Blue Jays Could Land Yankees' Free Agent Target This Offseason According To Insider

It sounds like the Blue Jays could be some competition for the Yankees this offseason

The Toronto Blue Jays may lose their third baseman this offseason which could lead them to pursue a possible New York Yankees free-agent target.

New York has a few holes on the roster it needs to fix this offseason. The starting rotation has drawn plenty of headlines with the club's pursuit of Orix Buffaloes phenom Yoshinobu Yamamoto, but the team's offense may need more work. New York had one of the worst offenses in baseball in 2023. 

The Yankees' offense dealt with a wide range of injuries -- including to superstar slugger Aaron Judge -- but didn't ever truly click. New York's inconsistent offense arguably is the biggest reason why the team won just 82 games. Because of this, the Yankees have been linked to the top offensive free-agent targets like outfielder Cody Bellinger or infielder Jeimer Candelario.

New York has been linked to Candelario on multiple occasions -- including ahead of the trade deadline -- but one other possible suitor could be the rival Toronto Blue Jays, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. 

"If Matt Chapman departs via free agency, the Blue Jays will have a hole to fill at third base," Feinsand said. "Candelario had a productive season with the Nationals and Cubs, hitting 22 home runs with 70 RBIs and a .807 OPS. Candelario, who turns 30 on Nov. 24, isn’t the same caliber of defender as Chapman, but he’s an above-average third baseman who would be able to fill the void if the Blue Jays find themselves with one."

Toronto will be in the market for a third baseman if Chapman leaves in free agency. It's unclear if he will, but if he does it could give the Yankees more competition for Candelario -- unless New York lands Chapman themselves. Candelario almost makes too much sense for the Yankees. He could help out mainly at third base but also see some time at first base and had a career year in 2023. He finished the season with a career-high 22 home runs, 70 RBIs, and a .251/.336/.471 slash line. 

If New York wants to land him, it sounds like it will have to act quickly.