TORONTO -- After the Toronto Blue Jays swept the Seattle Mariners this weekend to move within 1.5 games back of the third and final wild card spot, I understand that there's a lot of excitement around the present.

However, after seeing the Mariners in town, it did get my mind admittedly wondering about the offseason ahead. Specifically, could Mariners star Randy Arozarena be a fit for the Blue Jays in free agency this winter?

Let's examine it a little closer.

Now 31 years old, Arozarena is in his eighth season with the St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays and Mariners. A three-time All-Star, he's hitting .268 this season for a tepid Mariners offense, and he also has 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases. It's his sixth straight 20-20 campaign, making him one of the more dynamic players in the league over the last half-decade.

Daulton Varsho was traded at the deadline. Myles Straw is certain to have his team option declined, and George Springer is a free agent. Simply put, there is room in the outfield.

Brett Bateman is showing that he can be a part of the future, and Jesus Sanchez is still there, as is Nathan Lukes. And don't forget Addison Barger, who will hopefully return healthy after a season full of injuries.

So, it's not as if the Jays don't have outfielders to choose from, but each of those players is a left-handed hitter. They could use a right-handed hitting outfielder.

Well, Arozarena is not regarded as a great defender, though he's certainly passable in left field. He's also not regarded as a great leader. He's not characterized as a bad teammate by any means, he's just more quiet and to himself.

There have been questions about his effort at times, so do you want to shell out free agency dollars to someone with these questions?

It should be noted that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is regarded as a good leader, and Alejandro Kirk played with Arozarena in the World Baseball Classic, so perhaps that's a good group to assimilate him into the clubhouse.

Furthermore: While the Blue Jays need a right-handed hitting outfielder, they do have a fairly full right-handed group as it is with Guerrero, Kirk, Kazuma Okamoto and Ernie Clement. If they bring in Arozarena, they'll have to hope that Anthony Santander can become the thumper they thought he was when they signed him before the 2025 season. He's missed most of the last two years with injury.

People seem to agree that Arozarena will get at least $100 million in a thin free agent group. How many teams will be lining up to pay that given the labor situation?

The Blue Jays certainly have that kind of money, especially with Shane Bieber, Springer, Max Scherzer, Varsho, Kevin Gausman and Jeff Hoffman's money either mostly or fully off the books.