Building the Blue Jays 2026 starting lineup that now includes Kazuma Okamoto

The Toronto Blue Jays have made another big offseason splash to ring in the new year. This time, they came out of nowhere to secure the services of Kazuma Okamoto on a four-year, $60 million contract. In doing so, the Blue Jays have finally landed a Japanese star after failing to do so in the past couple of years with Shohei Ohtani and Roki Sasaki.

So now with Okamoto in the mix, how will the Toronto batting order look like heading into the 2026 MLB season?

Blue Jays 2026 starting lineup that now includes Kazuma Okamoto

Veteran George Springer will continue to lead things off for the Blue Jays but will do so in a designated hitter’s role to help preserve the wear-and-tear on his body from playing in the field. After showing some legitimate growth in 2025, Addison Barger will slot in the No. 2 spot while taking his place in right field where he showed he was far more superior defensively than in the infield. The face of the franchise Vladimir Guerrero Jr. bats in his usual third spot in the lineup and mans first base.

The Blue Jays will be counting on a bounce-back season for Anthony Santander in 2026. So what better way to do so than to insert him into the cleanup spot to maximize his run production potential. But with Springer already occupying the DH spot, Santander will need to play in left field as a result.

Following a strong 2025 campaign, Alejandro Kirk returns as the Blue Jays starting catcher and will provide great protection for Santander in the fifth spot in the order. To continue with the potential alternating of righty/lefty batters in the lineup, Daulton Varsho will slot in sixth and remains as the Blue Jays’ outfield general with his Gold Glove-calibre defense in center field.

Newcomer Okamoto will be introduced into the Blue Jays lineup in the No. 7 spot to allow him to acclimatize to hitting in the MLB. As an infielder by trade, he will take hold of third base to start in Toronto to see how he handles the position. Once he gets in the flow of things and become consistent with his hitting and production, look for the Japanese star to move up in the batting order to maximize his effectiveness.

Ernie Clement will be a starter at second base after a phenomenal 2025 postseason and will bat eighth to help set up the big guns at the top of the order. Finally, Andrés Giménez will round it out in the No. 9 spot and handle shortstop duties to maximize his defensive abilities.

But of course, with the offseason still not done, the Blue Jays could pull off another free agent signing stunner, namely Kyle Tucker or Bo Bichette. Adding either of those players, or perhaps even both, would further cement Toronto as having one of the best, if not the best starting lineup in all of baseball.