TORONTO -- Judging an offseason at any point before Opening Day is a fool’s game, but in the winter, we tend to have some free time. 

The Blue Jays jumped the market early, dealing Teoscar Hernández to the Mariners for right-hander Erik Swanson -- the potentially elite reliever they coveted -- and prospect Adam Macko. Then, after a long lull that stretched through a quiet Winter Meetings in San Diego, Toronto came back to life with a pair of moves.

First came Kevin Kiermaier, the longtime Rays outfielder who has long frustrated the Blue Jays with his defensive brilliance in center field. He’s joining Toronto on a one-year, $9 million deal, fresh off a hip surgery that has “pumped life” back into him. Then there’s Chris Bassitt, the steady veteran right-hander who signed a three-year, $63 million contract to solidify this rotation as potentially one of the best in the American League. 

Overall? It’s a start.

This is about the Blue Jays being better than they were in 2022, when they collapsed in the AL Wild Card Series against the Mariners. Adding Swanson helps strengthen their bullpen in a major way, as Toronto lacked high-end relievers last season. Swapping out the ’22 versions of Hernández and Ross Stripling for Kiermaier and Bassitt, of course, could break close to even. Yes, the Blue Jays’ young core should be better, but other clubs -- hello, New York -- are making major strides of their own.

With the holidays here and a new year just around the corner, here are three things I’m thinking:

They still need another outfielder

Early indications are that Kiermaier wasn’t signed to play the Raimel Tapia role of ’22. The veteran three-time Gold Glover set that straight early.

“They want me to play pretty much every day,” Kiermaier said. “They want me manning centre field out there and getting my rest when I need to, but there were no platoon talks or anything like that. It seems like it’s my job to lose, I guess you could say, and I’m going to do everything in my power to go out there and play Gold Glove-caliber defense.”

Even so, the Blue Jays need another outfielder. Not just a guy, but a player capable of diversifying this lineup’s look. Kiermaier has battled injuries through his career, and you can say the same for the two men who will flank him, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and George Springer. Toronto does have Nathan Lukes on the 40-man roster, along with the outfield versatility of Cavan Biggio and Whit Merrifield, but adding another lefty bat to the outfield makes too much sense.

No need for a panic move at catcher

Dealing one of Danny Jansen, Alejandro Kirk or Gabriel Moreno has long been Toronto’s biggest and brightest opportunity this winter. Dealing one for a pitcher or a controllable outfielder could be the ideal scenario any day, but if the Blue Jays don’t find the trade they’re looking for, there’s still time. 

Moreno is the “unknown” of the group, relatively speaking, but the young star is expected to see the odd reps at third base and in left field this spring. Don’t expect a super utility player, but the possibility of getting him in the lineup elsewhere is enticing. Spring Training and the Trade Deadline could bring some big opportunities on the market, too, so while a quick move makes the most sense, the sky isn’t falling if all three walk into camp in February.

We need to talk (more) about Ricky Tiedemann

Perhaps it’s prospect fatigue after the Guerrero and Bichette years, or perhaps past pitching prodigies like Nate Pearson have left Blue Jays fans hesitant. Perhaps it’s just too early, too, as Tiedemann is 20 years old and has played a grand total of one professional season with four starts at Double-A after stops in Single-A and High-A. 

Regardless, Tiedemann needs to be a bigger part of the conversation. He’ll be a must-watch player in Spring Training, and if the Blue Jays can manage his innings well, he could be an option by midseason, whether in a bulk role or as a traditional starter. The left-hander is coming off a brilliant debut campaign, in which he posted a 2.17 ERA with 117 strikeouts over 78 2/3 innings. 

Prospects are meant to break your heart. Frankly, most do. But no pitcher in this organization can hold a candle to Tiedemann’s upside. If it all clicks in ’23, this young man could change the entire complexion of the Blue Jays’ pitching staff.