The Toronto Blue Jays have a clear need for offence after finishing last in runs scored this past season, and according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, they’re natural fits for two of the top free agent outfielders.
Rosenthal said on Foul Territory in a clip posted Tuesday that he expects the Jays to be “active” and sees both Seiya Suzuki and Randy Arozarena as fits north of the border.
“Certainly the Blue Jays though are a team that is quite a logical fit, a team that is almost certain to have interest if they haven’t expressed it already. Suzuki is a natural for them,” he said.
Rosenthal pointed out that with George Springer and Daulton Varsho no longer under contract, the Blue Jays have holes to fill in their lineup. He pointed to their current projected outfield for next season of Anthony Santander, Brett Bateman, Addison Barger and Nathan Lukes as serviceable, but indicated he still expects them to add.
“It’s okay. But they need more. They know they need more. They were 19th in OPS from their outfielders last season. For all those reasons, Suzuki would be a fit, so would Randy Arozarena for that matter. He’s the other top outfielder on the market. And I expect the Blue Jays to be active,” Rosenthal said.
The Jays announced on Monday that they would not pick up the $8 million club option on outfielder Myles Straw.
Suzuki slashed .270/.368/.473 with 26 home runs and 86 RBI in 143 games for the Chicago Cubs last season. He joined the Cubs after nine seasons in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball with the Hiroshima Carp and has hit a combined 113 home runs in five MLB seasons.
Arozarena is coming off the best offensive season of his career in 154 games last season for the Seattle Mariners, hitting .281 with 26 homers and 79 RBI. He also had an .865 OPS and was an All-Star for the second consecutive season.