The Toronto Blue Jays didn’t just tweak around the edges this offseason-they went in with intent. With a World Series appearance in the rearview and a championship still just out of reach, the front office made a series of bold moves to retool the roster for another title push in 2026.
From landing frontline starter Dylan Cease to importing power bat Kazuma Okamoto from Japan, the Jays weren’t shy about spending and strategizing. But as is always the case in baseball, building for the future means saying goodbye to key pieces of the past.
Let’s take a closer look at five players from the 2025 roster-three the Blue Jays will sorely miss, and two whose departures won’t leave much of a dent.
Will Be Missed: Seranthony Domínguez
Seranthony Domínguez may not have been the flashiest name in the bullpen, but when the lights got bright, he delivered. Acquired at the trade deadline, the veteran right-hander became a stabilizing force in Toronto’s late-inning mix. Yes, there were moments where control wavered and traffic on the bases became a concern, but when it mattered most, Domínguez locked in.
Down the stretch, he was nails-posting a 1.06 ERA and 1.00 WHIP across his final 19 regular-season appearances, with 19 strikeouts in 17 innings. He didn’t just eat innings; he held leads and helped win games. That trend continued into October, where he appeared in 12 of the team’s 18 postseason games, notching two wins and a hold during the Blue Jays’ run to the World Series.
Reliable relievers with playoff poise don’t grow on trees. Domínguez gave Toronto exactly what they needed in crunch time, and replacing that kind of presence in the bullpen won’t be easy.
Won’t Be Missed: Ty France
Ty France joined the Blue Jays midseason as a depth piece, and that’s exactly what he provided-solid, unspectacular cover behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at first base. Offensively, he put up a respectable .277 average over 37 games, but his .693 OPS tells the fuller story: France wasn’t moving the needle much at the plate.
Defensively, he did earn a Gold Glove-his first-but even that wasn’t enough to cement his role in Toronto’s long-term plans. As the season wound down and the playoff intensity ramped up, France’s usage faded. Now 31, he’s landed a minor league deal with the Padres and will try to fight his way back to the bigs.
France served his purpose, but he was never more than a stopgap. The Blue Jays won’t lose sleep over this one.
Will Be Missed: Chris Bassitt
Chris Bassitt was the definition of dependable during his three-year stint in Toronto. He wasn’t flashy, but he was consistent-logging 10+ wins, over 170 innings, and more than 165 strikeouts in each season. That kind of durability and production is gold in today’s game, especially with so many rotations dealing with injuries and inconsistency.
Bassitt’s 3.89 ERA across 95 starts speaks to his ability to keep games within reach, and his willingness to shift into a bullpen role during the postseason showed the kind of team-first mentality that clubhouse leaders are built on. He didn’t just accept the move-he thrived in it, becoming a valuable weapon out of the pen during the playoff run.
What stings even more? He’s now with the division-rival Baltimore Orioles.
Not only do the Blue Jays lose a steady veteran arm, they’ll now have to face him multiple times a year. That’s a tough pill to swallow.
Won’t Be Missed: Isiah Kiner-Falefa
There was a time when Isiah Kiner-Falefa looked like a savvy pickup. That time wasn’t 2025.
After being claimed off waivers late in the season, Kiner-Falefa struggled to make much of an impact. He hit just .233 with a .625 OPS in 19 games, and while he had a few moments, they were overshadowed by one unforgettable miscue: his controversial baserunning decision in Game 7 of the World Series. It's the kind of play that sticks in fans' memories for all the wrong reasons.
Now with the Red Sox, Kiner-Falefa gets a fresh start-and frankly, so do the Blue Jays. His second stint in Toronto never really clicked, and it’s hard to argue he’ll be missed.
Will Be Missed: Bo Bichette
This one’s going to hurt for a long time.
Bo Bichette wasn’t just a productive shortstop-he was one of the faces of the franchise. For seven seasons, he helped power the Blue Jays’ resurgence, teaming up with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to form one of the most dynamic young duos in baseball. His bat was a constant force in the lineup, and his ability to hit for both average and power made him a cornerstone in Toronto’s offensive identity.
The numbers speak for themselves: a .294 career average, .806 OPS, 111 home runs, and 437 RBIs over 748 games. But beyond the stats, Bichette brought swagger, leadership, and a competitive edge that helped define this era of Blue Jays baseball.
Now, he’s gone. And no matter how many new names arrive or how much talent the front office brings in, replacing what Bichette meant-on the field and in the clubhouse-is going to take time.
The Bottom Line
The Blue Jays have reloaded in a big way, and there’s no denying the talent they’ve added. But championship windows are fragile, and part of keeping them open is knowing who you can afford to lose-and who you can’t.
Toronto made some tough calls this offseason. Some will pay off. Others, like saying goodbye to Bo Bichette and Chris Bassitt, might linger a little longer.