After a highly anticipated offseason, the Blue Jays’ plans are quickly falling apart. Despite having ample funds to spend, GM Ross Atkins missed on key targets like Juan Soto and Max Fried, both of whom could have made a significant impact on Toronto’s postseason aspirations. The frustration continued on Friday night with another setback: the loss of a key offensive player.
Teoscar Hernandez has signed a three-year, $66 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, a major blow to the Jays. Hernandez’s powerful bat would have been a perfect addition to stabilize the Jays’ struggling lineup and fill a glaring hole in left field. Last season, he posted a solid .272/.339/.501/.840 slash line, with 33 home runs, and played an integral role in the Dodgers’ World Series title run.
With Hernandez now off the table, the Blue Jays’ situation looks even more precarious. There are limited high-impact players left who could help rejuvenate a team that desperately needs a boost, especially with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette entering their final years of team control. For Toronto to have any shot at competing for a Wild Card spot next season, significant upgrades are necessary. Unfortunately, Atkins is running out of viable options.
One player still on the Blue Jays’ radar is ace Corbin Burnes, whom Atkins had pursued even before Soto joined the New York Mets. The Jays, along with the San Francisco Giants, have been linked to Burnes, the 2021 Cy Young Award winner. Recent reports suggest that the Giants may be shifting their focus elsewhere, with MLB insider Mark Feinsand revealing that San Francisco might abandon its pursuit of Burnes to explore other options in free agency, including potential bats like Pete Alonso, Anthony Santander, Jurickson Profar, and even Teoscar Hernández. If the Giants indeed pivot, the Blue Jays would likely be in prime position to acquire Burnes, giving them a formidable rotation alongside Kevin Gausman and José Berríos.
In addition to Burnes, another player the Jays could target is Alex Bregman. While Bregman had a down year in 2024, he still put up respectable numbers and earned another Gold Glove award. While Toronto hasn’t aggressively pursued Bregman until now, the team may quickly shift its focus to him following the recent setbacks. While he may not be a cure-all for their offensive woes, Bregman could certainly play a role in strengthening their lineup.
The Blue Jays’ offseason, which started with high hopes, is rapidly becoming a scramble to salvage their future. With their top targets slipping away, the team is running out of time to make meaningful upgrades that could push them into contention next year.