first baseman for the Blue Jays - the same position Alonso plays. However, Guerrero once suggested before, he is more than willing to shift back over to third base if it would make Toronto better.

As a result, after years of frustration for Blue Jays fans whenever they end up coming up short in the market during free agency season, one bold prediction is that they will defy the odds this winter to finally recruit a true difference maker. That difference maker will be Alonso, and he'll get the Blue Jays right back on track for another World Series run.