Blue Jays forced to pivot to other free agents after missing out on Shohei Ohtani

The Toronto Blue Jays have been forced to pivot after missing out on two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, who agreed to a $700-million US, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers last week.

Canada's lone big-league team has some significant holes to fill as it aims to get back to the post-season in 2024. Here's a look at five players who the Blue Jays may want to target now that the big free-agent domino has finally dropped.

The Blue Jays may stick with what they know to address their vacancy at third base. Matt Chapman offers award-winning defensive skills but his bat can run cold at times.

Chapman's power numbers slipped last season (17 homers, 54 RBIs) but his defence remained on point.

He hit 27 homers in 2021 and '22, something the Blue Jays would want to see again if they open their wallet to bring him back.

A big left-handed power bat is just what the Blue Jays need for the heart of their batting order.

Signing Cody Bellinger would be costly as he's in his prime at 28 and is coming off a bounceback year with the Chicago Cubs. He hit 26 homers, drove in 97 runs and posted a .307 batting average last season.

Those numbers were more in line with his first three years with the L.A. Dodgers rather than the two seasons when he struggled after the shortened 2020 campaign.

Bellinger, who usually plays centre field but can also play first base, won the National League MVP award in 2019.

Toronto's starting five is one of the deepest rotations in the major leagues. Adding a top-of-the rotation arm like Japan's Yoshinobu Yamamoto would give the Blue Jays another starter with ace potential and also give Toronto better trade options.

With 2022 AL Cy Young finalist Alek Manoah looking to bounce back after a down year and top