The Toronto Blue Jays enter the 2026 season with one of baseball's deepest lineups—but also a key question to answer.
Sep 25, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays center fielder Daulton Varsho (5) celebrates his grand slam home run with third baseman Addison Barger (47) and left fielder Anthony Santander (25) during the sixth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images | John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
With Bo Bichette no longer in the picture, Toronto must reshuffle its batting order while trying to maintain one of the league's most productive offenses.
Last season, the Blue Jays ranked among MLB's elite across multiple categories, finishing near the top in runs scored, OPS, and advanced metrics like wRC+ and wOBA. Much of that production came from the top of the order, led by George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who remain locked into key roles.
The challenge now is finding the right pieces to slot around them.
A new look at the top of the order
Springer is expected to continue leading off, with Guerrero anchoring the middle of the lineup. But the departure of Bichette leaves a significant void—particularly in the cleanup spot, where consistent production is critical.
Last season, the Blue Jays often relied on a platoon in the No. 2 spot, but that approach may not be ideal moving forward. Instead, the solution could already be on the roster.
Daulton Varsho and Addison Barger have emerged as strong candidates to take on larger offensive roles.
Addison Barger's breakout potential
Barger showed flashes of high-end production in 2025, particularly during a midseason stretch when he looked like one of the team's most dangerous hitters.
Even during less consistent periods, his underlying metrics told a promising story. He consistently made hard contact and demonstrated above-average power, with strong exit velocity and barrel rates.
The key development, however, has been his plate discipline.
Late in the season—and especially in the postseason—Barger began to cut down on chasing pitches, leading to more walks and fewer strikeouts. That improved approach has carried into spring training, where he's continued to show both power and patience at the plate.
If that trend holds, Barger has the profile of a middle-of-the-order bat—one capable of driving in runs while maintaining quality at-bats.
Daulton Varsho's power surge
Varsho brings a different but equally valuable skill set.
Despite playing in a limited number of games last season, he still managed to produce significant power, tying a career high in home runs. His improved bat speed and tendency to elevate pulled fly balls contributed to a noticeable jump in offensive impact.
That power has been on full display again this spring.
While early results shouldn't be overvalued, the consistency of Varsho's approach—particularly his ability to generate strong contact—suggests that his offensive gains could carry into the regular season.
A logical lineup adjustment
Putting it all together, the most effective lineup construction may involve moving Varsho and Barger into more prominent roles.
Slotting Varsho near the top of the order—potentially in the No. 2 spot—would add power and speed ahead of Guerrero. Meanwhile, placing Barger in the cleanup role could help replace some of the production lost with Bichette's departure.
This alignment would create a balanced top four, maximizing both run creation and run-driving opportunities.
Other hitters, like Alejandro Kirk and Kazuma Okamoto, still play important roles, but their profiles may be better suited to the middle or lower portions of the lineup rather than the premium spots.
A decision still in progress
The Blue Jays have experimented with different combinations during spring training, suggesting that no final decision has been made yet.
But the evidence is pointing in a clear direction.
If Toronto wants to get the most out of its lineup in 2026, elevating Varsho and Barger could be the simplest—and smartest—solution.