Kevin Pillar says Toronto Blue Jays would be 'foolish' not to sign this free agent

The start of MLB free agency is just days away, and it could be a very interesting one for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Toronto's front office has a few needs to address, like adding a power-hitting outfielder and bringing in another starter (or two) for the rotation. But there's also another option that a four-time All-Star former Blue Jay says it would be "foolish" for Toronto to miss out on.

On the latest episode of the Blue Bird Territory podcast, former Blue Jays Kevin Pillar and Ricky Romero discussed a few free agents they'd like to see Toronto go after this offseason.

The pair touched on big names like former Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal and Japanese slugger Seiya Suzuki, but no one was higher on Pillar's list than three-time batting champion Luis Arraez.

"He's a guy that it doesn't matter who's on the mound [...] he hits elite pitching. It would be foolish for them not to want a guy like that in their lineup," Pillar said of Arraez.

“It doesn’t matter who he’s facing, he hits elite pitching.” @KPILLAR4 wants Luis Arráez in a Blue Jays uniform next year. Presented by @bet365ca. https://t.co/a7P7OrE0XT

— Blue Bird Territory (@BlueBirdTerr) October 28, 2026

"Whether Luis Arraez is getting on base or not, you know what you're going to get [from him] every single time. He's going to grind out at-bats, and he's going to be tough."

Arraez is entering free agency after splitting last season between the San Francisco Giants and the Philadelphia Phillies. The 29-year-old happens to be just one of two players in the modern era to have won the batting title in both the American and National leagues.

Since making his MLB debut with the Minnesota Twins in 2019, Arraez has hit over .300 in six of his eight seasons and earned four All-Star selections, including one last season.

While his game doesn't bring much power to the plate, Arraez would still provide Toronto with a significant offensive boost, especially in the hits department. For comparison, Ernie Clement led the Blue Jays with a respectable 153 hits; Arraez had 185.

Luis Arraez with the Phillies: .278/.309/.369 | .678 OPS | 82 OPS+ Luis Arraez with everyone else: .318/.363/.418 | .779 OPS | 113 OPS+ https://t.co/EaoySHTnvc

— Phillies Tailgate (@PhilsTailgate) September 27, 2026

The 32-hit difference would have put Toronto among the top 10 teams in the league in hits. The signing would also add a consistent bat to the top of the lineup.

The bigger question around Arraez is where he would fit defensively.

Toronto could move Kazuma Okamoto to the DH spot following George Springer's departure and put Arraez at third base; or throw Clement at third, while Arraez takes over at second — a position he played 147 games at last season.

Of course, signing Arraez won't come cheap. Spotrac estimates the free agent could command around $18 million annually, although a three- or four-year deal could potentially bring that figure down a little bit.

Pillar is right, though; it's a good investment for a player who can consistently get on base and cause havoc for opposing pitchers, especially in a competitive division like the AL East.