The Blue Jays have been busy this offseason, and while most of the headlines have focused on their rotation overhaul, there’s still a glaring need in the bullpen. One name they reportedly had their eye on-again-was Ryan Helsley.
Toronto had shown interest in Helsley both last winter and at the trade deadline when he was still with the Cardinals, so it’s no surprise they at least kicked the tires on him in free agency. But Helsley ultimately signed with the Orioles, meaning the Jays will now have to face him regularly in the AL East.
Helsley wasn’t the only high-leverage arm the Blue Jays have been linked to. Names like Raisel Iglesias, Phil Maton, Edwin Díaz, and Pete Fairbanks have all surfaced in connection with Toronto.
The first three are already off the market, which narrows the list. But if there’s one thing we’ve come to expect from Ross Atkins and his front office, it’s that they’ll leave no stone unturned when it comes to bullpen upgrades.
Whether it’s set-up men or proven closers like Díaz, the Jays are clearly in the market for late-inning help.
There’s also been some internal discussion about shifting Jeff Hoffman into a set-up role, which would open the door for Toronto to bring in a new closer. That flexibility gives the Jays some options, but it also underscores how unsettled the back end of their bullpen remains heading into the winter meetings.
While the bullpen is still a work in progress, the rotation has come into focus in a big way-and fast. The first domino fell when Shane Bieber chose not to opt out of the final year of his deal.
Then came the splash: a franchise-record seven-year, $210 million contract for Dylan Cease. Just like that, the Jays’ rotation went from a postseason question mark to one of the most formidable groups in the league.
Right now, the projected starting five lines up as Dylan Cease, Shane Bieber, Kevin Gausman, rookie standout Trey Yesavage, and Jose Berríos. Eric Lauer is in the mix as a swingman, while Adam Macko, Ricky Tiedemann, and Bowden Francis provide depth. It’s a group with both depth and upside-arguably stronger than the one that helped carry Toronto to the World Series.
That said, there’s still a possibility the Jays aren’t done tinkering with the rotation. If they decide to make room for another top-tier arm, Jose Berríos could be the odd man out.
Both Mitch Bannon and Gregor Chisholm have floated the idea of trading Berríos, especially considering he was already being shifted to a bullpen role before elbow inflammation sidelined him for the entirety of the playoffs. He made just one relief appearance before landing on the injured list.
Trading Berríos, however, wouldn’t be simple. He has a limited no-trade clause covering eight teams, and he’s still owed $66 million over the next three years.
He also holds an opt-out after 2026, adding another layer of complexity. On top of that, his 2025 performance didn’t exactly boost his trade value-he posted a 4.17 ERA over 166 innings with underwhelming Statcast numbers.
Any team acquiring him would be betting on a rebound, but more realistically, they’d be valuing his durability and ability to eat innings.
And that durability still holds value for Toronto, especially coming off a deep postseason run that added extra mileage to their staff. Moving Berríos would free up some payroll space, but not a ton-the Jays would almost certainly have to eat part of his contract in any deal.
Then again, this is a front office that’s shown it’s willing to spend when the window to win is open. And right now, that window is wide open.
On the front office front, there’s been speculation that the Jays might’ve already extended GM Ross Atkins, team president Mark Shapiro, and manager John Schneider if not for the team’s late postseason run. Shapiro’s contract has technically expired, while Atkins and Schneider are under contract through 2026 (with the Jays having already picked up Schneider’s option for that season). While nothing’s been announced yet, it seems like a matter of when-not if-those extensions become official.
Bottom line: the Blue Jays have addressed their rotation in a big way, but the bullpen remains a key area to watch. With the market thinning out and internal roles still shifting, expect Toronto to stay aggressive as they look to round out a roster that’s already built to contend.