Jim Bowden’s latest free-agent list doesn’t leave much room for Blue Jays nostalgia.
In his “Top 40 free agents for 2026-27” contract predictions and best team fits piece for The Athletic, Bowden included three former Toronto players - Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber and Daulton Varsho - but none of them came across as obvious reunion candidates for the Blue Jays.
Gausman comes in at No. 25, and Bowden’s read on him is pretty clear: he’s no longer the front-line arm he once was. Instead, Bowden casts the veteran right-hander as a middle- or back-end starter who can soak up innings and help guide younger pitchers. Gausman’s splitter and fastball still miss bats, but he allowed more hard contact on both pitches last season, and his slider hasn’t done much for him over the last couple of years.
Bowden’s best-fit team for Gausman is the Chicago White Sox, a club with young arms such as Sean Burke and Davis Martin, plus another former Blue Jays pitcher in Anthony Kay, who still has limited MLB experience.
Even so, Toronto has its own case for Gausman. With a rotation projected to include Dylan Cease, José Soriano, Trey Yesavage and Cody Ponce, the Blue Jays could use exactly the kind of steady veteran Bowden describes. At 35, Gausman could still provide useful innings while also serving as a mentor in the room.
Bieber checks in right behind him at No. 26, but the injury concerns are hard to ignore. His time with the Blue Jays was interrupted by elbow inflammation, and after missing several starts he returned to the IL in late August. Bowden has him going back to Cleveland, where the 31-year-old had his best run as a two-time All-Star and the 2020 Cy Young Award winner.
The risk is baked into any Bieber pursuit. Bowden projects a one-year, $20 million deal, pending medical assessments, which would be a hefty commitment for the Guardians.
Varsho lands at No. 30, though his fit looks even less like a Toronto reunion. Bowden lists the Cincinnati Reds, Pittsburgh Pirates and Kansas City Royals as his best matches.
The Gold Glove outfielder changed his approach at the plate last season, cutting down on strikeouts but also sacrificing hard contact and power. His defense also dipped, based on both the numbers and the eye test.
Toronto, meanwhile, has some internal options to sort through. Brett Bateman stood out late in the season after making his MLB debut in August, and the 24-year-old, acquired from the Cubs in the Gausman deal last season, has the inside track to start in center field when spring training opens. He’ll still have to win the job, and the Blue Jays could add more help to the outfield mix, but Varsho’s injuries and uneven production make him a shaky fit for this roster.
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