One big move the Blue Jays need to make before Opening Day

With less than two weeks until Opening Day, the Blue Jays are in full flight in spring training and are beginning to narrow down their roster picture. After all, the Blue Jays are sitting atop the Grapefruit League with a 12-8 record and have their pitching, offense and defense clicking at the same time.

However, that spring success shouldn't stop Toronto from making one more big move prior to Opening Day No, we are not talking about extending Vladimir Guerrero Jr. — even though it seems like the Jays and their fans would like nothing more. And no, we're also not referring to suddenly unstable bullpen situation after Erik Swanson’s injury, as they have some internal options that could step up to fill the role. 

One big move the Blue Jays need to make before Opening Day

Instead, we are talking about how the Blue Jays should add one more potent bat into their lineup in an attempt to make the team an offensive force to be reckoned with.

Adding Anthony Santander will help, but the Jays’ offense been in decline ever since Teoscar Hernández and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. left town a few years ago. So it's clear the Jays should add one more player to help prevent that falloff again, and that player is designated hitter J.D. Martinez.

After all, the 14-year veteran is a six-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger Award winner who finished fourth in AL MVP voting back in 2018. He's averaged 30+ home runs and 100+ RBI over a full 162-game schedule in his career, so it's clear he is a big-time producer.

Martinez struggled a bit last year with the New York Mets, posting a .235 average, .725 OPS, along with 16 home runs and 69 RBI over 120 games. But those being his numbers in a "down season" shows what he's still capable of. After all, Martinez is just two years removed from his 33-homer, 103-RBI season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

The Jays don't have a set designated hitter for the upcoming year, so Martinez could easily fit into the middle part of Toronto's lineup. And, at 37, Martinez could provide some much-needed veteran leadership in the clubhouse.

And if that wasn't enough, the Blue Jays were in the top-five in the latest poll by MLB Trade Rumors on where Martinez would end up.

The Blue Jays should swoop in and grab Martinez now to get him in the best possible shape entering 2025.