Blue Jays Make Roster Decision After Alex Bregman Development

According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the Blue Jays are not viewing Okamoto as a locked-in everyday third baseman.

“Even after signing infielder Kazuma Okamoto to a four-year, $60 million contract, they still want to add another power hitter,” Nightengale reported, adding that “their preference is to make Okamoto a super utility player.”

By deploying Okamoto across multiple infield positions rather than anchoring him to third base, Toronto has intentionally preserved flexibility to pursue a premier infielder at the top of the market.

This update comes as Toronto continues its engagement with top free agents like Alex Bregman and Bo Bichette. Per Nightengale, “the Blue Jays remain fully engaged in talks with infielders Bo Bichette and Alex Bregman.”

Adding Alex Bregman, a two-time World Series champion and one of the most consistent right-handed bats of the past decade, would immediately improve Toronto’s middle infield and lineup balance. In 2025, Bregman hit .273/.360/.462 with 18 home runs and 62 RBIs, and will slot cleanly into a lineup already featuring Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Alejandro Kirk.

However, Toronto will not be alone in the Bregman sweepstakes. The Boston Red Sox, among other big-market teams, remain firmly in pursuit of having him on their roster in 2026, meaning the Blue Jays will have to offer a deal too hard to resist to fend off competition. At the same time, Toronto has not backed off its efforts to re-sign Bo Bichette, whose elite bat remains one of the most coveted on the market.

By defining Okamoto as a utility piece, the Blue Jays have deliberately kept the door open for either Bregman or Bichette.