MLB Rumors: 3 Left-Handed Bat Targets For Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays finally won two straight games for the first time since April, but critics are still clamouring for the team to find a big-time left-handed bat to insert into the heart of the right-handed heavy order. 

MLB Insider Buster Olney says "it seems a sure thing that the Jays' aggressive front office will do something" to address the issue, and posits a few potential candidates they could shoot for in a trade. 

Josh Bell

The Washington Nationals slugger is off to a great start this season, hitting .328 with an .892 OPS, 4 home runs and 22 RBIs. The Nats, of course, are going nowhere this season, and would do well to sell off some assets. Last year, he blasted 27 HR with 88 RBIs for the Nationals, in a bounce-back season for him. 

The 29-year-old becomes a free agent at season's end.

Ian Happ

The Chicago Cubs' versatile switch-hitter is also off to a decent start to the year, batting .280—about 45 points above his career average—and a .783 OPS. His power hasn't really revved-up yet, with only two home runs, but this is a guy who averages about 27 HR per 500 at-bats over the course of his 6-year career with the Cubs (with plenty of strikeouts to go with, however).

The 27-year-old still has one year of arbitration eligibility left, before becoming a free agent in 2024.

Andrew Benintendi

The former Boston Red Sox, now Kansas City Royals outfielder never lived up to the true promise he once held, when he went 20-20 (HR/SB) with the BoSox in 2017. This season he is off to a .304 start with a .769 OPS, not far off his career mark of .783. He has two home runs and 16 RBIs. Last year with KC, he hit 17 homers with 73 RBIs in 134 games. 

He's also 27, and becomes a free agent after the 2022 season.

Then again, if the Blue Jays really wanted to make a splash, Olney also suggested that Toronto would be a team that could go after one of the best hitters in all of baseball, also a lefty bat, who could be available this season. 

Photo Credit: Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports