If the Toronto Blue Jays are going to rebound from a 79-83 season that saw them finish last in the American League East, they are going to need to make multiple moves this offseason, in addition to getting significantly healthier than they were in 2026.

And while the free agent class isn't particularly strong, there are some intriguing names out there. Former MLB general manager Jim Bowden, currently of 'The Athletic,' ranked his 40 top free agents for the offseason on Tuesday, complete with contract predictions and best fits.

He had multiple names connected to the Blue Jays as part of the "best fits" category." Let's take a deeper dive.

As I will say 100 times this offseason: Everything here comes against the backdrop of pending labor strife. As a result of the looming lockout (Dec. 2), I don't think it makes too much sense to worry about the contract predictions. I think some teams will be active before the lockout, but I think many teams will take a "wait-and-see" approach until we know what the actual financial situation for the sport is.

No. 6: Seiya Suzuki (RF)

This isn't surprising, considering we've heard that the Blue Jays are interested in Suzuki already. And frankly, this is a move that I've been championing as well. I still believe the biggest need for the Blue Jays is a right-handed hitting outfielder with some power. The team finished last in the majors in home runs and runs scored in 2026, and the entire outfield consists of left-handed hitters right now: Brett Bateman, Nathan Lukes, Addison Barger, and Anthony Santander, a switch-hitter.

The longtime Chicago Cubs slugger is coming off a year in which he hit .270 with 26 homers and 86 RBIs. He posted an OPS+ of 131.

He's not regarded as a great defender, and is a bit older. He's 32 and will turn 33 in August of 2027. Perhaps he'll come a little cheaper? Again, much of that discussion centers on the lockout. 

No. 27: Hiromi Itoh (SP)

After landing Kazuma Okamoto last offseason, the Jays do seem to be dipping deeper into the Japanese market, and it makes sense as they look to build a better roster - and a global brand. We've also talked about their reported interest in Teruaki Sato.

Itoh is a 29-year-old right-hander who helped Japan win the World Baseball Classic title in 2023. He's also won the NPB equivalent of the Cy Young Award. He's coming off a 10-10 season with a 3.18 ERA, but he was 14-8 in 2025 with a 2.52. He's gone 65-51 for his career with a 2.91 ERA.

I still don't think starting pitcher is a major need for this team right now, but as we saw in 2026, you can never have enough pitching.