As the Toronto Blue Jays consider a major overhaul this offseason in hopes of returning to contention again in 2025, a major aspect of it will involve their work in upcoming free agency. What better way to revamp the list than to shop for specific needs without giving up valuable assets in return. The key, however, will be to recruit top impact players who could help the team moving forward.

Although the free agency season hasn’t started yet, things already seem to be looking up for Toronto. MLB insider Jim Bowden of The Athletic recently named the Blue Jays as a potential landing spot for a boatload of top pending free agents this offseason of its List of Top 45 MLB Free Agents. That means there’s a good chance the Jays will sign several big-name players this winter to significantly improve the team for 2025.

Starting with their most crucial need, namely bullpen helpone of the best defenders in the game last year, Carlos Estévez, could come north of the border. Last season, Estévez posted an excellent 2.45 ERA and 0.91 WHIP while converting 26 saves split between the Los Angeles Angels and Philadelphia Phillies. Even more impressive, he played in 20 games between late May and late July in which he held the opposition scoreless on just three hits and two total walks. This type of consistency and dominance is exactly what the Jays desperately need after the frequent bullpen implosions they experienced in 2024.

Bowden also had potential second base options in Toronto, with Gleyber Torres and Brandon Lowe among that group. Both Torres and Lowe could provide the Jays with plenty of offense from the position, as they averaged over 25 home runs and 80 RBIs per season over a full 162-game schedule during their careers. Both players would represent a tremendous upgrade over Davis Schneider, Spencer Horwitz, and even the promising Will Wagner. However, one caveat for Lowe is the fact that he has struggled to stay healthy in recent years, with 2021 being the only year in which he has played more than 109 games in a season.

Apparently, Ernie Clement’s play hasn’t sufficiently convinced Bowden that he will be the everyday third baseman in 2025. Therefore, Bowden predicted Eugenio Suárez as another hot corner option who could land with the Jays. If Toronto is looking for big offensive numbers from their corner infielder, Suárez’s 30 home runs and 101 RBIs from 2024 certainly look pretty appealing. However, since the Arizona Diamondbacks have his club option, there is still a good chance he will stay with them for next season. Unfortunately, for those who hope Alex Bregman according to previous rumorshe failed to qualify this time.

In terms of on-field help, the Jays will have a lot of interesting candidates, with Anthony Santander, Cody Bellinger and even top free agent Juan Soto everyone hoped to have the chance to come to Toronto. Although Blue Jays insider Ben Nicholson-Smith did warn earlier against Santander pursuitas he believed Santander wouldn’t be able to repeat his stellar 44-homer, 102-RBI performance from 2024. As for Bellinger, he was actually a top target for the Jays last offseason, so it appears they can have a second chance. at the former MVP, assuming he ultimately opts out of his current contract. Ultimately, there isn’t much to say about Soto. If the Jays land him, he will become the franchise-altering move that will ultimately make a huge difference for the club over the next decade. What gives the Jays and their faithful even more optimism is the fact that Toronto is on Bowden’s list of destinations for Soto, meaning the Jays might actually have a realistic chance against the phenom. 26 years old.

As for those who hope for some sort of free agency reunionTeoscar Hernández and Yusei Kikuchi are not expected to return to the Jays for a second go-around with the club. But with the way things work sometimes, you never know, especially if all the best options end up disappearing from the picture. Still, this will be an important free agency season for the Jays, as they will need to put things right this time around to be successful in 2025.