The Blue Jays are staring at a very different November than the one they lived a year ago. On Oct. 23 last season, Toronto was making its final World Series preparations after locking up the American League pennant with a dramatic series win over the Seattle Mariners. This time around, the club was knocked out of playoff contention in the final week of the regular season.
Still, with the Tampa Bay Rays set to battle the Milwaukee Brewers in the Fall Classic, Toronto can at least scout a few impending free agents who might fit into its plans. Three names stand out.
Freddy Peralta has already taken a winding path to this point. The Brewers dealt him to the New York Mets in January, but he never found his footing there, finishing with a 4.99 ERA and 17 home runs allowed.
He was moved again, this time to the Rays, and that’s where things clicked. In October, the right-hander has been sharp, giving up just two earned runs while striking out 12 over 16.2 innings.
If that form carries through the World Series, Peralta should have plenty of teams checking in. For Toronto, the appeal is obvious. The Blue Jays could use another starter, and Peralta would fit as a strong addition to the rotation.
Brandon Woodruff brings a different kind of intrigue. Right shoulder inflammation kept him sidelined for most of the year, but he still made the World Series roster and gives the pitching staff a serious lift.
When he’s healthy, Woodruff has been one of the steadier arms around. Since 2020, his ERA has been 3.20 or lower, even though injuries have repeatedly interrupted his seasons.
The downside is just as clear. He’s a risk because of the health history.
Even so, the numbers show why he’ll draw attention: Woodruff’s WHIP has been below one in five of the last six seasons. Last season, his 32.3 percent strikeout rate ranked in the 94th percentile, while his 5.4 percent walk rate sat in the 91st percentile, according to Baseball Savant.
He has spent his entire career in Milwaukee, so getting him out of that organization would not be easy. But if the Blue Jays pulled it off, they’d suddenly have a pair of co-aces with Woodruff and Dylan Cease.
Then there’s J.T. Romero, who could help Toronto in a less glamorous but still valuable way.
The Brewers and Rays both have strong bullpens, and anyone from either group would make sense as a target. Romero is an unrestricted free agent, so the market should be active.
The left-hander has made four relief appearances in the playoffs, allowing one home run and one walk while striking out nine. Tampa Bay has used him in a setup role, and that same job description would translate in Toronto. If the Blue Jays are looking for bullpen help, Romero would be a solid fit.
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