The Blue Jays’ winter priorities are crystal clear after a season that never matched last year’s run to the World Series. Toronto has plenty to sort through, but the biggest issue has been right in the middle of the roster: the starting rotation and all the injury uncertainty around it.
MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson framed that challenge this way: “Some injuries, you can see coming. When the 42-year-old Max Scherzer runs into a few IL stints, no one should be surprised.
When José Berríos has Tommy John surgery after not missing a start for nearly a decade, it’s terribly unfortunate, but we all understand the realities of baseball and the limitations of the human elbow. The Blue Jays are trying to find that line now between bad luck and controllable variables,”
If spring training opened in February, SI’s Maddy Dickens said the rotation could initially be lined up with Dylan Cease, Trey Yesavage, Jose Soriano, and Cody Ponce, with the club hoping Ponce is healthy for Opening Day. Dickens also noted that Toronto would eventually get José Berrios back, though his health has already made for “a rough go of things.”
Even with those options, Toronto may not be done shopping. SI’s Zion Trammel believes the Blue Jays could make a run at Freddy Peralta, the former NL wins leader and two-time All-Star. Peralta is coming off a huge postseason stretch for Tampa Bay, and Trammel pointed to the way he has handled October pressure.
“The righty found a groove with Tampa Bay and has dominated the postseason. He's allowed two earned runs and struck out 12 hitters over 16.2 innings.
If Peralta continues to excel in the World Series, he will command a competitive market. The Blue could use another starting pitcher, and Peralta would be an excellent addition to the rotation,” Trammel wrote.
Peralta’s playoff run has only strengthened the case for a strong market, and Toronto could use another arm of that caliber. Pairing him with Cease would give the Blue Jays a rotation with serious upside if the health outlook finally turns in their favor.
Toronto wants another trip back to the World Series, and going after Peralta would be a major step in that direction.
In Other News...
Seiya Suzuki Free Agency Just Put Cubs Fans On Notice
After a strong 2025 campaign, the Blue Jays spent the 2026 season on the outside of the playoff picture, a reminder that the offense still has room to grow if this group is going to get back into the bracket. That has set up an offseason in which Toronto is expected to be active, and the front office appears positioned to shop for more impact bats rather than sit back and trust the current mix.
One name already surfacing around the market is Seiya Suzuki, the Cubs right fielder who could give Toronto another layer of offensive punch if things line up. He is nearing free agency, which makes him a player to watch as the Blue Jays sort through ways to upgrade a lineup that needs more thunder, and it also means other teams will be circling soon enough. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays May Have A Smarter Lefty Option Than The Top Prize
The Blue Jays are looking at the left-handed pitching market with a clear need in mind, and the biggest name does not have to be the only name worth tracking. Torontos rotation still lacks much in the way of left-handed depth, which makes any proven southpaw starter an obvious fit as the club weighs how to tighten up the group behind its core arms.
Trevor Rogers has a case to be more than just a secondary option, especially for a team that wants stability as much as upside. He has quietly built a strong body of work over the last two seasons and shown enough consistency to keep himself in the conversation among available left-handers, giving Toronto a plausible alternative if it decides the top of the market is too pricey or too crowded. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Trade Debate Comes Down To One Costly Lineup Question
With the Collective Bargaining Agreement set to expire and the rumor mill already warming up, the Blue Jays are once again being connected to a market that could get busier than usual. A fresh look at possible trade targets around the league put several familiar names in the conversation, including William Contreras, Jeremy Pea, Steven Kwan and CJ Abrams, as Toronto continues to search for ways to sharpen its lineup without losing sight of fit.
The exercise also makes clear how narrow the margin can be when Toronto starts weighing offense against roster balance. Some options look better on paper than in practice, and even the most intriguing bat comes with questions attached, from plate discipline to where he ultimately lands on the defensive spectrum. For the Blue Jays, the bigger issue may not be whether talent is available, but which player makes enough sense to justify the cost. [Read more 🡒]