As the Blue Jays look to retool for 2025, an early look at potential free agents

Power Bats Galore

For a team with a flawed and mediocre offence like Toronto, all of these potential 2024-25 free agents would lead the current 2024 edition of the Blue Jays in home runs and RBI: Anthony Santander, Marcell Ozuna, Soto, Alonso, Teoscar Hernández, Willy Adames and Christian Walker.

Of those, Santander, Hernández and Adames probably make the most sense. A reunion with Guerrero’s close friend might appeal to Blue Jays fans yearning for the powerhouse Toronto offence of 2021 that banged out an MLB leading 262 home runs. And at age 31, Hernández’s bat continues to be a productive force; he’s crushed 18 home runs, 58 RBI and has an OPS of .796 (OPS+ 123). His DRS of +3 in RF also isn’t terrible.

Santander obviously knows the AL East and could slot into left field, with Varsho moving to CF. And the 29-year-old switch hitter has 22 home runs and 56 RBI this year with an .805 OPS and OPS+ of 129. Adames could slot over to third base and back up Bichette at short, and he can also provide power, with 13 homers, 55 RBI and an OPS of .735 (OPS+ 107) this year.

Starters, closers and pitching depth names

Pitching depth remains an Achilles heel for the Blue Jays organization, and with so many prospect arms going under the knife this year, this should be a fertile hunting ground this coming offseason. Of course the Jays could try to re-sign Kikuchi, but they could also consider starters like Jack Flaherty and relievers like Kenley Jansen, Héctor Neris and Ryan Pressly.

The 28-year-old Flaherty might be the most appealing of that group, putting up a solid 3.24 ERA and 3.05 FIP in 15 starts and 89 innings for the Detroit Tigers this year, good for an fWAR of 2.1. Meanwhile, even at age 36, Jansen has 16 saves in 28.1 innings, with a 2.22 ERA and 2.10 FIP as the Red Sox closer in 2024.