Insiders say Blue Jays still missing a significant piece even after Okamoto signing

The Toronto Blue Jays are having one of the best offseason's of any team this winter. They are having arguably one of the best winter's in their own franchises history when you compare how many top tier free agents they have already brought in. And there's still potential to add more before Spring Training arrives.

In fact according to a couple of baseball insiders, the Blue Jays still need to add in one specific area to make this whole offseason a resounding success.

Insiders say Blue Jays still missing a significant piece even after Okamoto signing

The Blue Jays have completely upgraded their pitching staff from what they had as a starting point last season to what they will have on Opening Day in 2026. Getting Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce were moves that were highly touted, as well as having Shane Bieber exercise his 2026 option. Meantime, the addition of Tyler Rogers to the bullpen address their need to have pitchers who are better at limiting home runs and walks in high leverage situations.

And just this past week, they added Kazuma Okamoto to their offensive compliment. The third baseman who can also play first base and some outfield, gives the Blue Jays another hitter who has the potential to be a high contact, low strikeout, occasional pop batter if his numbers from Japan can translate to MLB. But even with all that crossed off the "to-do list" for Toronto's front office, Kan Rosenthal and Will Sammon feel like there is still one glaring need.

In a recent article on The Athletic (subscription required) the reporters go in detail about where some of the teams stand right now as the offseason moves into it's third month. Regarding the Blue Jays, they write, "With outfielders George Springer and Daulton Varsho both entering their free-agent years, (Kyle) Tucker still makes sense for the Jays as well. If there’s one thing Toronto’s lineup still requires, it’s a left-handed slugger."

While the Blue Jays outfield already feels somewhat congested, Tucker does fit this need. Bringing in the 28-year-old outfielder would mean trying to figure out how to maximize playing time for a group that includes Anthony Santander, Springer, Addison Barger and Nathan Lukes as well as Myles Straw and Davis Schneider. With Tucker in tow, that leaves just two spots open for another corner outfielder and someone to hit in the DH spot.

But for Tucker's bat, Blue Jays' manager John Schneider would say that this is a "good problem to have." Barger is the closets thing they have to a left-handed slugger, after belting 21 home runs in his first full season in 2025. Santander can also fit that title, although he is a switch hitter and his career splits have been fairly even (.760 OPS as a LHB - .767 OPS as a RHB).

Tucker gives Toronto a solid, top of the order hitter who can be a power threat from the left side that breaks up the top heavy right handed hitting lineup the Blue Jays are likely to pencil in. That includes Springer, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Okamoto, Alejandro Kirk and, for now, Ernie Clement. Even if the Blue Jays bring back Bo Bichette, that's another righty added to the lineup.

So while Toronto has spent a ton of money already this offseason, another influx of cash going toward the top player on the market sounds like a good investment. It doesn't just help the current iteration of the squad as Rosenthal and Sammon mentioned, Toronto is potentially losing Varsho and Springer after the 2026 season and Tucker at the very least prevents that from becoming a gaping hole to fill before 2027.