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Blue Jays: 3 left-handed hitting targets to consider for the 2026 season
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Photo credit: © Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Tristan Morgan
Jan 19, 2026, 14:00 ESTUpdated: Jan 19, 2026, 11:09 EST
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As the Toronto Blue Jays build toward what should be an exciting run in 2026 and beyond, adding an impact left-handed hitting outfielder remains one of the most critical roster upgrades available for the team following an already successful offseason.
The Blue Jays missed out on star outfielder Kyle Tucker, who would have fit that mould perfectly, though it wasn’t without trying. With next year’s free agency class shaping up much shallower in offensive talent, headlined by Nico Hoerner, and two key Blue Jays outfielders in George Springer and Daulton Varsho likely to hit the market following this season, acting sooner rather than later could have real value. 
Several left-handed hitters stand out as viable targets, either through trade or what remains of this offseason’s free agent market, giving Toronto multiple avenues to fill their needs. Much like last offseason’s surprise trade for Andres Gimenez, there’s reason to believe another splash could still be coming. 
Brendan Donovan 
Brendan Donovan has become one of the most discussed trade candidates recently as the St. Louis Cardinals moved on from Nolan Arenado and Wilson Contreras, officially beginning their rebuild.
Donovan has been drawing interest from several contending clubs. His value comes from his excellent contact abilities, plus plate discipline and defensive versatility, as well as his affordability under arbitration for the next two seasons. 
In 2025, the All-Star posted a 119 wRC+ with just a 13 percent strikeout rate, accumulating 2.9 fWAR. That production aligns with his broader track record, as he owns a 117 wRC+ across four MLB seasons. By no means is Donovan a slugger, but he is projectable, a gold glove defender, and a safe bet to spend some prospect capital on.
Under team control through the 2027 season at a modest $5.6 million AAV, Donovan’s market is competitive. The Cardinals are not eager to move their greatest offensive piece. Still, they would consider a firm offer, likely involving upper-tier prospects or high-end MLB-ready pieces from another club.
With teams including the Mariners, Giants, Red Sox, and Yankees showing interest in Donovan, Toronto would have to impress the Cardinals with an offer. The Jays have some farm system depth to play with, as well as some fringe big leaguers who could entice the Cardinals to deal Donovan.
Cody Bellinger 
Cody Bellinger stands out as the most impactful pure left-handed bat still in free agency. After a strong rebound with the Yankees in 2025, slashing .272/.334/.480 with 29 HR and 98 RBIs, Bellinger opted out and now represents the top remaining offensive option on the market, following the signings of Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette. 
Bellinger’s camp, led by the Boras Corporation, is reportedly seeking a seven-year deal at a premium AAV. The Yankees have offered a five-year contract worth $160 million with two opt-outs and believe it’s a fair offer, but the length remains a sticking point for the outfielder. 
For the Blue Jays, two approaches exist: a shorter, high-AAV deal with opt-outs similar to Bichette and Tucker’s deals, or meeting Bellinger’s seven-year demand to lock in that middle-of-the-order bat, albeit likely a risky deal on the back-half.
There are also legitimate concerns regarding Bellinger’s home-road splits.
In 2025, he posted a .909 OPS at Yankee Stadium, compared to .715  elsewhere, benefiting from the short porch in right field. With six seasons having passed since Bellinger’s MVP campaign and his age now trending into his thirties, regression is absolutely a concern. If Toronto pursues Bellinger, a shorter-term deal may be the most likely path, although it is something Bellinger’s camp doesn’t seem to be interested in.
Steven Kwan
Steven Kwan represents a different profile, closer to Donovan than Bellinger. While he won’t headline the home run charts, Kwan is one of baseball’s most reliable contact hitters, an elite defensive outfielder, and his strikeout rate consistently ranks among the lowest in the league.
Kwan’s underlying power metrics are modest to put it lightly, ranking in the first percentile in bat speed and hard hit rate. However, his power output in the last two seasons has doubled, while still spraying the ball all over the diamond. He is ranked in the top one percent of players in strikeout rate for his entire career, while his expected batting average in 2023 and 2024 remained within the top nine percent league-wide. 
Defensively, Kwan is among the best in the sport. He has won a Gold Glove in all four of his MLB seasons and has recorded 26 OAA since 2022, the most at the left field position, paired with an arm rarely seen on the left side, ranking in the 100th percentile in arm value. As a result, Kwan is consistently a 3-4 fWAR outfielder and remains under team control through the 2027 season at a $7.725 million AAV.
That value comes with a significant price tag, one that was not met at the last trade deadline, when multiple teams, including the Blue Jays, reportedly had interest. Extracting Kwan from the Guardians would not be easy, particularly after Cleveland’s strong second half in 2025 that resulted in its third division title in four years. Any deal now would likely exceed the cost of acquiring Donovan and require a package built around at least one of the Jays’ top prospects (plus more). 
Final Thoughts 
Ultimately, the Blue Jays’ next move hinges on how aggressively they choose to press their advantage while their competitive window remains wide open.
After an offseason that has already elevated expectations for 2026 and stabilized the pitching staff, adding an impact left-handed bat, specifically an outfielder, stands out as one of the clearest ways to push this roster to another echelon with the long-term uncertainty looming in the outfield.
If this front office has shown anything in recent years, including this offseason, it’s a willingness to strike decisively when the right opportunity presents itself. There’s reason to believe Toronto still isn’t done adding for 2026, and one of these options could be how they do it.
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