After falling painfully short in the World Series, the Blue Jays now face the challenge of keeping their core roster together, starting with the possible departure of cornerstone Bo Bichette.
Guaranteed Contracts
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B: $480MM through 2039
- Andres Gimenez, 2B/SS: $86.5MM through 2029 (includes $2.5MM buyout of $23MM club option for 2030)
- Jose Berrios, SP: $66MM through 2028 (Berrios can opt out of contract after the 2026 season)
- Anthony Santander, OF/DH: $65.5MM through 2029 (includes $5MM buyout of $15MM club option for 2030; Santander has opt-out after 2027 season that Jays can override by increasing salary and exercising 2030 option)
- Alejandro Kirk, C: $52MM through 2030
- Kevin Gausman, SP: $23MM through 2026
- George Springer, OF/DH: $22.5MM through 2026
- Jeff Hoffman, RP: $22MM through 2027
- Yariel Rodriguez, RP: $17MM through 2028 (includes $6MM player option for 2028; Blue Jays have $10MM club option if Rodriguez declines)
- Myles Straw, OF: $8.75MM through 2026 (includes $1.75MM buyout of $8MM club option for 2027; Blue Jays also have $8.5MM club option for 2028 with $500K buyout; Guardians paying $2.75MM to Jays as condition of January 2025 trade)
- Yimi Garcia, RP: $7.5MM through 2026
Option Decisions
- Shane Bieber, SP: $16MM player option for 2026 ($4MM buyout)
2026 financial commitments (assuming Bieber declines player option): $164.75MM
Total future commitments (assuming Bieber declines player option): $850.75MM
Arbitration-Eligible Players (service time in parentheses; projections from MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz)
- Daulton Varsho (5.128): $9.7MM
- Eric Lauer (5.091): $4.4MM
- Dillon Tate (5.018): $1.7MM
- Nick Sandlin (4.157): $2MM
- Ernie Clement (3.168): $4.3MM
- Ryan Burr (3.109): $800K
- Tyler Heineman (3.066): $1MM
- Non-tender candidates: Tate, Burr
Free Agents
- Bo Bichette, Chris Bassitt, Max Scherzer, Seranthony Dominguez, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Ty France
As devastating as Game 7 was for the Blue Jays and their fans, the rest of the 2025 season was an unqualified success. The club won its first AL East title in 10 years and its first AL pennant since 1993, in a stunning turn-around for a club that finished in last place in the AL East just a season ago (and held a modest 26-28 record through the first two months of 2025).
Just about every single Toronto hitter improved on their 2024 numbers, turning the Jays into a dangerous all-around offense fueled by putting the ball in play, high-volume and quality contact, and timely (if not always consistent) power. Bichette was a key element of this formula. After struggling with injuries and inconsistent play since August 2023, he returned to his old self in 2025 by hitting .311/.357/.483 with 18 home runs over 628 plate appearances. Those numbers likely would've been even stronger if Bichette wasn't sidelined by a left PCL sprain in early September, which kept him out of action until the World Series. Even while clearly limited in terms of running or normal flexibility, Bichette still hit .348/.444/.478 over 27 PA during the Fall Classic.
Bichette has stated that he won't need a knee surgery this winter, and while we could perhaps wait a few days to make sure Bichette wasn't just trying to tough it out for the postseason, it would seem like his PCL sprain shouldn't leave him any worse for wear for Opening Day 2026. That means the Blue Jays and other suitors will probably feel comfortable in bidding normally on the All-Star now that he's hitting the open market.
There has been speculation for years about how the Jays would approach the free agencies of Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. during the 2025-26 offseason, and the Guerrero debate was firmly answered last April when the two sides agreed to a 14-year, $500MM extension. With such a big commitment made to Guerrero, of course, that only raised fresh questions about Bichette's future. Especially when coming off a down year in 2024 and with the Jays acquiring Andres Gimenez last winter, it seemed like Toronto was preparing itself to let Bichette walk.
The team's magical run in 2025 may have changed the equation. Ownership and the front office may have some natural inclination to try and run it back (as much as possible) with a roster that came two outs away from a championship. The Rogers Communications ownership group is very wealthy and has been comfortable in taking the Blue Jays' payroll into luxury tax territory in both 2023 and 2025, including the team's record high payroll and tax number this season. (Cot's Baseball Contracts estimates payroll at $254MM and the tax number at roughly $278.8MM, while RosterResource estimates a $257.8MM payroll and a $282.7MM tax number that would put the Jays over the third penalty tier.)
Would the Blue Jays be willing to pay something in the $150MM-$200MM range on Bichette and add yet another long-term deal to a ledger that already has over $850MM in future commitments? Guerrero alone takes up a big chunk of that $850MM-plus figure, but the Blue Jays also have to factor in other potential expenditures. As we'll explore later in the outlook, Toronto will again need to make some investments in its rotation, and Kevin Gausman is a free agent next winter. Extending George Springer didn't seem like a consideration a year ago, but after Springer's big comeback season, the Jays must now at least be thinking about retaining the veteran when his current deal is up next winter.
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I don’t know what to do about Santander. Wish we could just take a mulligan there because it could get real ugly. He’s 31, has never reached base much, and doesn’t bring defense to the table. I don’t know where he fits on this team right now.
You keep him and play him? He was basically injured all year, no reason to think he’s never going to be the same. He’s not super old, he’s fine.
Problem is that you have Springer, Varsho, Straw, and Lukes also. They’d certainly rather have that money available to use elsewhere but it is what it is. Neither Springer nor Santander is a guy you want in the field everyday. Without an injury it doesn’t look like he’ll get everyday Abs which is going to make it tough to recoup that contract value.
It’s not a real problem.
Straw is NOT a starting outfielder. The outfield is Varsho in center, Lukes in right (or Barger when he’s not at 3rd) and then Santander/Springer in left. Springer will likely be the primary DH and backup corner outfielder while Santander will be the primary corner outfielder and backup DH.
They’ll sacrifice the D with Santander in order to get what should be a productive bat into the lineup.
Trade Boras client Varsho to free up money to bring back other key free agents. Straw is a much better center-fielder than noodle-arm Varsho, who somehow had a weaker arm in 2025 than 39yr old McCutchen. The emergence of Barger, along with Santander and Lukes provides all the balance they need in a lineup
Varsho’s noodle arm this season was because he came off shoulder surgery. It will be stronger than a noodle next season and he offers way more offensive upside than Straw.
Straw and Varsho are both gold glove caliber centerfielders. Varsho may have a noodle arm, but he has an elite first step and route running and gets to pretty much everything in center.
Both guys make limited contact at the plate, but at least with Varsho, there’s a lot of thump. Straw has a noodle bat.
Yeah Santanders contract is an ugly one for sure. They would need to eat so much of his salary if they tried moving him.
All they can hope for is at least some improvement maybe similar to his 2023 numbers. Still a huge overpay but at least if he produced at that level it would be of some use to the Jays
I’m not even remotely ready to start thinking about next season. God, this hurts.
I hear ya my man, but flags fly forever and you get to hang a division title and pennant up. Those are serious accomplishments.
Random aside but I’m a devil fan in hockey and the cup run in 2011-2012 is still my favorite sports run ever despite falling short. Trust me you’ll look back on it fondly in time. Good luck next season!
The 2012 Devils lost in six games after being down 3-0 in the series. The Jays went into the ninth inning of game 7 with the lead and had every opportunity to win it in the bottom of the ninth. There was also the infamous lodged ball in game 6. There is no comparison to the heartbreak we are experiencing.
Sorry for attempting to give alittle pick me up. So I’ll try this, perspective it’s still just a game. There will be more good times ahead for the jays. No one died 😂
Yup literally all the bounces went the other way. A real shame
I appreciate the effort, but if I can’t have a World Series title, I’ll settle for the title of World’s Saddest Fan.
@bhd I hear ya man
So much pain. I’ll never get over it….but hopefully they’re able to bounce back. Seems so far away now…..
Condolences Mark! It was still one heck of World series. Kind of weird that after all the talk of the Dodgers and their Billion Dollar team it was their cheapest player who had the biggest hit.
Too soon Mark, too soon!
I’m still shocked why couldn’t Gausman come out like Yamamoto did late in the game. I know he pitched Game 6 but I would have used him possibly in the 9th inning instead of Hoffman. Very unconventional thinking, but it could have been the difference of a title and a devastating loss.
It’s a fair question, though Gausman is ~7.5 years older than Yamamoto so his arm may not have been able to bounce back from the day before as easily. With a basically 2-pitch guy like Gausman his effectiveness plummets if the movement on his splitter isn’t there. Career-wise Gausman also has a noticeable drop in performance even on shorter-rested starts,
Of course with hindsight it’s fair to wonder if Gausman could’ve bought some more scoreless innings, but I probably also look to Hoffman, Dominguez, and Bieber before Gausman if I’m in John Schneider’s position there.
Yamamoto was utterly dominant against the Jays (17.1 innings pitched, 1.02 ERA). Gausman was just ok against the Dodgers (12.2 innings pitched, 4.26 ERA). Kevin was never going to be their saviour.
The problem, as it had been for the entire second half of the season, was Hoffman. That it took until game 7 for Jeff to blow it was a minor miracle. He fell apart almost as often as not in the second half. He had never been a full time closer before and it showed as the season went on.
Man I have a really hard time placing the blame on Hoffman, he was a big reason why they were even there.
The offence was missing a big hit and key contact in key spots to break it open.
Are you kidding, the number of regular season game leads he blew after he came in, he shouldn’t have bern trusted in such a situation. The Jays need a better closer.
Understandable, I see your thinking as well. I just thought Gausman for 1 inning would be better than Hoffman, especially who is prone to giving up the HR this year. It’s just bad luck that Rojas was the guy who did it I guess. Really thought Gausman mixed his pitches well against the Dodgers hitters. Surprised Lauer wasn’t used either, he was unhittable in G3 and his soft stuff would probably be hard to get a timing on as they just saw all high velo guys during the game.
From a business standpoint, Yamamoto has 10 years left on his contract. If he blows his arm out he’s still getting paid for the next 10 years. Gausman has one year left on his contract and then he will be looking for his next contract. With a significant injury there might not be another contract. Big difference in risk to the pitcher.
Yeah a couple bad late game decisions. Gausman not coming in, not pinch hitting Varsho (who all but disappeared the last couple games) was another one. Not moving Clement up higher in the order etc
The Blue Jays 2025 season was exciting to watch, too bad it ended the way it did however that’s baseball. I look forward to seeing what they do in the offseason and will be ready to watch them teturn to the 2026 world series.
Toronto has at least a somewhat similar vibe to Arizona. Show up in the playoffs unexpectedly, go all the way to the World Series but lose, and then immediately fizzle out.
We’ll see if the Jays do in fact fizzle out, but part of this season felt like magic and good fortune, and after the departures of guys like Bo and Bieber, and the likely resurgence of Baltimore next season, it’s not hard to see the Jays as a non playoff team next year if they can’t recreate the magic.
Jays have made the playoffs 4 of the last 5 years, how is that Arizona vibes?
Resigning Bo is the top priority. Hopefully in the range of 175-200 million over 7 years.
If we don’t have Bo back, I would turn all my attention towards pitching.
With Josh Kasevich available this spring and Arjun Nimmala behind him, there is no room for Bichette at SS on a long-term deal. The knock against Kasevich is limited power, but he could make the roster with a good spring in Dunedin. Kasevich is well liked within the organization, and Pat Borders raved about Nimmala this spring.
Nimmala is likely not going to make the 40-man till 2028 or 2029. There already is a glove-first SS/2B in Gimenez. If Bichette is willing to accept a shorter (three-year??) deal, the Blue Jays might think that makes sense. If he sticks to a five year or longer deal, I expect the Jays will look internally for SS.
Of course, I am likely wrong as I never would have offered a fourteen-year deal to a first baseman.
Seems reasonable, might be able to do both.
Yes Bo absolutely needs to be back with them
The question I have about the pitching decisions for the game was Schneider had Dominguez warm up multiple times during the game. Why not bring him in relief of Yesavage in the 8th instead of Hoffman? Just let Hoffman pitch the 9th inning. The same result could also have happened, but Dominguez only threw 10 pitches in game 6 and it doesnt cause you to warm up your closer twice in game. Lots of variables occurred and caused the loss, but w/ today’s analytics, just let the closer pitch 1 inning. Worse case bring in Fluharty to have Edman hit right handed. Or why take Yesavage out? There were 2 outs and a runner on. His splitter is a better pitch against a lefty anyway.
Deal of the day so act now (because I can’t do this all day): Davis Schneider can be had for any single piece of equipment. We will then gift you back that piece of equipment and pay any guaranteed money throughout his entire arbitration years. Seriously, take him……PLEASE.
Sign Bo, Bellinger, R.Suarez, Finnegan, Cease/King, Bassitt, and get an actual good lefty reliever.
Springer DH
Bellinger CF
Vlad 1B
Bo 2B
Barger RF
Santander LF
Kirk C
Clement 3B
Gimenez SS