<p>For a hot minute, it seemed like the Pete Alonso pipe dream might come true for the Toronto Blue Jays. Alas, Alonso <a href="https://int.bluejaysnation.com/news/report-first-baseman-pete-alonso-returns-to-the-new-york-mets-on-a-two-year-deal-worth-54-million">went back to the New York Mets</a>, which seemed inevitable all long, but it was fun to navel gaze for a moment that he might become a Blue Jay.</p>
<p>Ross Atkins and Toronto&#8217;s front office have already done their offseason heavy lifting, but that doesn&#8217;t mean this Blue Jays roster is complete. They might still tinker and add ahead of Opening Day, and any offensive addition would be a plus for this team that got better with Anthony Santander but could use another bat.</p>
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<p>The issue is there are next to no viable options left. Outside of Alex Bregman, it&#8217;s slim pickings out on the free agent market. Tommy Pham was another hitter who would&#8217;ve been on this list, but he signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates on a one-year deal.</p>
<p>They may not be the sexiest names to help fill out the rest of the Blue Jays&#8217; lineup card, but these free-agent designated hitter bats might be worth a look.</p>
<h2>J.D. Martinez</h2>
<p><em>2024 fWAR: 0.6 fWAR, 2025 projected fWAR: 0.1</em></p>
<p>Entering his late 30s, J.D. Martinez is still a very productive hitter. Last year was a bit of a weird year for the 36-year-old. He never had a trip to the injured list, but he signed late in Spring Training and didn&#8217;t get into Major League action until late April.</p>
<p>He only played 120 games with the Mets last year, which is close to his threshold these last few seasons. Despite that, <a href="https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/j-d-martinez-502110?stats=statcast-r-hitting-mlb">his Baseball Savant page is still a sea of red</a>, as Martinez makes loud contact and barrels up the ball 94% of the time.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">J.D. Martinez posted a higher xwOBA, xSLG, barrel rate,  and average exit velocity than Pete Alonso in 2024, and will come at a much lower cost. Just saying. <a href="https://t.co/GAw86vATnT">pic.twitter.com/GAw86vATnT</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Jonah Birenbaum (@birenball) <a href="https://twitter.com/birenball/status/1887577058676510757?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Most of his power comes against left-handed pitchers, but he can still hold his own against right-handed pitching. So he likely wouldn&#8217;t need to be platooned, and he doesn&#8217;t match up with another pure bat hitter on the Blue Jays roster.</p>
<p>It would be presumptuous to assume the veteran bat could rekindle some of his power from his All-Star season with the Dodgers in 2023, but something more in line with Justin Turner&#8217;s production from the DH spot is a more realistic expectation from someone like Martinez, with hopefully less ebbs and flows.</p>
<h2>Mark Canha</h2>
<p><em>2024 fWAR: 1.0, 2025 projected fWAR: 0.7</em></p>
<p>Mark Canha doesn&#8217;t have the power output like other hitters on this list, but he doesn&#8217;t chase often, he gets on base and provides a competitive at bat. His launch angle dipped down a few degrees in 2024, which saw Canha post a career-high 49.% ground ball rate with the Tigers and Giants last year.</p>
<p>He can also bounce around between first base and the outfield so that added versatility makes him more valuable in the field than someone like Martinez, who is a full-time designated hitter at this point in his career.</p>
<p>The right-hander can also swipe the odd base and is a plus runner on the base paths. Generally, you&#8217;re going to get a decent plate appearance from Canha; not a middle-of-the-order threat, but someone who might slot into the six or seven slots in the Blue Jays lineup.</p>
<h2>Anthony Rizzo</h2>
<p><em>2024 fWAR: -0.2 fWAR, 2025 projected WAR: 0.3</em></p>
<p>If the Blue Jays need another left-handed bat in the lineup, could Anthony Rizzo be the next-best option on the market?</p>
<p>Another lefty in Toronto&#8217;s lineup wouldn&#8217;t hurt, and he can play first base admirably if Vladimir Guerrero Jr. needs a break, or if the Blue Jays want to get funky and move Vladdy to third base for a game and get another lefty in the lineup like Rizzo.</p>
<p>He dealt with a fractured finger late in the season, and he still hasn&#8217;t quite been himself since suffering a concussion on an innocent play at first base back in May 2023. But if he was good enough to play in the World Series, Rizzo should be ready to go for Opening Day.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Anthony Rizzo powers out his 300th career home run! <a href="https://t.co/JId5WDD5yi">pic.twitter.com/JId5WDD5yi</a></p>
<p>&mdash; MLB (@MLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1784689373004378475?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Rizzo would never see a left-handed pitcher if the Blue Jays could help it, so he could become a platoon partner with someone like Orelvis Martinez or another bench bat right-hander. Plus, it seems like Rizzo is still a plus defender, so he’s useful as a late-game defensive replacement.</p>
<h2>Brandon Drury</h2>
<p><em>2024 fWAR: -2.1, 2025 projected fWAR: 0.2</em></p>
<p>Ah yes, old friend Brandon Drury. Statistically, this past season with the Angels was the worst season of Drury&#8217;s career. He enjoyed a nice bounce back in 2022 and 2023, but last year was a .470 OPS from the veteran compared to a .812 OPS just two years prior in 2022.</p>
<p>Despite the down year, he&#8217;s projected by Steamer to produce 0.2 fWAR for whichever team signs him to play in 2025, and given the Blue Jays and Drury have some history, there might be a reason for a reunion.</p>
<p>Because he&#8217;s coming off such a poor showing in 2024, he&#8217;d be an extreme buy-low candidate, likely something on a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training. There&#8217;s no sense in tying up guaranteed money in Drury; something similar to how the Blue Jays structured their contract with Daniel Vogelbach last year.</p>
<p>Though Drury is much, much further down the DH wish list, and he might only gain consideration if the Blue Jays suffer any injuries in Spring Training and need to find veteran at-bats out on the market. Then launch the Drury bat signal and he shall swoop in and save the Blue Jays.</p>
<hr />
<p><strong>Sponsored by bet365</strong></p>
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For a hot minute, it seemed like the Pete Alonso pipe dream might come true for the Toronto Blue Jays. Alas, Alonso <a href="https://int.bluejaysnation.com/news/report-first-baseman-pete-alonso-returns-to-the-new-york-mets-on-a-two-year-deal-worth-54-million">went back to the New York Mets</a>, which seemed inevitable all long, but it was fun to navel gaze for a moment that he might become a Blue Jay.

Ross Atkins and Toronto's front office have already done their offseason heavy lifting, but that doesn't mean this Blue Jays roster is complete. They might still tinker and add ahead of Opening Day, and any offensive addition would be a plus for this team that got better with Anthony Santander but could use another bat.
<div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="330" data-promotion-id="18983" data-context="“web-content-promocard&quot;"></div>
The issue is there are next to no viable options left. Outside of Alex Bregman, it's slim pickings out on the free agent market. Tommy Pham was another hitter who would've been on this list, but he signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates on a one-year deal.

They may not be the sexiest names to help fill out the rest of the Blue Jays' lineup card, but these free-agent designated hitter bats might be worth a look.
<h2>J.D. Martinez</h2>
<em>2024 fWAR: 0.6 fWAR, 2025 projected fWAR: 0.1</em>

Entering his late 30s, J.D. Martinez is still a very productive hitter. Last year was a bit of a weird year for the 36-year-old. He never had a trip to the injured list, but he signed late in Spring Training and didn't get into Major League action until late April.

He only played 120 games with the Mets last year, which is close to his threshold these last few seasons. Despite that, <a href="https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/j-d-martinez-502110?stats=statcast-r-hitting-mlb">his Baseball Savant page is still a sea of red</a>, as Martinez makes loud contact and barrels up the ball 94% of the time.

https://twitter.com/birenball/status/1887577058676510757

Most of his power comes against left-handed pitchers, but he can still hold his own against right-handed pitching. So he likely wouldn't need to be platooned, and he doesn't match up with another pure bat hitter on the Blue Jays roster.

It would be presumptuous to assume the veteran bat could rekindle some of his power from his All-Star season with the Dodgers in 2023, but something more in line with Justin Turner's production from the DH spot is a more realistic expectation from someone like Martinez, with hopefully less ebbs and flows.
<h2>Mark Canha</h2>
<em>2024 fWAR: 1.0, 2025 projected fWAR: 0.7</em>

Mark Canha doesn't have the power output like other hitters on this list, but he doesn't chase often, he gets on base and provides a competitive at bat. His launch angle dipped down a few degrees in 2024, which saw Canha post a career-high 49.% ground ball rate with the Tigers and Giants last year.

He can also bounce around between first base and the outfield so that added versatility makes him more valuable in the field than someone like Martinez, who is a full-time designated hitter at this point in his career.

The right-hander can also swipe the odd base and is a plus runner on the base paths. Generally, you're going to get a decent plate appearance from Canha; not a middle-of-the-order threat, but someone who might slot into the six or seven slots in the Blue Jays lineup.
<h2>Anthony Rizzo</h2>
<em>2024 fWAR: -0.2 fWAR, 2025 projected WAR: 0.3</em>

If the Blue Jays need another left-handed bat in the lineup, could Anthony Rizzo be the next-best option on the market?

Another lefty in Toronto's lineup wouldn't hurt, and he can play first base admirably if Vladimir Guerrero Jr. needs a break, or if the Blue Jays want to get funky and move Vladdy to third base for a game and get another lefty in the lineup like Rizzo.

He dealt with a fractured finger late in the season, and he still hasn't quite been himself since suffering a concussion on an innocent play at first base back in May 2023. But if he was good enough to play in the World Series, Rizzo should be ready to go for Opening Day.

https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1784689373004378475

Rizzo would never see a left-handed pitcher if the Blue Jays could help it, so he could become a platoon partner with someone like Orelvis Martinez or another bench bat right-hander. Plus, it seems like Rizzo is still a plus defender, so he’s useful as a late-game defensive replacement.
<h2>Brandon Drury</h2>
<em>2024 fWAR: -2.1, 2025 projected fWAR: 0.2</em>

Ah yes, old friend Brandon Drury. Statistically, this past season with the Angels was the worst season of Drury's career. He enjoyed a nice bounce back in 2022 and 2023, but last year was a .470 OPS from the veteran compared to a .812 OPS just two years prior in 2022.

Despite the down year, he's projected by Steamer to produce 0.2 fWAR for whichever team signs him to play in 2025, and given the Blue Jays and Drury have some history, there might be a reason for a reunion.

Because he's coming off such a poor showing in 2024, he'd be an extreme buy-low candidate, likely something on a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training. There's no sense in tying up guaranteed money in Drury; something similar to how the Blue Jays structured their contract with Daniel Vogelbach last year.

Though Drury is much, much further down the DH wish list, and he might only gain consideration if the Blue Jays suffer any injuries in Spring Training and need to find veteran at-bats out on the market. Then launch the Drury bat signal and he shall swoop in and save the Blue Jays.

<hr />

<strong>Sponsored by bet365</strong>
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