The Blue Jays are reportedly expected to pursue Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki this offseason.

Toronto missed the playoffs this year after reaching the World Series last season, with Bo Bichette's departure and several underperforming players leaving the club searching for answers most of the year.

Right field became a particular sore spot. Anthony Santander's signing never panned out, missing the entire season, leaving Jesus Sanchez and Nathan Lukes to handle most of the work there.

Toronto got just a .654 OPS from right field all season, one of the clearest production gaps on the roster.

"This offseason, the Jays are expected to pursue Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki," Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reported, citing a league source who spoke on condition of anonymity.

"His 26 homers would've ranked second on the Jays this year and his .841 OPS would've led all qualified Jays by nearly 80 points."

Why Suzuki fits so cleanly into Toronto's plans

Suzuki hit the third-most home runs among right fielders last season and posted the second-highest OPS at the position.

Adding him as an everyday right fielder would let Lukes shift to left field, an upgrade at both outfield spots without needing multiple separate additions.

Santander returning as an All-Star caliber player remains possible, but banking on that outcome given his recent injury history isn't a wise plan for Toronto's front office.

Adding a proven star through free agency, rather than counting on a health rebound, is the more reliable path forward.

If George Springer departs in free agency as expected, Santander could carve out a new role as the everyday designated hitter, giving Toronto a way to still use him productively without requiring outfield defense from him.

That plan would give Toronto a genuinely reshaped outfield picture heading into 2027, addressing the exact production gap that hurt this year's lineup most.

Whether Toronto actually lands Suzuki depends on how competitive his market becomes, but the fit on paper is about as clean as it gets for a team with this specific need.