The Toronto Blue Jays have swung and missed on two free agents, but have a chance to hit a home run with Eugenio Suarez.
Bo Bichette and Kyle Tucker have agreed to deals with teams that aren’t the Blue Jays. On January 15th, Tucker signed a four-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Then, on January 16th, 2026, Bichette surprised MLB fans by signing a three-year, $126 million pact with the New York Mets. This came after most reports suggested an impending deal with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Fortunately for the Blue Jays, Suarez is much better than a consolation prize, despite some urging the Blue Jays to sign the next best free agent. Suarez should be offered a contract by Toronto, even if there is an internal candidate (or two) who could grow into the role.
Toronto Blue Jays Swing and Miss on Bo Bichette, Kyle Tucker
The MLB offseason can come at you fast. At one point, analysts and insiders were saying that if any team could sign both Tucker and Bichette, it would be the Blue Jays.
Now, they don’t get either of them.
At the end of the day, they both decided to sign shorter deals with opt-outs. This is an advantageous position for these sluggers to be in. Given their age and weak free agent classes over the next two years, they could re-enter free agency and collect an even bigger paycheque than what they just earned.
However, the Blue Jays should not be discouraged. After all, they’ve already made the team significantly better. Dylan Cease, Cody Ponce, Tyler Rogers, Kazuma Okamoto, Eloy Jimenez, and Rafael Lantigua all add to the major league lineup or depth.
Blue Jays Should Sign Eugenio Suarez
If there is one thing Suarez is known for, it’s home runs. While the Blue Jays aren’t shy about swinging the bat, they could certainly improve.
In 2025, the team ranked first in batting average (.265), yet ranked 13th overall in home runs with 191. This is where Suarez comes in.
Suarez had a monster 2025 season. He recorded 118 RBIs, 134 hits, and 49 home runs. Across the league, he finished fourth in RBIs, 80th in hits, and fifth in home runs.
For context, George Springer hit 32 home runs, Vladimir Guerrero Jr hit 23 homers, and Addison Barger knocked 21 home runs out of the park. The Blue Jays are no slouches in this department; however, after losing out on Bichette and Tucker, Suarez would be an upgrade in this area (not a consolation prize).
In Suarez’s 12-year career, he has hit fewer than 20 home runs three times. In all three of those seasons, he played fewer than 100 games. Additionally, two of those three seasons were his first two in the MLB.
Of the remaining nine years, he has hit at least 30 home runs in six of them. Suarez’s 49 homers in 2025 were the second time he’s hit that many long balls in one year.
The slugger has primarily played third base, but has experience at first base. There is no reason to expect that Suarez couldn’t be a reasonable second baseman for the Blue Jays.
What Would it Cost to Add Eugenio Suarez?
A Blue Jays team with the likes of Tucker or Bichette would have been great. However, those deals include a high AAV. Luckily, Suarez can be signed for a fraction of their price tags.
MLBTradeRumors projected Suarez’s next contract to land a $63 million, three-year pact. Conversely, The Athletic predicted a $69 million, three-year contract for the 34-year-old slugger.
To help put things in perspective, Tucker’s signing bonus with the Dodgers is a reported $64 million. To add a home run juggernaut like Suarez to their batting order, this would be a small price to pay for Toronto.
According to Spotrac, Suarez’s market value sits at $15 million per year.
Given Toronto’s need to add another bat to make up for the lost offense of Bichette’s departure, combined with his power, Suarez could be a highly underrated addition for the Blue Jays.
With the hope of adding Tucker and Bichette long gone, the Blue Jays can stay focused on improving the team. In the case of Suarez, the team would be improved significantly.
Blue Jays Should Sign Eugenio Suarez Now After Kyle Tucker-Bo Bichette Fumble