Why the Blue Jays cannot sign Cody Bellinger in the sweepstakes after losing to Shohei Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani was passed over by the Toronto Blue Jays. Cody Bellinger, who fills an immediate need, must now be signed.
After Shohei Ohtani signed a $700 million contract with $680 million deferred last Saturday, choosing the Los Angeles Dodgers over the Toronto Blue Jays, fans of the team are still getting over it. Until the very end, the Jays were considered a serious landing spot for Ohtani, despite two reports that were untrue suggesting he was going to take his skills north of the border. They were mistaken, though.
What will happen to the Blue Jays next? It’s no secret that, following two years of playoff disappointment, this current core needs another star player to help them genuinely be a contender for the World Series. Juan Soto was thought to be interested in a trade with Toronto, but he ultimately chose to sign with the New York Yankees. In other words, the Jays are rapidly out of time to acquire a game-changer, having already lost out on two.
But one is still standing: Cody Bellinger. He needs to sign with the Blue Jays.
The Jays do indeed need another star. They specifically require a left-handed bat, though. Bellinger is the solution. Only Kevin Kiermaier, a left-handed hitter, hit above.265 for Toronto in the previous season. He only had eight home runs, too. In 2022, Bellinger had a strong comeback season, hitting.307 with 26 home runs and 97 RBI. It is obvious that he has regained his confidence, which will help any ball club. Bellinger would replace Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the middle of the Blue Jays lineup and become one of their go-to players. Furthermore, the former MVP is adaptable enough to play first base, right field, center field, and even designated hitter. Bellinger is a player Toronto should definitely be pursuing.
For a few years now, the Blue Jays have been viewed as a potential World Series team, but they have continuously fallen short of predictions. The offense, coaching, or pitching staff can all be held accountable. In actuality, this team isn’t finishing the task. Bellinger-style addition is required. Will it be the deciding factor in their Fall Classic victory? Probably not, though. He will, however, improve Toronto if he performs at even somewhat of 2023’s level. Belli has a ton of postseason experience from his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers in addition to being a superb left-handed bat.
