Four tiers of lineup upgrades for the Blue Jays

My goodness is there a lot to discuss in the land of the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Blue Jays are coming off of a pursuit of Shohei Ohtani, one that ended up symbolizing what was the 2023 season. A year in which things were frequently a the 1-yard line, but ended in an inability to execute and get the job done when it mattered. Ross Atkins and the Blue Jays front office have continued to state a big move is coming, and both fans and experts alike believe that this hypothetical move is necessary to push them to that next level their return to competitiveness.

The Jays have numerous holes on their 26-man roster, primarily on the offensive side. While a move to acquire a pitcher is possible, with many high-talent targets still out there to be had, this area is far from the most pressing to address. The concern lies in the offence, as this team is genuinely without a third baseman, needs a capable bat to enter the fold in the outfield, and would benefit from filling the vacancy that Brandon Belt has created in the DH/1B role.

While things may seem bleak in terms of who’s available, a more critical look reveals many high-potential targets on the market that could be acquired either through trade or through free agency. Some of the listed targets may be a pipe-dream, while some would be seen by many fans as disappointing. Regardless, options are out there, and this front office is seemingly committed to adding an impact player to this already talented roster.

Tier 4

The first tier is a compilation of players that could be acquired at a relatively small cost. These players are primarily reclamation projects. Guys with talent and a resume to their name but haven’t produced at that level in the recent past. 

Joey Votto

To start, this would be fun. The man from Etobicoke would look to step directly into the role that Brandon Belt is expected to leave behind. That being the veteran on-base machine who will primarily DH against righties, occasionally play first, and could swat at least 15 homers if healthy for the better part of 130 games.

Votto is coming off of a season in which he returned from a major surgery to repair his torn rotator cuff. Entering his age-40 season, it’s a fair take to assume that his days of middle-of-the-order production are behind him. However, the former MVP is a season removed from being in the 89th percentile in walk percentage and the 78th percentile in barrel percentage. This frequency of walks and hard contact would be a welcome addition to the Jays lineup, with his left-handedness being a bonus. 

Signing Votto would come with some risk, primarily lying in the unknown of what exactly his production would look like given his age. With an OPS+ of 99 through 65 games last year, he was about a league average hitter as a 39-year-old off a major surgery. At a cheap price, Votto could be worth taking a flyer on, at the dispense of a disappointed fan base that was expecting a bigger name at the DH spot.

Rhys Hoskins

A situation similar to Votto, though Hoskins would be a more exciting add given multiple factors. A younger player, Hoksins would be entering his age-31 season in 2024, is a likely candidate to be motivated on a one-year prove it deal after being out all of last season while recovering from a torn ACL, and has a more recent track record of being a legit, middle of the order threat. 

When healthy, Hoskins is an on-base and barrel machine being in at least the 78th percentile in walk percentage, chase percentage, barrel percentage, and sweet spot percentage. A guy who’s consistently getting on base and hitting the ball hard, motivated to produce, and fills the DH/1B role would be a great add to this Blue Jays lineup.

The risk, similar to Votto, is the unknown. Hoskins just missed an entire season, in addition to having the reputation of a below-average fielder. However, also similar to Votto, Hoskins would be worth the risk on a one year deal for a lineup looking for power. Hoskins would likely make more next year than Votto, but for a single season, that’s unlikely to matter to a front office on the hot seat.

Giovanny Urshela

The last reclamation project of this tier is former Blue Jay Gio Urshela. Urshela, a contact-first, versatile infielder, has taken massive strides in his career since his 2018 appearance in Toronto. The former Yankee and Angel is coming off a season which was cut short by a fractured pelvis in June. Now having recovered, he would be a great low cost addition to a team needing infield help, fitting up the Blue Jays alley quite nicely. 

A flyer on Urshela would see him taking over third base duties from Matt Chapman. Urshela would provide average defence with the ability to cover shortstop and second as well, and would do well in a run producing spot in the order, as he excels at putting bat on ball. Since the start of his Yankees tenure, the period of time that turned Urshela’s career around, Urshela has batted .291 while consistently getting on base. 

Tier 3

The next tier of players are moves that are close to guaranteed to provide an offensive impact, but wouldn’t classify as that big splash the front office has previously alluded to.

Joc Pederson

Pederson, a bat-first corner outfielder/DH, would slot into a run producing role in this lineup perfectly. Coming off a productive, two-year stint with the Giants, Pederson’s offensive approach took an interesting turn from one year to the next during that time.

During his All-Star 2022 season, Pederson was a hard hit merchant. This skillset put him in at least the 95th percentile in xwOBA, xSLG, average exit velocity, barrel percentage, and hard hit percentage, resulting in .521 slugging percentage and a 146 OPS+. He did all this damage while being a slightly above average hitter in terms of selectivity, ranking in the 67th percentile in walk percentage. 

The season that just passed showed a dip in his power output. His homer total dropped from 23 to 15, with his OPS+ dropping over 30 points to a lower but still admirable 111. This came alongside a remarkable increase in plate discipline, with his walk percentage ballooning to a number in the 91st percentile. 

Should the Blue Jays offer Pederson a deal, it’s likely it would be for multiple years. They’d be close to guaranteed a player at least in the middle of the performances from those two seasons, a guy who barrels the ball with a keen awareness of the strike-zone. Though a little above a liability with the glove, Pederson's potential production would be hard to ignore. His bat is worth the decrease in overall defence, as the Jays would love a capable left-handed bat in the middle of their order.

Teoscar Hernandez

A more significant returning Blue Jay, this old friend would be sure to bring back some much needed power and provide a spark to this lineup. After a mediocre year in Seattle, which saw him post his lowest OPS+ since 2020, Teo is still a sure bet to hit at least 20 home runs and provide passible defence in a corner outfield spot.

Despite playing in a career-high 160 games, Hernandez just never really got it going in 2023. Both his power and on-base skills took a step back from his time with the Blue Jays, but betting on Teo at a seemingly smaller price tag could be a smart move for a front office looking to reinvigorate this offence.

Matt Chapman

Perhaps the most significant possible reunion, bringing back Chappy brings two big guarantees. Those being Gold Glove defence and barrels. It’s been said again and again, but Chapman’s production put next to his peripherals just doesn’t make any sense. He is too talented to doubt his power potential after a down year, and bringing him back solves multiple problems the Jays currently face.

Attempting to bring back Chapman gives them an above-average third baseman for the foreseeable future, injects power back into this lineup that would be lost without him, and continues a good relationship with super agent Scott Broras.

Jorge Soler

What could very likely be the highest potential bat of this group, the former home run champion would slot very well into a LF/DH platoon in this Blue Jays lineup. Soler is coming off a season which saw a 128 OPS+ over 137 games, including 36 homers and 75 RBI on a below-average hitting Marlins team.

Soler has been inconsistent through his MLB career, but last years peripherals offer an encouraging sign that continued success is on the horizon. He had a .374 xwOBA, putting him in the 93rd percentile, and also posted the second-best walk percentage of his career, a stellar 11.4%.

Tier 1

The two players listed below are both long shots and would cost a lot. However, they are guaranteed to fill a dire need and add another MVP-type player to this talented roster. These two AL Central darlings would spark a fire in this lineup, produce a lot of runs, and be with this team for a considerable amount of time. The cost would be a lot, but if there’s a time to take the chance, it’s now.

Luis Robert Jr.

Luis Robert Jr. is someone worth selling the farm for. He continues to be one of the more under-appreciated stars in MLB in the earlier parts of his career, much like the next entrant on the list. Robert, a 26-year-old center fielder from Cuba, is coming off of the best season of his career in which his team lost 101 games. 

Despite a lack of team-oriented motivation, Robert still posted a bWAR of 5.0, while racking up 36 homers and 20 stolen bases over 145 games. This offensive production, paired with elite defence evidenced by an OAA of 12, makes him a unique five tool talent that’s being wasted on a team likely headed for a long-term rebuild at the helm of their new GM. 

All of Robert’s expected stats are kind to him as a result of him making consistently hard contact, in spite of him being an overly aggressive hitter. This poor plate approach is shown in his high chase, whiff, and strikeout percentage that are all in the 14th percentile or lower, while also having a low walk percentage at just 5%. 

Robert’s flaws are clear, and have been for his entire career up to the point. Still, his impact on the game is clearly documented as a result of his consistent knack of hitting the ball hard with quality launch angles, and tracking down everything in center field.

This calibre of player, also one that won’t hit free agency until 2028, will no doubt have a hefty price tag. Regardless, this is one who I’d take the chance on, even parting with top names like Tiedemann or Martinez. A player who maintains your stellar outfield defence and adds a potent bat the middle of the order is someone worth looking into, and the Blue Jays shouldn’t be too scared of the asking price.

Jose Ramirez

Ramirez, a long-rumored target of the Blue Jays, is fresh off another stellar season in Cleveland. While it’s not likely he’s moved after signing an extension that could keep him a Guardian until 2028, the Jays would be well advised to check in on his availability, with the Guardians franchise in a state of flux after missing the postseason. 

Most fans of the game should be familiar with what Ramirez brings to the table by now; a quality third baseman capable of providing consistent 20-homer potential, 30 double seasons, and the ability to swipe 20 bags a year. All of this production while remaining on the field for at least 150 games. He did this in six out of the last seven seasons (excluding 2020). 

Considered by many to be the best third baseman in baseball, and the Blue Jays needing someone to man the hot corner, the fit here is rather obvious. Naturally, a player of this calibre would cost a king’s ransom. It’s believable that it would take the Blue Jays' top prospects for him, but it’s the major league players the Guardians would want as well that may complicate matters for the Blue Jays. While Ramirez would be guaranteed to push this team to the next level, it wouldn’t be worth it if you’re subtracting too much from the pre-existing core.