Looking at where the Blue Jays will likely pivot following the Kiermaier and Kiner-Falefa deals

Bellinger, on the other hand, checks quite a few boxes for what the Blue Jays need but is the most expensive option of the group.

Represented by superagent Scott Boras, the outfielder is looking to ink a long-term deal worth $200 million, which comes with considerable risk considering the 28-year-old struggled with Los Angeles before being non-tendered last winter. He bounced back well with the Cubs to the tune of a .307 average with 26 home runs and a 133 OPS+ and bats from the left side, a bonus for a Jays squad that is heavily right-handed, but the risk will be there that he returns to his old ways and the club will be on the hook for a boat load of dead money. With the newest additions of Kiermaier and Kiner-Falefa, the jury is out on whether the Jays can muster a deal to bring Bellinger North of the border due to the financial commitment.

The theme remains the same regardless of Chapman or Bellinger, the Blue Jays need at least one bat before Spring Training rolls around, ideally two if the front office can find a way. The club does have a spot open for a full-time DH candidate but could benefit from a permanent third-base solution if the club wants to use Kiner-Falefa across the diamond.

Looking at free agent and trade options to improve the batting order

Free agent-wise, there are some strong contenders out there in Rhys Hoskins, Teoscar Hernández, J.D. Martinez, and Jorge Soler, all of whom make sense from a DH standpoint although they all swing from the right side.

Both Hoskins and Martinez are likely good for short-term deals, while Soler and Hernández for more for a deal over the two-year mark, given their respective ages, and with the 2023 season, Soler put forward (36 home runs and a .853 OPS). If the Jays are dead set on a left-hander, Joc Pederson, Carlos Santana (switch), Joey Votto, and Michael Brantley could be of interest as well, each with their own set of pros and cons at the end of the day. One-year deals have worked for the Blue Jays in recent memory (Robbie Ray and Marcus Semien) and gambling on another one-year contract with a player like Hoskins, Votto, or Brantley could pay massive dividends by season’s end (or blow up immensely).

While the Jays missed the boat on a Juan Soto trade, they could deal from their infield depth to land a veteran bat as well, using the likes of Espinal, Biggio, Spencer Horwitz, Damiano Palmegiani, and Addison Barger as potential trade chips. There are more arms available for trade compared to bats this winter but Willy Adames (Brewers), Max Kepler (Twins), Jorge Polanco (Twins), and Brandon Drury (Angels) are potential options that provide some offensive upside for the squad with each player close to free agency (within 1-2 years) and likely cost less in trade capital compared to other established veterans.

The deal has to make sense at the end of the day but trading for a bat may be the route to go, although there are numerous bats still available at this point in free agency and the front office could choose to wait it out before exploring a potential trade.

With the recent deals, the Blue Jays still need another bat or two, regardless of whether they sign another player from free agency or trade for a bat to help improve the lineup.

The current pitching corps is set up well to compete this season and while the current roster has defensive upside, the lineup could use some more firepower, especially if the likes of George Springer, Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Alejandro Kirk struggle to produce in 2024. If the Jays are indeed out on signing a high-profile name like Bellinger or Chapman, there are plenty of veteran options to slot into the DH spot that could add some much-needed power for a team that produced just one run through two postseason games last year.