The Blue Jays have plenty to sort out this offseason, but one of their quieter goals is obvious: keep the AL East from getting even nastier.
That’s easier said than done. The Rays just won the American League this year.
The Yankees and Red Sox both reached the playoffs. The Orioles may have their flaws, but they’re still loaded with talent.
Any of those teams could jump into the division race again next season if they land the right pieces.
And there are a few big names who would qualify as exactly that.
Tarik Skubal sits at the top of the list. That one barely needs a sales pitch.
Depending on how you feel about Jacob Misiorowski, he’s arguably the best pitcher in baseball, and he’s about to cash in with the largest contract ever for a starting pitcher. The thought of him in a Yankees uniform is enough to make people nervous, especially if he’s paired with Cam Schlittler.
Boston would be just as dangerous if Skubal joined Garrett Crochet, assuming Crochet is back healthy in 2027. The Rays and Orioles, at least, probably won’t be in the bidding.
Hunter Goodman is another name Toronto would like to see stay far away from the division. He put up a career-best 41 home runs in 2026 and made the All-Star Game for the second straight year, all while proving how rare it is to find a real power bat behind the plate these days.
The Yankees and Orioles both have catching questions, and Goodman would solve a lot for either club. Austin Wells doesn’t look like New York’s long-term answer, while Baltimore might be better off keeping Samuel Basallo at designated hitter.
Then there’s Ketel Marte, whose situation in Arizona sounds increasingly shaky after his latest mid-season disappearing act. If the Diamondbacks are ready to move on, the Blue Jays had better hope he doesn’t land in the AL East.
Marte would fit just about anywhere, Toronto included, and he’s still an elite hitter at a premium position. Even if another team deals with the drama, his production would make the move worth it.
Ronald Acuña Jr. belongs in that same conversation. If Atlanta decides to move on from its oft-injured, now apparently disgruntled star, the Blue Jays should be first in line.
But so should the Orioles and Rays, who need outfield help, and probably the Yankees too, because they always seem able to make room for talent. Boston already has a roster crunch, but the Red Sox would still have a hard time ignoring him.
The final name is Teruaki Sato, who just won the Triple Crown in NPB and is set to make the leap to MLB. He hit .306 with 39 HR and 106 RBI in his age-27 season, and the Hanshin Tigers have officially accepted his posting request.
With corner-infield and outfield versatility, he could fit anywhere in the division. The Yankees need help at third base, and Boston could use another impact bat after going cold down the stretch.
Toronto can’t control what its rivals do this winter. But if these five players stay out of the AL East, the Blue Jays may have a much better shot at feeling good about 2027.
In Other News...
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The Blue Jays have already gotten an early look at several players from their 2026 draft class, with Ryan Cooney, Nolan Higgins, Gable Mitchell and Dean West all stepping into pro ball and giving the organization a first read on where they stand. For Toronto, that first wave matters because the club has been careful about development, watching early performances closely while easing workloads rather than rushing anyone through the system.
Cole Carlon, though, remains the draft pick everyone is still waiting to see. Toronto took him at the top of the class, but he never appeared in a game after the draft, leaving his introduction to pro baseball for later on the timeline as the Blue Jays continue to sort through a crop of young talent that is already starting to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Face Early Offseason Questions Around Several Veteran Names
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Toronto has spent enough time leaning on experienced talent to know how quickly those choices can reshape a roster, and this market could test how much interest there is in bringing some of those players back. The possibilities stretch well beyond Springer, with Jose Berrios, Max Scherzer, Shane Bieber and others all part of the uncertainty, leaving the Jays to weigh whether any of these veterans fit into the next step or whether they will be moving on to chase new deals elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Fans Will Hate How This World Series Collapse Unfolded
A familiar kind of October sting is starting to creep back into the conversation for Blue Jays fans. In Game 4 of the 2026 World Series, Milwaukee Brewers reliever Shane Drohan could not close out the final outs, and the Tampa Bay Rays rallied to force a Game 5, the sort of late collapse that can leave a fan base reliving old wounds long after the final pitch.
The parallel is hard to miss for Toronto supporters, who saw a championship path slip away in painfully similar fashion last year. The Brewers still get another shot to finish the job, which is the part Blue Jays fans will notice most, since Toronto did not have that luxury after its own Game 7 heartbreak. [Read more 🡒]