Blue Jays Offseason Grade & Spring Training
Toronto Blue Jays 2025 Team Photo (X)
As sports fans, we all think about the ‘what could have been’ and as a Jays fan, boy have we been feeling that for what seems like years. Ohtani, Soto, Tucker and homegrown star Bo Bichette have all chosen other clubs in the open market over the Toronto Blue Jays. In this writer and fans opinion, the first two are worth the contracts they signed and boy would they have looked good up north. The last two, good players, of course, but were signed for higher contracts than were expected.
Bo made his MLB debut for the Toronto Bluejays on July 29, 2019 and has been the starting shortstop for the team since. He has a career batting average of .294, which on paper looks very good but when you factor in his defense at shortstop, his time in Toronto takes a bit of a different spin. His Rtot as per baseball reference is -36 and his Rdrs is -19. On top of that, he is starting at a position where he has 0 innings at a professional level, things have looked and could be interesting for the Mets. There were many special moments with Bo and Vladdy as the face of the franchise, but I am excited for this new chapter in Toronto. This fan says thank you for the memories Bo and good luck in New York!
Vladdy and Bo celebrating a win last year (X)
The Bluejays winter started early this year when they signed one of the top rotation arms available, Dylan Cease, to the largest free agent contract in franchise history, to a tune of 7 years/$210M on November 26, 2025. This was followed up by signing Cody Ponce on December 11, 2025 and on January 4, 2026, the Bluejays won the free agent sweepstakes for Kazuma Okamoto.
Notable Blue Jays Offseason Moves (MLB Network)
Okamoto, also known as ‘‘The Young General’ and Ponce both bring curious and exciting resumes to their new team. Kazuma is known as a top power hitter that brings above average defense to the hot corner while he was in the Nippon Professional Baseball League (NBP). Cody has a more intriguing story. The pitcher has MLB experience, when he pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates, to some underwhelming stats in 2020 and 2021. Following the 2021 season, the 6’6” righty decided to try his luck on the international baseball stage, where he pitched In the JPPL and JPEL. It wasn't till 2025, when he landed in the KBO, where he really found his game, pitching to the tune of 17-1 record with a 2.04 era and 252 k's. This won him the 2025 KBO League MVP award and the Choi Dong-won Award, given to the league's top pitcher. If Okamoto can contribute at a league average or slightly better defense with the addition of 20-25 home runs and Ponce pitching to the tune of an under 3.50 era with 7 or more wins, both these signings I think can be labeled as 1st year successes. In recent years, there have seemed to be more position battles than not, when the Blue Jays hit the field in February. This year has a different feel to it, where there seems to be more clarity on the field. The biggest battles this spring look to be at the 5th starting rotation spot, the corner outfield spots and depth spots. With saying that, here are my projected opening day rotation and lineup:
1st base is our boy Vladimir Guerrero Jr, 2nd base is patrolled by Ernie Clement, shortstop goes to Andrés Giménez and at the hot corner, Kazuma Okamoto. Our outfield has more moving pieces, I think the only locked down position is in centrefield with Daulton Varsho. I think the corner spots are more on rotation, with the majority going to a combination of Addison Barger, Jesús Sánchez and Myles Straw. DH will be locked down most days by George Springer unless a player is needing a down day, then I think Springer can fill in, in right field, as you still want his bat in the lineup more often than not. Our bench should include the likes of fan favorite Davis Schneider, Joey Loperfido, Tyler Heineman and Nathan Lukes.
Our starting rotation is stock full with veterans at the top, with Kevin Gausman, Dylan Cease, José Berríos, and Shane Bieber. I would have Gausman as my #1 and Opening Day starter, followed by Cease and then Bieber. Where things get tricky, is Bieber currently takes up a 10-Day IL spot with forearm fatigue. The fun begins with four starting pitchers and one open rotation once Bieber is healthy. At the current moment, I would expect to have Trey Yesavage winning the battle over Ponce and Scherzer, but they could also go with a six man to get Ponce starts. I really like Scherzer in a long or short relief role, or you could use him and someone like Eric Lauer in an opener spot, when the rotation spot needs a rest day.
Jays 2026 Projected Starting Rotation (Fangraphs)
Our bullpen last year had its ups and downs for sure, but I think that this is a talented group, more than able to handle the job after our starters. Even though he was the one who gave up the deciding world series home run, I have Jeff Hoffman as my closer. He ended the 2025 regular season with 33 saves, good for 4th most in the MLB. Hoffman will have to try and keep the ball in the park more frequently, as he led MLB closers in home runs given up with 15. But I think he will pitch with a chip on his shoulder and have a strong 2026 season. The high leverage guys are Louis Varland, newly acquired Tyler Rogers and when healthy, Yimi García. Rounding out the bullpen are some intriguing and capable arms such as Braydon Fisher, Brendon Little, Mason Fluharty, Lauer and Yariel Rodríguez.
Expectations have not been this high north of the border since ‘92 & ‘93. Starting the 2025 season as the golden grapefruit champs and culminating in inches from a world series will do that.
Overall offseason grade: B+
About the Author
Matthew Roberts lives in Prince Albert, Sask. Canada. When he’s not working, you can find him spending time with family & friends, reading, going for dog walks, playing golf & slow pitch (when he’s not nursing an injury)! Follow him on Instagram (mattr798), X (mattr798) and Threads (mattr798).