Blue Jays target Japanese free agents Suzuki, Sato to boost offence

The Toronto Blue Jays are targeting Japanese free agents Seiya Suzuki and Teruaki Sato as they seek to overhaul a league-worst offence for the 2027 season. The team has reportedly engaged on both players, with Suzuki emerging as a top priority. The veteran outfielder would address multiple needs, while the 27-year-old Sato represents a left-handed power threat the club has lacked. The Blue Jays have more than $100 million coming off their payroll, giving general manager Ross Atkins room to be aggressive in free agency.

"No free agent would address Toronto’s greatest need this winter more than Suzuki," The Athletic's Mitch Bannon wrote, citing a source who said the Blue Jays "quite like" the former Chicago Cub. Suzuki batted .270 with 26 home runs and 86 RBIs in 143 games last season. Bannon noted Suzuki would have led qualified Blue Jays with an .841 OPS last season and has hit over 20 homers in each of the last four years. Sportsnet reported the Blue Jays are also engaged on Sato, a third baseman and outfielder who hit 39 home runs for the Hanshin Tigers in 2026. His 189 wRC+ over the last two seasons ranks first in Nippon Professional Baseball. "The team is in dire need of offensive juice, didn’t have a strong left-handed power threat last season, and could easily fit Sato into an outfielder corner where the roster is low on reliable performers," Sportsnet's analysis stated.

The Blue Jays' interest in NPB talent comes after the team's experience with Kazuma Okamoto and a 2025 World Series appearance that was closely followed in Japan. The club's increased spending in recent years also makes them less likely to be priced out on any given player. The team's offence ranked as the poorest in baseball last season, a fall from first to worst in the American League East. Outfield is a particular area of need after the club declined a 2027 option on Myles Straw, though Straw has expressed a desire to stay. Veteran George Springer's future is also uncertain, with his role potentially needing to be filled. "Suzuki would basically step into the role that Springer filled so gracefully over the last few years as an option in the outfield and as the designated hitter," Maddy Dickens of Sports Illustrated wrote. "He would immediately bolster the team. Atkins has to make this one happen."

Beyond position players, the Blue Jays are also in the market for starting pitching after Kevin Gausman was traded and the contracts of Shane Bieber and Max Scherzer expired. Sportsnet reported the team has interest in Japanese pitchers Kaima Taira and Hiromi Itoh. Taira, 27, posted a 1.36 ERA in 2026, while Itoh has thrown more innings than any NPB pitcher over the last three seasons. The Blue Jays have also been linked to other free agents, including New York Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. Garbutt Disposal reported in October that MLB analysts predicted Toronto could pursue the two-time All-Star. Former Blue Jays pitcher Ricky Romero, speaking on "Blue Bird Territory," said Chisholm's numbers are good but noted concerns about his personality fitting into the clubhouse. Up next: The free agency period continues, with the Blue Jays also reportedly planning to meet with two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal.

With files from Sports Illustrated and Sportsnet