The Blue Jays don’t exactly have a payroll mess on their hands, but they do have a few contracts that could be reworked into something cleaner for 2027.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s deal is the price of keeping a franchise cornerstone. Dylan Cease, Kazuma Okamoto, Trevor Rogers and Alejandro Kirk are producing enough to justify what they’re making. And Toronto should also see money come off the books when the George Springer, Max Scherzer and Shane Bieber contracts expire, since all three are free agents.
That leaves Anthony Santander, José Berríos and Andrés Giménez as the trickier cases. Santander has had trouble staying healthy since arriving in Toronto.
Berríos is working back from Tommy John surgery and is expected to use his player option instead of going to free agency. Giménez still gives the Blue Jays elite defence, but the bat has not kept pace with a salary that keeps climbing while the rest of the lineup struggles.
The question isn’t whether Toronto can simply get rid of those deals. It’s whether the club can turn them into players who fit the roster better by 2027.
One extreme possibility would be a Mike Trout swing. Trout remains under contract with the Angels through 2030 on the 12-year, $426.5-million extension he signed with Los Angeles, with annual salary north of $35 million in each of the final years.
For Toronto, that kind of move would mean consolidating three complicated contracts into one huge upside bet. Santander, Berríos and Giménez add up to more remaining money than Trout, but their money is spread across multiple roster spots and less term.
The Angels would likely need extra incentive, and the Blue Jays might have to include prospect capital. It’s a long shot, but it shows the sort of aggressive move Toronto could at least consider.
A José Berríos-for-Aaron Nola framework feels much more realistic.
Nola is tied to the Phillies through 2030 on a seven-year, $172-million deal, a major commitment for a pitcher moving into his mid-30s. Even so, there are signs he may be better than his recent results suggest.
Since June 2, he has a 4.13 ERA across 104.2 innings, along with a 3.78 xERA and 3.99 xFIP. He’s also struck out 109 batters while walking 37 in that span.
For Toronto, a version of Nola that is even somewhat diminished could still matter. The Blue Jays have spent much of the season trying to survive rotation injuries, and a steadying arm would help keep the bullpen from being stretched again in 2027. The organization has enough confidence in its pitching development to believe it could help Nola settle in.
Philadelphia would be looking at a shorter and cheaper commitment in Berríos, though Tommy John recovery would make any deal more complicated. If the Phillies wanted to ease future payroll while taking a shot on a later return, there’s at least a path to discussion.
Another creative idea would send Anthony Santander to Houston for Carlos Correa.
Correa went back to the Astros in 2025, with Houston taking on a sizable part of his remaining contract while Minnesota kept some money on the books. He is guaranteed through 2028, with vesting options after that.
If he’s healthy, he’s still a premium producer. Since 2023, Correa has hit .267/.341/.427 with 48 home runs and 9.7 fWAR, although he has played fewer than 90 games in two of those seasons.
For Toronto, Correa would fill a spot that needs more punch. Giménez is an elite defender and Ernie Clement has value, but when those bats go quiet the lineup has a real hole.
Santander carries a similar amount of risk. For Houston, the attraction would be a lower annual salary and the chance to add his power next to Yordan Alvarez.
Giménez is the hardest one to sort out because his value isn’t fake. The defence plays.
The problem is the cost. His salary jumps to $23 million next season and stays there through 2029, with a club option for 2030.
If Toronto ever looked to move him, the likely targets would be teams that can live with subtracting some offence because they already have enough of it, but still want a major upgrade in the middle infield.
Seattle stands out as one possibility, since Josh Naylor’s five-year, $92.5-million contract gives the Mariners a productive but pricey first baseman/DH. A Giménez-for-Naylor setup would give Toronto a left-handed impact bat.
Minnesota also fits the exercise. Byron Buxton is the club’s most expensive player, and while health has been an issue for much of his career, he can be elite when available, much like Correa. He is also closer to free agency, which arrives after 2028.
Texas is another team to keep in the mix. Corey Seager’s huge deal and Brandon Nimmo’s contract could force some payroll questions this winter, and if the Rangers valued Giménez’s defence enough to make a move, either Seager or Nimmo could be part of the broader reshuffling.
None of those matchups is obvious. That’s the point. Contract swaps like these are about finding the right type of team, and if the Blue Jays want to retool seriously, this is the kind of creativity they should be ready to explore after the 2026 season ends.
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A closer look suggests the problem is more layered than simple foot speed or range. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has shown some issues charging balls even with good reflexes, Ernie Clement has been vulnerable moving left at second base, Kazuma Okamoto has had trouble going right at third, and Andrs Gimnez has continued to stand out at short despite only average sprint speed. In other words, the Blue Jays infield hit issue seems tied to specific movement patterns and reactions, not one broad defensive flaw. [Read more 🡒]