The Blue Jays still need to sign a DH. There are five good candidates, but one stands out

The off season has been a so far. While Canada’s team was missing out on , the rival Yankees were in a division that already contained the promising Orioles and pesky Rays. Last spring, the Jays were considered favourites to win the American League East. This year, a lack of upgrades means they might be projected to finish as low as fourth.

Even if this group as currently assembled lives up to its potential, a spot in the playoffs is far from guaranteed. There's still time for that to change, with the right moves. The Jays remain in the market for at least one big bat, and there are still a lot of viable free agents. Who they pick could make the difference between qualifying for the post season or missing out entirely.

Almost all the top options at designated hitter are still available, including Jorge Soler, Rhys Hoskins, J.D. Martinez, Joc Pederson and Justin Turner. Not surprisingly, the Jays have been linked to all five and while there hasn't been any rush to get a deal done, that won't be the case for much longer with spring training set to open on Feb.

15. "It's positive for the Blue Jays," general manager Ross Atkins said this month in reference to the slow moving market. "I would never choose for it to be that way, personally, because I would rather have clarity for the players, knowing where they're going to be and having a home sooner than later.

"But from Toronto's perspective, we have a really good team, we have support from ownership, we have agility. So, when you have those things, being patient can be advantageous." As is typical with non premium free agents, there are pros and cons to every guy on the list. The obvious risk is why each player should be available on a relatively short term deal.

None of these hitters are going to set the organization back multiple years, and yet their values could differ wildly in 2024. The player who figures to get the most lucrative deal is Soler, who was recently linked to the Jays and Red Sox by Jon Heyman of the New York Post. At the start of the off season, projected the 31 year old Soler would get a three year deal worth $45 million (U.S.).

If his market doesn’t materialize as expected, he might be forced to settle for two. His biggest asset is power. Soler hit 36 homers for the Miami Marlins last season, and 27 in 2021. Unfortunately, he’s also inconsistent. Since the start of 2019, he has produced three seasons with an on base plus slugging above .850.

In 2022, it was just .695. And across 94 games in Kansas City the season before, it was .658. The Cuban is also a poor defender and doesn't offer much value on the basepaths. Despite the obvious flaws, Soler remains appealing because the Jays have others who can do those things. What they need is a slugger, and his 1.080 OPS against left handers last season works for a team that finished with the fewest homers against lefties.

Hoskins was the epitome of consistency until he missed the 2023 season because of an ACL injury. The 30 year old has produced at least 27 homers in each of his last four full seasons with an .843 OPS. He should be available on a one year deal, but with Scott Boras as his agent that typically means one plus a player option for a second.

It would be a cleaner fit if Hoskins played the outfield, but he hasn't done that since 2018 and it seems unlikely post injury. Instead, he would have to DH while backing up Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at first. That would leave room for a platoon option on the bench who can spell Kevin Kiermaier or Daulton Varsho in the outfield.

Pederson's biggest selling point is power from the left side. His arrival would balance out the lineup in a similar way to Brandon Belt in 2023. The problem is that the 31 year old Pederson has topped 20 homers just once since 2019 and he's useless against lefties, which means he’s best when paired with another bat.

Another downside: While he can play left field, he’s considered a defensive liability. Martinez is coming off the best season of anyone on this list. He smashed 33 homers with 103 RBIs for the Dodgers before losing his spot when they signed Ohtani. As another Boras client, he's believed to be seeking at least a one year deal with a player option for a second.

MLB Trade Rumors projected he will earn $40 million. The concern is age. The Jays don't need to be reminded how fast a player's performance can dip once he gets into his late 30s. José Bautista stopped being productive when he turned 37. Ditto for Edwin Encarnación. Martinez will be 37 in August, but there's no criticizing his recent effectiveness with an .847 OPS dating back to 2021.

The issues are similar for Justin Turner, who is 39. He continued to deny Father Time last year by hitting .276 with 23 homers and 96 RBIs for the Red Sox. He's another option worth considering, but unless the Jays think he can still play some third, they likely need someone who projects to hit for more power.

After finishing tied for 14th in runs, the Jays have yet to make any meaningful additions to their lineup. to play centre, and the light hitting to potentially play third. Belt and last year's third baseman, Matt Chapman, remain free agents. So, too, is a higher profile guy: Cody Bellinger. It’s easy to argue the Jays should be adding at least two big bats.

If they're settling for one, it's imperative they choose the right guy. From this vantage point, Hoskins is shaping up to be the best value. Last year's injury aside, he offers proven power without the peaks and valleys that Soler typically delivers from one year to the next. All five guys, however, would be an upgrade over what the Jays have.

It shouldn’t be much longer before the front office reveals its pick. To date, the Jays off season has been a major disappointment. Thankfully for fans around here, it's not over quite yet..