Alejandro Kirk’s turn on baseball’s biggest stage is echoing across the American League East.
The Blue Jays catcher, long known in Toronto for his steady hand and easygoing presence, has become more than a clubhouse favorite. His run through the 2025 World Series has also given longtime friend Jonathan Aranda a blueprint as the Tampa Bay Rays chase their own October breakthrough.
Kirk went through all 18 games of Toronto’s postseason push and produced a .254/.349/.493 line with a 132 wRC+ and five home runs. That kind of grind left a mark on Aranda, who reached out for advice as the pressure ramped up in October.
“I was like, ‘Hey, do you have any tips for me moving forward here in October?’ And his main suggestion was, just have fun, just have fun and be yourself,” Aranda told Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi through interpreter Kevin Vera ahead of Game 5 of the ALCS. “That's honestly helped me a lot to kind of slow the game down and enjoy the moment and embrace this challenge of what is October baseball.”
That advice arrived at exactly the right moment. Aranda had opened the Rays’ best-of-seven series against the Cleveland Guardians 0-for-10 through the first three games. Then came Game 4, when he snapped out of it with three hits, a walk, two RBI and two runs scored in Tampa Bay’s 7-3 win.
Kirk’s message also gave Aranda room to step back and reset. He said it pushed him to trust himself and remember why he was there. The 28-year-old first baseman hit 22 home runs during the regular season while slashing .274/.358/.434 with a 123 wRC+ and 13.8 offensive fWAR.
The bond between the two has never been one-sided. Aranda said they “talk every day, we're best friends, we're brothers,” and added that Kirk is “someone that I have by my side.”
Even with the Blue Jays out of the postseason picture before it began, Kirk was still willing to help. For him, there was no conflict in offering guidance to a division rival.
And Aranda has returned the support over the years. When Toronto reached the World Series last year, he flew in to be there for Kirk, saying “it was a big thing for me to go see him, for us, to see each other in the World Series.”
Seeing Kirk make history on that stage last year gave Aranda something to chase. He said, “In that moment last year, I kind of visualized myself in the same scenario.
So now, fast-forward a year later, I use it as motivation right now. Hopefully I can make those dreams that I had last year a reality and help this team to a World Series berth.”
In Other News...
Blue Jays Linked To Yankees Bat Who Could Fix Their Biggest Need
The Blue Jays have been mentioned as a possible fit for Luis Garca Jr., a bat that could address one of their biggest offensive needs. Acquired by the Yankees during the 2026 season, Garca has surfaced in trade chatter as a way for New York to create more roster flexibility, while Toronto would be looking at him as a potential source of power for a lineup that could use another impact hitter.
Nothing has been announced, and for now it remains a speculative conversation rather than an active deal. Still, the logic is easy to see from Torontos side: a player with Garcas offensive profile would fit the kind of upgrade the Jays have been tied to as they weigh ways to bolster the middle of the order. [Read more 🡒]
George Springer Just Made Toronto's Next Decision Much Tougher
George Springers 2026 season left the Blue Jays with a familiar kind of question: how much weight should one year carry when it comes time to sort out the future? The veteran outfielder still supplied offense and gave Toronto useful production in the field, and the larger review of his year paints a picture of a player who remained a real contributor even as the club kept measuring where he fits in the bigger long-term plan.
The numbers also underscore why the decision is not a simple one. Springers season stacked up well enough to keep his place in the conversation about his Blue Jays legacy, with his all-time standing in club history still growing, but it also leaves Toronto balancing past value against what comes next. Whether the front office treats this as a closing chapter or a reason to keep the door open, his 2026 performance made the choice more complicated than it already was. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Linked To Power Bat They May Struggle To Land
The offseason market is starting to take shape, and Toronto is expected to be in the mix for one of Japans most intriguing bats. Teruaki Sato, a 27-year-old outfielder for the Hanshin Tigers, has been posted for MLB free agency, which opens a 45-day window for clubs to negotiate with him. For the Blue Jays, that puts another power option on the board as they look at ways to deepen the lineup.
Satos profile only adds to the appeal. He just captured the NPB Triple Crown, a rare accomplishment that will make him one of the more closely watched international names on the market, and he plans to travel to North America in November to meet with teams. Whether Toronto can get serious traction may depend on how crowded the chase becomes, but the Blue Jays have at least put themselves in position to explore it. [Read more 🡒]