The Toronto Blue Jays didn’t just dip into free agency - they dove in headfirst, making a franchise-defining statement with a seven-year, $210 million deal for Dylan Cease. That’s the biggest free-agent contract in Blue Jays history, and it signals one thing loud and clear: this team isn’t settling for second place again.
Coming off a 94-68 season, an AL East title, and a World Series run that ended just one win shy against the Dodgers, the Jays are clearly in win-now mode. Cease gives them a true front-line ace, and with him leading the rotation, the pitching staff finally looks like a strength again.
But if Toronto’s going to take that final step - the one that ends with a parade - they’ve got more work to do. The Winter Meetings are the next major checkpoint, and here are the three biggest boxes they need to check.
1. Find a True Middle-of-the-Order Bat
The Jays had plenty of firepower last season, but even during their deep playoff push, there were stretches where the lineup felt one big bat short. That’s why adding an impact hitter is priority No. 1 now that Cease is in the fold.
Re-signing Bo Bichette would go a long way - not just because of his bat, but because of what he means to the team’s identity. Without him, the shortstop depth takes a major hit, ranking just 21st on FanGraphs. But even with Bichette, Toronto still needs another offensive anchor in the heart of the order.
Names like Kyle Tucker, Cody Bellinger, and Alex Bregman have all surfaced as potential fits, and each would bring a different flavor of impact. Tucker offers left-handed balance and power, Bellinger can play multiple positions and is coming off a bounce-back year, and Bregman brings postseason pedigree and elite plate discipline. Any of them would give Toronto the kind of lineup presence that opposing pitchers have to plan around - and that’s what separates good teams from championship ones.
2. Reinforce the Bullpen for the Late Innings
If Game 7 of the World Series taught the Blue Jays anything, it’s that you can’t have enough reliable arms in the bullpen - especially when the stakes are highest. The loss didn’t come down to one pitch or one reliever, but the cracks in the late-inning foundation were exposed.
Jeff Hoffman was a bright spot, but he can’t be the only guy you trust with the game on the line. Toronto needs at least one more high-leverage option - someone who can either challenge Hoffman for the ninth or lock down the eighth with authority.
Potential targets include Edwin Diaz, Robert Suarez, and Pete Fairbanks, all of whom bring swing-and-miss stuff and closing experience. Adding one of them wouldn’t just be a luxury - it’s a necessity. In today’s postseason baseball, bullpens win games, and the Blue Jays know they can’t afford to be thin in October again.
3. Add Infield Power and Positional Flexibility
Even if Bichette stays, there are still questions on the infield - particularly at third base and designated hitter. Right now, Toronto has plenty of role players but not enough thump. That’s a problem for a team with championship aspirations.
This is where the front office can get creative. Bregman would obviously solve a lot of issues at third, but there are other paths to explore.
Jorge Polanco brings switch-hitting versatility and some pop, while a trade for someone like Ketel Marte could add both power and defensive flexibility. The goal here isn’t just to plug holes - it’s to raise the ceiling of the offense and protect against regression from depth pieces.
The Jays need players who can rotate between DH and the field, give them matchup advantages, and - most importantly - drive the ball. That’s how you win slugfests in July and grind out runs in October.
The Blue Jays have already made their big splash with Dylan Cease. That move alone tells us they’re serious about chasing a title.
But if they want to finish what they started, they’ll need to keep pushing at the Winter Meetings. A big bat, a bullpen boost, and a little more infield punch - that’s the blueprint.
Now it’s on Toronto’s front office and ownership to follow through. Because with the rotation finally in place, the rest of the roster needs to rise to the same level.