The Blue Jays have an offseason to-do list that starts with the basics and ends with no room for excuses. After missing the playoffs a year after reaching Game 7 of the World Series, Toronto has four clear roster issues to sort out before 2027: rotation depth, second base, the outfield, and bullpen depth.
The front office has already signaled that this winter will be business as usual, with an eye on whatever the CBA brings. Rogers Communications is still willing to spend, which gives Toronto a real chance to attack the market instead of just nibbling around the edges. And while nobody wins a World Series on paper - the 2013 offseason was proof enough of that for the Blue Jays - the right moves now can put them in position to get there.
Starting with the rotation, Toronto already has four arms penciled in: Dylan Cease, José Soriano, Trey Yesavage, and Cody Ponce. That still leaves one spot open, and with the injuries that wrecked last year’s pitching plans, the Jays need at least one more starter.
If they want to chase the top of the market, Tarik Skubal sits at the head of the class. Just behind him are Michael King, who has a $32 million opt-out, Freddy Peralta, Trevor Rogers, and Adrian Morejon.
There are also shorter-term possibilities like Sonny Gray, with his $30 million mutual option, Shōta Imanaga, and BC native Nick Pivetta, who has a $14 million opt-out. A reunion with Kevin Gausman and/or Shane Bieber also should not be dismissed, and Toronto could always explore the trade market if that’s the cleaner path.
The outfield is another area where the Jays need more certainty, especially after a season in which their power numbers fell off a cliff. Toronto tied for 11th in home runs in 2025 with 191, then dropped to last in 2026 with just 152. Regression from key bats and injuries played a role, but the club can’t bank on bounce-backs to fix that kind of production gap.
Right now, the outfield picture includes Brett Bateman, Anthony Santander, Addison Barger, and Nathan Lukes. Santander and Barger are both working back from injuries, and expecting them to immediately look like themselves again would be too optimistic.
That makes this a spot where the Blue Jays may need to act aggressively. In free agency, Teruaki Sato could be on the radar after Okamoto’s successful first season opened the door for another swing at Japan’s market.
Seiya Suzuki, Randy Arozarena, and Jake Bauers are other names to consider if Toronto is willing to spend bigger. If the club wants a shorter-term answer, Taylor Ward, Ian Happ, and Luis Robert Jr. are in the mix.
And if free agency doesn’t line up, the trade market remains an option.
Second base may be the clearest place where an upgrade makes sense. Ernie Clement has shown he fits better in a utility role than as an everyday player.
Brandon Lowe headlines the position’s free-agent class and would likely require a long-term commitment, while Jazz Chisholm and Luis Arraez follow behind him. Chisholm is coming off a down year, hitting .231/.312/.399 with 19 home runs, 55 RBI, 40 stolen bases, and a 98 wRC+, which could make him more attractive on a shorter deal.
Arraez is another possibility, though his hitting profile doesn’t line up especially well with Toronto’s needs.
If the Blue Jays want to keep the commitment to a minimum, Gleyber Torres could be the fit. He’s coming off an injury-riddled season in which he hit .260/.364/.363 with a 109 wRC+. Staying short-term at second could also keep the path open for top prospect JoJo Parker, who doesn’t project to remain at shortstop long term and could be ready as soon as 2028.
There’s also the trade route, where Ketel Marte stands out as the biggest name potentially available. Marte’s situation took a turn in August when he didn’t show up to the ballpark for a game against the Red Sox and was then placed on the restricted list before later landing on the injured list.
With the relationship seemingly strained, a split could be coming, though Toronto would have to pay a steep price to get him. Marte also carries one of the more valuable contracts in the league, making roughly $19 million per season, and he had been producing at least 4.3 WAR seasons before this year.
The bullpen isn’t a crisis, but it still needs more bodies. Louis Varland leads a group that also includes Tyler Rogers, Mason Fluharty, and Braydon Fisher.
Spencer Miles should get a chance to start, and if that doesn’t work, he can slide back into relief. Beyond that core, Toronto has several ways to add depth through the Rule 5 draft, free agency, or trades.
The Rule 5 route makes sense again after the success with Miles, and free-agent relievers always come with risk because of how volatile the position is. Short-term deals should be the preference, especially if the market offers left-handers like Gregory Soto, AJ Puk, or Sean Newcomb.
The Blue Jays do not need to chase headlines for the sake of it. They do need to make sure the obvious holes are filled. If they handle those four areas, they give themselves a much better shot at getting back into the mix.
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