Munetaka Murakami is now posted, and if Bo Bichette declines the qualifying offer, the Toronto Blue Jays' clearest replacement for middle-order thunder is the 25-year-old Yakult star at third base. The posting opens a 45-day window to negotiate a deal. Industry reporting has multiple MLB clubs already circling after Murakami’s record 56-homer 2022 and continued impact despite an oblique-limited ’25 season.
For a team that came one swing short in October, he’s the rare prime-age bat you can buy without touching the farm.
But that may be the Blue Jays’ Plan B.
Toronto has a $22.025 million qualifying offer on the table with Bichette. He has expressed his interest in playing his entire career in Toronto with Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. Still, he’s projected to get as much as $200 million on the free-agent market. If he turns it down and signs elsewhere, the Blue Jays get a compensation pick, not a replacement for his on-base and gap power. The decision deadline is Nov. 18, which lines up neatly with Murakami’s posting clock, another reason to lead with the bat and build the rest around it.
If Bichette leaves, the most efficient roster reconstruction is Murakami at third base plus a glove-first shortstop bridge. Internally, Andres Gimenez can cover innings, but he’s a defense-first option who keeps the infield steady. Isiah Kiner-Falefa claimed back off waivers last year, offering shortstop competence and multi-positional insurance on a short-term basis. Jorge Mateo just hit the market after Baltimore declined his 2026 option. He has an elite speed/defense profile that fits a one-year stopgap. If the market softens,
The shortstop market is thin again, and Bichette is the headliner. Paying retail for a bat-first shortstop to mimic Bichette’s line risks overpaying for a worse overall player. Securing Murakami’s bat at third keeps the offense near Bichette’s tier while preserving October run prevention.
That two-move plan returns Toronto to 2026 with a deeper lineup, a sturdier defense, and real margin for the next Game 7.