The Astros’ front office shakeup could send a ripple into Toronto’s offseason plans.
Houston fired general manager Dana Brown earlier this month, a move that came after a disappointing season even though the Astros still sit atop the weak American League West standings. With the Astros likely to make more changes to the roster, the Blue Jays should be paying close attention.
Toronto needs help in the lineup, and Houston has several players who could fit that bill. Three names stand out as possible targets.
Yordan Alvarez is the obvious dream swing. The Blue Jays need another star bat, and landing Alvarez would instantly change the shape of their offense.
He has put together a huge 2026 season for Houston, with 36 home runs, 91 RBI, and a .318 batting average. He has also topped 31 home runs in five of his last six seasons.
The catch, of course, is the price. Houston would need a massive package to even think about moving him.
Jeremy Pena looks like the more realistic option. The 28-year-old shortstop has been mentioned as a trade candidate for some time, and he can become a free agent after the 2027 season.
That gives Houston a reason to listen if the return is strong enough. For Toronto, the fit is easy to see.
The Blue Jays need help at shortstop, and Pena would bring a proven track record, including his status as a former ALCS and World Series MVP. In 85 games this season, he has hit 16 home runs, driven in 44 runs, and posted a .283 batting average.
Isaac Paredes is another name worth watching. The 27-year-old has a club option this offseason, and if Houston declines it, he would hit the open market.
That would put Toronto in position to make a run at him. Paredes would give the Blue Jays a versatile infielder who could move around the diamond, including at DH.
A short-term deal would make sense for a player with that kind of flexibility. In 128 games this season, he has recorded 17 home runs, 73 RBI, and a .260 batting average.
In Other News...
Blue Jays Still Have One Big Concern With Jose Soriano
Jos Sorianos season has been a reminder that even a hard-throwing starter can run into trouble when one pitch stops playing the way it should. After opening the year well, the Blue Jays right-hander has seen his fastball become a much bigger target for opposing hitters, and the damage has shown up in the form of more balls leaving the yard and a strikeout rate that has drifted the wrong direction.
Still, Soriano has not abandoned the pitch mix that brought him success, leaning on the fastball and his secondary offerings while working through the rough patch. There have been signs of stabilization lately, including better home run suppression and the kind of durability Toronto can live with, but the lingering question is whether the fastball issue is a temporary dip or something that will keep defining the rest of his season. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Finally Gave Franchise History A Permanent Home
A new Hall of Excellence has finally given the Blue Jays long history a permanent place at their home ballpark, with the team creating a space to honor the people who shaped the franchise on and off the field. The display includes memorabilia and plaques recognizing players, broadcasters, managers and executives, turning a sweep of club history into something fans can now see in one spot.
Buck Martinez was among the latest figures celebrated, with the former catcher and longtime broadcaster taking part in a pregame ceremony that included a speech and a ceremonial first pitch. Martinez retired from the broadcast booth earlier this year, and his inclusion fits the larger purpose of the Hall, which is meant to preserve the kind of contributions that have defined the organization for decades. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Are Doubling Down On A Long Term Pitching Bet
The Blue Jays have kept leaning into the same international lane, completing negotiations to sign Kwon Si-woo, a right-handed pitcher out of Jangchung High School in Seoul. Si-woo has been regarded as one of the top prospects in the Korean Baseball Organization rookie draft, and Toronto is betting on a starters foundation built around a fastball, slider and curveball.
It is also another sign the organization is paying closer attention to South Korean amateur talent as it builds out its scouting and development pipeline. Toronto already signed Seojun Moon from the same high school, and adding Si-woo gives the club another intriguing arm from a program it clearly trusts, even as the long-term payoff still has plenty of development ahead. [Read more 🡒]