Offseason Roster Thread 2025-26

[Carlos Danger]

Well, we can stop the Bellinger speculation.

 

I still strongly believe the Blue Jays need to add another bat and potential closer.

Unless the FO is interested in Suarez, I guess it will be through trade.

If you assess subtractions vs additions, I don't think there is substantial improvement from last year yet.

Andrew Friedman told the media before this years WS, that the key to continuous success and to repeating a WS or to win three WS in a row is not to be complacent and think that last year's team is/was good enough. 

[Governator]

I'm totally fine without Bellinger. I kept that guy for a few seasons in fantasy and he was hot every other year and I don't care to find out why.

[BTS]

5 minutes ago, Carlos Danger said:

Well, we can stop the Bellinger speculation.

 

I still strongly believe the Blue Jays need to add another bat and potential closer.

Unless the FO is interested in Suarez, I guess it will be through trade.

If you assess subtractions vs additions, I don't think there is substantial improvement from last year yet.

Andrew Friedman told the media before this years WS, that the key to continuous success and to repeating a WS or to win three WS in a row is not to be complacent and think that last year's team is/was good enough. 

I think the notable personnel changes from last year's playoffs are:

- Cease and Ponce replacing Bassitt and Scherzer 

- Okamoto replacing Bichette

- Rogers replacing Dominguez

The team looks pretty similar overall to the team that played game 7 last year. Probably about the same total projected WAR. 

The key is that this year's team looks a lot better and deeper than the team that went into spring training last year. If they play as expected I expect them to be very aggressive at the deadline. 

 

[Spanky__99]

43 minutes ago, Jays24 said:

https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/the-jd-bunkis-podcast/benefits-and-drawbacks-of-a-mlb-salary-cap-bichettes-decision-w-jim-bowden/

Bunkis also did an interview with Clement the same day, which was a cool listen.  

Okay, I listened to it, where's the deets, bro?

[Governator]

lol Bichette gets announced officially in their presser and MLB posts highlights of Bellinger signing with the first out crippling Bichette..... that's a little low.

[Laika]

13 minutes ago, BTS said:

I think the notable personnel changes from last year's playoffs are:

- Cease and Ponce replacing Bassitt and Scherzer 

- Okamoto replacing Bichette

- Rogers replacing Dominguez

The team looks pretty similar overall to the team that played game 7 last year. Probably about the same total projected WAR. 

The key is that this year's team looks a lot better and deeper than the team that went into spring training last year. If they play as expected I expect them to be very aggressive at the deadline. 

 

I mean this team is notably better

Scherzer was a bum. Bassitt was a solid 2 win pitcher. Cease and Ponce are 5-6 WAR projected, combined. Huge gap. 

Okamoto is a 1.5 win downgrade from Bo (or 1 win on some projection systems)

Rogers is a lot better than Dominguez 

People just seem to be a bit frazzled because the OFFENSE is maybe not quite as good, but a lot of than hinges on Okamoto who has wRC+ projections that are pretty dang close to Bichette for 2026

[Governator]

1 minute ago, Laika said:

I mean this team is notably better

Scherzer was a bum. Bassitt was a solid 2 win pitcher. Cease and Ponce are 5-6 WAR projected, combined. Huge gap. 

Okamoto is a 1.5 win downgrade from Bo (or 1 win on some projection systems)

Rogers is a lot better than Dominguez 

People just seem to be a bit frazzled because the OFFENSE is maybe not quite as good, but a lot of than hinges on Okamoto who has wRC+ projections that are pretty dang close to Bichette for 2026

Okamoto and Santander I think.

[glory]

The Jays starters in 2025 and their MLB rank:

WAR: 23rd
ERA: 20th
xERA: 23rd
FIP: 24th
HR/9: 28th

This rotation had no business being a 'slightly bigger IKF lead off 3B' away from winning a World Series. Their biggest weakness was clearly the rotation, and between Bieber opting in, and the signings of Cease and Ponce (plus an expected full season out of Yesavage), there's a good reason to believe that what they've spent the most money on this winter will make the biggest impact on the 2026 team compared to the 2025 team. They tried to make the big splash for the offense and it didn't work (Tucker). Beyond that there's not much they could have done to add multiple wins to the offense unless they find a way to trade for Marte now (not likely). 

[Jimcanuck]

With the Chisox freeing up cash, time to move Berrios, cash, and a prospect to them.  Then sign Bassitt

[Bob_Gratton]

1 hour ago, Carlos Danger said:

Well, we can stop the Bellinger speculation.

 

I still strongly believe the Blue Jays need to add another bat and potential closer.

Unless the FO is interested in Suarez, I guess it will be through trade.

If you assess subtractions vs additions, I don't think there is substantial improvement from last year yet.

Andrew Friedman told the media before this years WS, that the key to continuous success and to repeating a WS or to win three WS in a row is not to be complacent and think that last year's team is/was good enough. 

You can't replace Bo offense with Schneider, Straw, Lukes, and Santander doesn't count because he was here last year, and he wasn't signed to replace Bichette. Okamoto he replace guys like France, IKF, no to be our best hitter after Guerrero.

[Bob_Gratton]

Just now, Bob_Gratton said:

You can't replace Bo offense with Schneider, Straw, Lukes, and Santander doesn't count because he was here last year, and he wasn't signed to replace Bichette. Okamoto he replace guys like France, IKF, no to be our best hitter after Guerrero.

In fact we need another star player, like Tatis Jr, De la Cruz caliber.

[Bob_Gratton]

1 hour ago, BTS said:

I think the notable personnel changes from last year's playoffs are:

- Cease and Ponce replacing Bassitt and Scherzer 

- Okamoto replacing Bichette

- Rogers replacing Dominguez

The team looks pretty similar overall to the team that played game 7 last year. Probably about the same total projected WAR. 

The key is that this year's team looks a lot better and deeper than the team that went into spring training last year. If they play as expected I expect them to be very aggressive at the deadline. 

 

Okamato he replace France or Barger if they trade him. To replace Bo, need to be a star player, no utillity player or someone who never played in MLB before.

[Brownie19]

1 hour ago, Laika said:

I mean this team is notably better

Scherzer was a bum. Bassitt was a solid 2 win pitcher. Cease and Ponce are 5-6 WAR projected, combined. Huge gap. 

Okamoto is a 1.5 win downgrade from Bo (or 1 win on some projection systems)

Rogers is a lot better than Dominguez 

People just seem to be a bit frazzled because the OFFENSE is maybe not quite as good, but a lot of than hinges on Okamoto who has wRC+ projections that are pretty dang close to Bichette for 2026

I'd suggest you should be comparing the current team with the pre-trade deadline team - as obviously we can look to add similar pieces at the 2026 deadline. 

Cease, Bieber, Trey & Ponce replace Max, Bassitt, Francis and Berrios, Okamoto replaces Bo and Rogers replaces Yariel's 73 innings.  It's also like we've added Santander (essentially).  You'll also potentially get a full season from Varsho and have Vlad, Kirk, Barger and DS entering their prime years.

Obviously we shouldn't expect a full repeat from Springer, but otherwise it seems quite obvious the team is improved over the 2025 team.

Edited January 21 by Brownie19
I forgot about Trey!

[hanton]

This feels a little like last January

[Spanky__99]

1 hour ago, Laika said:

I mean this team is notably better

Scherzer was a bum. Bassitt was a solid 2 win pitcher. Cease and Ponce are 5-6 WAR projected, combined. Huge gap. 

Okamoto is a 1.5 win downgrade from Bo (or 1 win on some projection systems)

Rogers is a lot better than Dominguez 

People just seem to be a bit frazzled because the OFFENSE is maybe not quite as good, but a lot of than hinges on Okamoto who has wRC+ projections that are pretty dang close to Bichette for 2026

Yeah, Jays hit it out of the park, pitching wise. Team's solid AF.

[Eat My Shatkins]

13 minutes ago, Brownie19 said:

I'd suggest you should be comparing the current team with the pre-trade deadline team - as obviously we can look to add similar pieces at the 2026 deadline. 

Cease, Bieber & Ponce replace Max, Bassitt and Berrios, Okamoto replaces Bo and Rogers replaces Yariel's 73 innings.  It's also like we've added Santander (essentially).  You'll also potentially get a full season from Varsho and have Vlad, Kirk, Barger and DS entering their prime years.

Obviously we shouldn't expect a full repeat from Springer, but otherwise it seems quite obvious the team is improved over the 2025 team.

Also Yesavage over Francis who was a regular starter for the first couple months last season, and was TERRIBLE.

 

Gausman to Gauusman

Bassitt to Bieber

Berrios to Cease

Francis to Yesavage

Schezer to Ponce

It's beuatiful.

[Brownie19]

1 minute ago, Eat My Shatkins said:

Also Yesavage over Francis who was a regular starter for the first couple months last season, and was TERRIBLE.

 

Gausman to Gauusman

Bassitt to Bieber

Berrios to Cease

Francis to Yesavage

Schezer to Ponce

It's beuatiful.

Good point - full season of Trey is a huge upgrade.

[Spanky__99]

1 hour ago, glory said:

The Jays starters in 2025 and their MLB rank:

WAR: 23rd
ERA: 20th
xERA: 23rd
FIP: 24th
HR/9: 28th

This rotation had no business being a 'slightly bigger IKF lead off 3B' away from winning a World Series. Their biggest weakness was clearly the rotation, and between Bieber opting in, and the signings of Cease and Ponce (plus an expected full season out of Yesavage), there's a good reason to believe that what they've spent the most money on this winter will make the biggest impact on the 2026 team compared to the 2025 team. They tried to make the big splash for the offense and it didn't work (Tucker). Beyond that there's not much they could have done to add multiple wins to the offense unless they find a way to trade for Marte now (not likely). 

Yeah, the Jays clearly think so to.

[Brownie19]

Bichette: Blue Jays were in touch all offseason, but deal didn't pan out

https://thescore.com/mlb/news/3461119

Doesn't sound like a fumble to me.

[JaysForever]

I am surprised that Donovan hasn't been traded yet. STL have a few left handed hitters that could be on the move. No idea what it would cost to get Donovan but he would be a good fit for the Jays. He takes over 2B and lets you platoon Clement/Gimenez. Donovan has also played ss and outfield so there is some flexibility there.

[Stangstag]

Quote

"Me and the Blue Jays were in touch all offseason," Bichette told Shi Davidi of Sportsnet. "They showed interest, but at the end of the day, it just became clear for me that this was the decision that I needed to make."

Interesting choice of words...

[Ray]

5 minutes ago, JaysForever said:

I am surprised that Donovan hasn't been traded yet. STL have a few left handed hitters that could be on the move. No idea what it would cost to get Donovan but he would be a good fit for the Jays. He takes over 2B and lets you platoon Clement/Gimenez. Donovan has also played ss and outfield so there is some flexibility there.

Donovan seems like a pretty great fit and I would be pretty happy if we can land him. He also seems like the type of player we can land without shipping major league pieces like Barger.

[Spanky__99]

17 minutes ago, Brownie19 said:

Bichette: Blue Jays were in touch all offseason, but deal didn't pan out

https://thescore.com/mlb/news/3461119

Doesn't sound like a fumble to me.

Yeah, 47M and they dipped.

 

[Orgfiller]

23 minutes ago, Stangstag said:

Interesting choice of words...

I think this is his way of saying yeah it would've been nice to run it back, but I got offered money I couldn't turn down for purely emotional reasons from the Mets (and possibly Phillies as well, as it turns out).

[Stangstag]

13 minutes ago, Orgfiller said:

I think this is his way of saying yeah it would've been nice to run it back, but I got offered money I couldn't turn down for purely emotional reasons from the Mets (and possibly Phillies as well, as it turns out).

Yeah i think its likely he opts-out next year and seeks the 250+ mil deal he wanted in a weaker FA class

[JaysForever]

59 minutes ago, Ray said:

Donovan seems like a pretty great fit and I would be pretty happy if we can land him. He also seems like the type of player we can land without shipping major league pieces like Barger.

I am curious what a reasonable trade looks like. I have not seen any detailed rumors when it comes to him. Which makes me think that noone is really close.

[John_Havok]

2 hours ago, Brownie19 said:

I'd suggest you should be comparing the current team with the pre-trade deadline team - as obviously we can look to add similar pieces at the 2026 deadline. 

Cease, Bieber, Trey & Ponce replace Max, Bassitt, Francis and Berrios, Okamoto replaces Bo and Rogers replaces Yariel's 73 innings.  It's also like we've added Santander (essentially).  You'll also potentially get a full season from Varsho and have Vlad, Kirk, Barger and DS entering their prime years.

Obviously we shouldn't expect a full repeat from Springer, but otherwise it seems quite obvious the team is improved over the 2025 team.

Nowadays everybody wanna talk like they got something to say...but nothing comes out when they move their lips, just a bunch of gibberish, the mutha f***as act like the forgot about Trey. 

[John_Havok]

1 hour ago, Ray said:

Donovan seems like a pretty great fit and I would be pretty happy if we can land him. He also seems like the type of player we can land without shipping major league pieces like Barger.

Who, on the starting 9, is Donovan better than on the current roster?

[Sasky05]

3 hours ago, BTS said:

I think the notable personnel changes from last year's playoffs are:

- Cease and Ponce replacing Bassitt and Scherzer 

- Okamoto replacing Bichette

- Rogers replacing Dominguez

The team looks pretty similar overall to the team that played game 7 last year. Probably about the same total projected WAR. 

The key is that this year's team looks a lot better and deeper than the team that went into spring training last year. If they play as expected I expect them to be very aggressive at the deadline. 

 

100% agree!

[BringBackTheODog]

10 minutes ago, John_Havok said:

Who, on the starting 9, is Donovan better than on the current roster?

These are floor-raising moves. I look at a move for Donovan as a move that doesn't necessarily raise the team WAR like a big ticket signing would have, but it protects against injuries and underperformance. At the very least it gives you more favorable matchups for those guys that are in platoons or we'd like to rely on a little less. I think the importance of building that depth, which to be fair they have done a great job of, is often overlooked in this conversation of team WAR and trying to add wins. 

From a roster construction standpoint, we also have a hole in the 2 hole. I think he'd be one of our best options there if he was acquired.