It’s always wise to have a backup plan.

Now that the Toronto Blue Jays have bolstered their pitching staff with the additions of Dylan Cease, Cody Ponce and Tyler Rogers, it’s time to focus on improving their position-player group. By all accounts, the organization is seeking to add one impact hitter to its 2026 lineup — and that addition could very well end up being either Bo Bichette or Kyle Tucker.

Many throughout the industry expect the Blue Jays’ front office to land one of the top free-agent hitters this off-season. Some even believe they could sign both Bichette and Tucker. However, that outcome seems extremely unlikely, with the franchise’s Competitive Balance Tax payroll already nearing $300 million for next season, per FanGraphs’ RosterResource.

There’s also the reality that Bichette and Tucker could each sign elsewhere. It’s certainly the least likely outcome of all three, but it’s a potential scenario that general manager Ross Atkins and his staff must have contingency plans in place for.

In the event that it becomes reality, forcing Toronto’s brass to pivot elsewhere for its meaningful offensive addition, here are a few free-agent alternatives they could turn to.

Thanks to the positional flexibility on the Blue Jays’ roster, particularly with Addison Barger (third base/right field) and Ernie Clement (second base, shortstop, third base), they’d be able to seamlessly insert Bregman at the hot corner without compromising anyone else’s playing time.

The 31-year-old infielder, who opted out of the final two seasons of his three-year, $120 million contract last month, isn’t the elite hitter that Tucker and Bichette are. But, with his low strikeout, high on-base profile, he’d perfectly match the club’s offensive identity next season and could provide middle-of-the-order protection for Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Returning to Boston still appears to be the preferred pathway for Bregman, who isn’t tied to a qualifying offer and will surely attempt to cash in on another impressive performance after settling for a short-term deal last winter. If the Red Sox close that door, though, the right-handed-hitting third baseman would be an ideal target for the reigning AL East champions.

Following two seasons with the Chicago Cubs, delivering an MVP-calibre performance in 2023, followed by a slightly-above-league-average ’24 showing, Bellinger was arguably the second most valuable position player on the New York Yankees last season, behind only back-to-back AL MVP winner Aaron Judge.

The 30-year-old outfielder/first baseman, who posted 29 home runs and 98 RBIs while accounting for 4.9 fWAR — each the highest of his career since his 2019 NL MVP-winning performance — over 152 games with the Bronx Bombers, wouldn’t completely atone for failing to sign Tucker or Bichette. But his arrival as a left-handed low-strikeout-with-power-upside hitter would certainly be a start.

Retaining Bellinger remains a top priority for the Yankees, as they aren’t expected to spend the necessary resources to acquire Tucker. Still, the Blue Jays shouldn’t be counted out in this market if the latter doesn’t sign north of the border. They’ve been tied to Bellinger’s camp in each of the last two off-seasons, only to come up shy on both occasions.

Perhaps history will repeat itself for a third consecutive winter. But if it doesn’t, the two-time All-Star — who’s likely seeking a long-term deal — would be a solid addition to Toronto’s outfield mix, pushing Barger to third base in a full-time role.

Alternatively, perhaps the Blue Jays will consider targeting the international market if they miss out on Bichette and Tucker in free agency.

Okamoto, whose signing period will conclude on Jan. 4 at 5 p.m. ET, has already reportedly received interest from Toronto’s front office, according to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman. They’re among a handful of potential suitors for the 29-year-old Japanese infielder, a group that also includes the Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates.

Despite missing over two months due to a shoulder injury last season, Okamoto still excelled at the plate during his eighth season in Japan’s NPB, clubbing 15 home runs with 49 RBIs while slashing .327/.416/.598 in 69 games. That earned the six-time 30-home-run hitter an eye-popping 210 wRC+ (100 league average).

Okamoto, who’s expected to suit up for Team Japan again in next spring’s WBC, doesn’t feature the same swing-and-miss concerns that fellow international free agent Munetaka Murakami does. Since entering pro ball in 2018, he’s registered a strikeout rate of less than 20 per cent in seven of his eight seasons, as well as a swinging strike rate below 10 per cent in consecutive campaigns.

How long he can remain at the hot corner presents the biggest question mark regarding his defence as he transitions to North America. But he would provide a dependable replacement at first base during Guerrero’s rest days, and he’s also occasionally played left field over the last few seasons.

The power upside that Murakami would bring to the Blue Jays’ lineup is obvious, as a former 56-home-run hitter, who slugged .663 last season despite missing significant time due to an oblique injury. At the same time, the 25-year-old slugger — who must sign with an MLB team by 5 p.m. ET on Monday — has flirted with a 30-per-cent strikeout rate in each of the previous three seasons and profiles as a first base/DH type, complicating a potential fit in Toronto.

Suárez possesses many of the same concerns as Murakami — they both strike out far too often, offer below-average defence and likely project as first basemen/DHs moving forward. Plus, in the former’s case, he’s also fighting against Father Time. Nevertheless, with as much power as the 34-year-old thumper provides (49 home runs and .526 SLG last season), he’d at least be worth considering as a short-term, right-handed-hitting option.