It’s not the only item on general manager Ross Atkins’ offseason to-do list, but it’s first: Toronto Blue Jays I desperately need to add at least one impact bat this winter, and preferably more. The team ranked 17th in OPS last season and 20th in slugging percentage, and there are holes to fill everywhere from the infield to the DH to both corners of the outfield. If Toronto wants to get back into the AL East race after a last-place finish in 2024 (and convince Bo Bichette and Vlad Guerrero Jr. to stay for the long haul), this roster will have looked very different next spring. .

And it looks like Atkins is willing to get a little creative to make it happen. The Blue Jays were thought to be in the market for a third baseman, either via trade or free agency. But while the market seems rather cold at the hot corner, Toronto appears to be considering turning its third base problem into a first base problem – with a very significant position change.

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Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports from this week’s general managers’ meetings that the Jays are weighing the merits of moving All-Star slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to third base for the upcoming season. He also notes that the move could be a precursor to a race for one of the biggest bats on the market: former New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso.

Guerrero Jr. broke into the Majors as a third baseman. But scouts never liked him as a long-term prospect, and sure enough, he had made the switch to more or less full-time by 2020. Desperate to get as much offensive juice into the lineup as possible Last season, Toronto opened the door a bit, giving Guerrero Jr. 12 appearances at third – by far the most since his rookie season. And now the state of the free agent market could force the Jays to look at it even more in 2025.

If you’re looking for a third baseman this winter, in a word, good luck. Alex Bregman is a star, but he’s also a client of Scott Boras who seems to be in high demand among the richest teams in the league. And after him, things dry up fast: Now that Eugenio Suarez is back with the Arizona Diamondbacks, the next best option available might be…former Chicago White Sox headache Yoan Moncada? The companion Gio Urshela? It’s pretty dark there.

First base offers more intriguing options, however. Alonso is the headliner, but Christian Walker is an All-Star in his own right. Hell, even Paul Goldschmidt, Carlos Santana and Anthony Rizzo at least offer a few reason to be enthusiastic, even considering all their flaws. (And that’s not even taking into account the potential of a trade involving someone like the Athletics’ Brent Rooker or the Red Sox’s Triston Casas.) You can understand why Atkins might not hate the idea of ​​moving Guerrero Jr. through the infield and attack the easiest. problem, even if it affects Toronto’s defense a little.