The Toronto Blue Jays fired an early salvo in free agency when they landed Dylan Cease. They kept it rolling when they signed Kazuma Okamoto from Japan.
But the momentum has shifted lately. They didn't retain Bo Bichette, and they didn't snag Kyle Tucker.
Now, the Blue Jays are in a tricky spot. If they want to make one more splash, the player still out there is Cody Bellinger.
But everyone who didn't get Tucker or Bichette or Alex Bregman will be looking at Bellinger as their last chance to make a mark.
That includes the New York Yankees, who Bellinger just starred for in 2025.
What happens if the Blue Jays don't get Bellinger?
Well, their lineup may not be as good as hoped.
"The Jays arguably are still a bat away from where they need to be, but the options are dwindling fast," MLB.com's Will Leitch wrote. "Cody Bellinger is still out there, but if the Jays can't pry him away from the Yankees, Toronto might suddenly have some concerns with its lineup."
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The Blue Jays went to extra innings in Game 7 of the World Series. Cease is an obvious upgrade. Okamoto can be good.
But losing Bichette will hurt the lineup, for sure. The Blue Jays could use a bounceback kind of signing.
At this point, on that front, it's Bellinger or bust.
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