Top 3 Power Bats For Blue Jays in Free Agency

The Toronto Blue Jays made moves last winter to beef up their "run prevention". But in doing so, GM Ross Atkins seriously compromised the team's "run PRODUCTION", leaving Toronto with a meagre offence that simply couldn't score runs when it counted (or generally any other time). 

Now the team must address the power deficiency this winter, and will no doubt (Jays fans hope) be looking for a power bat (or two, or three). 

Assuming they don't try to re-sign third baseman Matt Chapman (and there are currently no real indications that they do, following Atkins' Freudian slip at his news conference where he suggested that all his free agents won't return), here are 3 top power bats the Jays should be pursuing in free agency:

Jorge Soler

The Miami Marlins DH had another strong year with the bat and made his first All-Star team, blasting 36 long balls in 137 games with an .853 OPS and an OPS+ that was 28% better than the average hitter. He even boosted his batting average and on-base percentage to heights they hadn't been at in four years, with a .250 average and .341 on-base. 

He would add some much-needed thump to a power-deficient Toronto lineup.

Mitch Garver

The Texas Rangers DH has spent more time on the injured list than on the field the past few seasons, but he was mostly healthy for the last four straight months of the 2023 campaign, and if he can somehow maintain that clean bill of health, he could be a nice bat to replace Brandon Belt and add more pop to the lineup. He has a career .825 OPS. 

Cody Bellinger

Ok, we saved the best for last. If the Jays really wanted to go all out and break the bank again this winter, there’s no better choice than Bellinger. The former NL MVP seems to be all the way back to his dominant self, with 26 homers and 97 RBIs in just 130 games, with an .881 OPS. But the Cubs will no doubt try to re-sign him, and there will be plenty of other suitors as well. 

Can the Jays front office plug the power leak without springing another hole in the lineup? That remains to be seen.

Photo: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports