Jim Bowden pegs Seiya Suzuki, Hiromi Itoh as Blue Jays' most logical free-agent targets

Former GM Jim Bowden has made some lofty predictions in his yearly look at the top 40 free agents heading into this winter and he sees two of those free agents being linked to Toronto. Both are Japanese stars, one an established big-league slugger and the other an award-winning arm making the jump from NPB.

His No. 6 overall free agent is outfielder Seiya Suzuki, who has spent his entire MLB career with the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs aren't expected to re-sign him, and like many teams around the industry, the Blue Jays are expected to covet the right-handed-hitting 32-year-old, who posted 5.1 bWAR in 2026.

In Bowden's eyes, Suzuki is hitting the market at exactly the right time. “Suzuki is coming off the best year of his MLB career. He had a .270/.368/.473 slash line with 26 homers and a 131 OPS+. He not only ranked among the better hitters in batting run value, but he improved his defense in right to become an asset there as well.”

That production, along with his track record, has put him squarely on Toronto's radar. “There is a lot of scuttlebutt in the industry that the Blue Jays are going to be targeting him as they look to add more offense to their outfield and more protection in their lineup for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Suzuki was a consistent performer for the Cubs over the past five years, averaging over 20 homers per season and an OPS+ of at least 125 over the past four seasons.”

Bowden predicts Suzuki will land a five-year, $120 million contract, with the Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies as his best team fits. His salary comps include Teoscar Hernández (3 years, $66 million), Trent Grisham (1 year, $22.025 million on the qualifying offer), Jung Hoo Lee (6 years, $113 million), Brandon Nimmo (8 years, $162 million), Cody Bellinger (5 years, $162.5 million) and Nick Castellanos (5 years, $100 million).

While Suzuki would bolster the lineup, Bowden's other Blue Jays connection would add to the pitching staff. He has right-handed pitcher Hiromi Itoh ranked 27th on his list and sees him as another fit in Toronto. Itoh has played his whole career in Japan and is going to be posted by the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. The 29-year-old went 10-10 last season with a 3.18 ERA over 172.2 innings.

Why Hiromi Itoh's command makes him a low-cost fit for the Blue Jays

According to Bowden, what Itoh lacks in size, he makes up for in command and pedigree. “He was the Ham Fighters’ first-round selection in the 2020 NPB draft out of Tomakomai Komazawa University. He has a smaller build, standing 5-foot-9 and weighing approximately 180 pounds.

He is known for impeccable control and command and has a wide range of pitches with eight to 10 different pitch shapes and sizes, including a heavy sinking fastball. He was part of Japan’s 2023 WBC Gold Medal team and won the Eiji Sawamura Award in 2025, the NPB’s equivalent to the Cy Young Award.”

Bowden predicts a two-year, $22 million deal for Itoh, with the Blue Jays, San Francisco Giants and Atlanta Braves as his best team fits. His salary comps include Cody Ponce (3 years, $30 million), Tyler Mahle (1 year, $10 million), Zach Eflin (1 year, $10 million) and Anthony Kay (2 years, $12 million).

The logic behind both of these predictions is easy enough to follow. Suzuki would give Toronto the proven right-handed bat it needs. A guy who can slug behind Guerrero and in front of Kazuma Okamoto was something they desperately needed last year.

Itoh would be another polished, award-winning arm heading over from the Pacific Rim - akin to Ponce whom the Blue Jays brought in after a stint as the KBO's MVP in 2025.

Itoh could also come in at a fraction of the cost of what most MLB pitchers would command after posting those kinds of numbers. If Bowden's predictions hold, the pair would cost the Blue Jays roughly $35 million per season combined, which could be looked at as a significant investment with new CBA rules expected to come in. But when you consider it would address two of their needs, it's much easier to see why they'd jump at the chance for these guys to sign on the dotted line.

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