Toronto Blue Jays are officially out on free agent all-star infielder
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Victor William
Jan 28, 2026 (7:49 PM)
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Photo credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
The dream of seeing the "Batting Title King" spray line drives all over Rogers Centre is officially dead, and honestly, it's for the best.
After Bo Bichette packed his bags for the Mets, the panic set in. We all felt it.
The natural reaction was to scream for a high-contact replacement. Enter the Luis Arraez rumors.
But let's pump the brakes. According to MLB insiders, the Blue Jays are not pursuing the three-time batting champ to fill the void.
And frankly, they shouldn't.
Luis Arraez (Free Agent, Age 28) is a wizard with the bat, coming off his third straight batting title in 2025.
But hitting singles doesn't solve the Blue Jays' biggest problem: roster balance and defense.
Arraez is a defensive liability who is best suited for first base or DH-two spots already clogged by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., George Springer, and the newly signed Kazuma Okamoto.
Putting Arraez at second base forces a defensive downgrade we can't afford, especially with a pitching staff that relies on ground balls.
The front office seems content to roll with an internal committee of Ernie Clement and defensive wizard Andres Gimenez (Acquired via trade) to handle the middle infield.
It's not the sexy move, but it's the responsible one.
You can't buy a round peg for a square hole
Arraez is a fascinating player, maybe the last of his kind.
But this team needs power and defense to compete in the AL East, not just empty batting average.
We just signed Okamoto to bring the thunder from Japan. We have Vladdy entering his prime.
Spending precious budget on a designated hitter who plays second base like a pylon would be a mistake Ross Atkins can't afford to make.
The "Post-Bo" era is about building a complete team, not just chasing big names who don't fit the puzzle.
Let Arraez go chase his fourth batting title somewhere else. We have a championship to chase.
Also read on Toronto Baseball Insider :
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| POLL | ||
JANVIER 28|237 ANSWERS Toronto Blue Jays are officially out on free agent all-star infielder Are you relieved the Blue Jays are passing on Luis Arraez? | ||
| Yes | 188 | 79.3 % |
| No | 49 | 20.7 % |
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