Blue Jays: a better team than in 2025, but lacking a bat

The last 24 hours have been intense in Major League Baseball.

Of course, it all started with Kyle Tucker, who signed a $60 million per year contract with the Dodgers. The Mets, who had offered the outfielder $55 million per season, didn't go for it and turned to Bo Bichette.

The latter, who was in line to sign long-term with the Phillies, turned around and chose the more lucrative per-year (but short-term) offer from the Mets, who turned everything upside down after letting Tucker go.

Inevitably, this cut two options for the Blue Jays. We know that Tucker was always a big target (Toronto had a long-term offer for him)… and we know that fans wanted Bo Bichette back.

I always thought Bichette was likely to leave, given that rumors had been sending him elsewhere for years. But we also thought he was likely to stay.

But now it's official: he's leaving to join his friend Marcus Semien. He has chosen Steve Cohen's money, which is his most fundamental right. And if all goes well, in a year's time, he could be signing long-term.

I would imagine Bichette is thrilled to be teammates with Semien again. Playing next to Lindor should help make the transition to third base easier. And if he can prove to be even an average defender, he has the ability to hit free agency next season as arguably the best position player.

– Brandon Wile (@Brandon_N_Wile) January 16, 2026

What does this mean for the Blue Jays?

When you look at it all, you see that the offensive lineup is complete. I say complete in the sense that the season could start like that, not in the sense that nothing can be improved.

Is an addition (Cody Bellinger or a second-rate player) on the way? Yes, it's possible to think that.

But in reality, the addition of Kazuma Okamoto means that the Blue Jays aren't forced to do as the Mets did and give another player such a contract.

On the one hand, the Blue Jays managed to play without Bichette for most of September and October. In the end, Isiah Kiner-Falefa was replaced by Okamoto, which is encouraging.

But on the other hand, out of 162 games, Bichette has his important role. To see a guy like that go and think it won't hurt the club is wrong.

What helps the Blue Jays is that, despite everything, they have a better team right now than in 2025. The many pitchers (and Okamoto) who have joined the club mean that the Blue Jays will be hard to beat.

But even so, the forwards aren't as good. That's undeniable, even if the club in general is better.

“They kind of expected one of Tucker or Bichette to wind up here in Toronto.”

Blue Jays fans may feel disappointed but not from a “greedy sense.”

The team could be “a bat short,” says @Wilnerness pic.twitter.com/QkBKVneIBP

– Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) January 16, 2026

However, there's no rush. If Ross Atkins isn't able to add a hitter right now, maybe it can be done at the deadline, using youngsters in the organization to make trades.

We'll see in due course. But even if the last 24 hours aren't ideal, we mustn't forget the start of the off-season (Dylan Cease was a big blow) and all the players who are already in place.

This content was created with the help of AI.