The Toronto Blue Jays came painfully close to rewriting history last season. After a thrilling run to their first World Series appearance since 1993 - and just the third in franchise history - they fell just short, losing Game 7 in extra innings at home to the now back-to-back champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
It was a gut punch, no doubt. Especially considering Toronto had the lead for most of that decisive game.
But here’s the thing: that heartbreak didn’t break them. If anything, it seems to have sharpened their focus.
Manager John Schneider isn’t interested in looking back. He made that crystal clear as the Blue Jays turned the page to the 2026 campaign.
"We're not defending the AL East. We're not defending the American League," Schneider said.
"We're attacking 2026 like we did in '25, or any other year. When you're trying to win the division, you're trying to win the World Series."
That’s not just coach-speak. That’s a mindset.
And it tells you everything you need to know about how this team is approaching the new season. They’re not satisfied with being close.
They’re not content with being a contender. They want the crown.
Of course, talk in February doesn’t win titles. But the way this roster has been constructed, there’s every reason to believe the Blue Jays are built to make another deep run - even after the departure of All-Star shortstop Bo Bichette.
That’s no small loss, but Toronto’s front office has made moves that suggest they’re not taking a step back. They’re reloading, not rebuilding.
This is a team that knows what it takes to get to the mountaintop - and how it feels to fall just short. That kind of experience can fuel a season. And with the core still intact and a manager preaching aggression, not caution, the Blue Jays are looking like a group that’s not just chasing a title - they’re hunting it down.
They’ll get their first live reps of the year this Saturday in a preseason matchup with the Philadelphia Phillies. Then it’s full steam ahead to Opening Day on March 26, when they’ll host the Oakland Athletics and officially begin their quest to finish what they started.
The message from Toronto is loud and clear: 2026 isn’t about defending anything. It’s about taking everything.