Bold Predictions for the Blue Jays Offseason

[Jesse Burrill]

Turns out, you can't predict baseball.

Every season, baseball throws something at us that no one expected. From statistical rarities like an unassisted triple play to a team going from three straight 100-loss seasons to suddenly making the playoffs, baseball always finds a way to surprise us. It truly is a sport where chaos is part of its nature.

That’s why today we’re not going to try to predict baseball. (We already tried that.) The Jays Centre staff is taking our game another way, and we’re trying to make some bold predictions about baseball's offseason instead. Below, you'll find seven predictions from our staff, with my own analysis underneath. 

Whether it's guessing which players the Blue Jays will sign/trade for, predicting something lockout-related, or imagining something off the field, like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. dying his hair pink (oh wait, that one happened), it’s time to call our shots.

Matthew Creally - The Blue Jays eat money and move on from José Berríos or Andrés Giménez

Front offices are always aware of how much money they spend on payroll. Even as the Blue Jays add to their roster, they could still find a way to move money, especially if the new CBA negotiations add major penalties. José Berríos and Andrés Giménez rank third and fourth, respectively, in average annual value going into 2027, with Berríos unlikely to exercise his opt-out and Giménez under team control through 2030. If the Blue Jays want to move some money around, moving on from one or both could be the play. It won't be easy and will likely involve the Blue Jays retaining money or including a prospect in the deal, but the front office will likely at least explore it. Whether it gets done is a different story, but that's what makes this prediction bold.

Sam Charles - The Blue Jays find a second baseman via trade or free agency, giving the franchise another season to prepare for JoJo Parker

The Blue Jays will likely look for middle infield help this winter. As our Middle Infield Depth Check notes, the group could use an upgrade, and the Blue Jays checked in on some middle infielders at the 2026 trade deadline.

The real boldness of this prediction lies with JoJo Parker, not the potential new second baseman. If the Blue Jays believe Parker could be a high-impact player, they might not want to sign or trade for a second baseman with several years of team control. Could Jazz Chisholm Jr. be interested in a short-term deal and then try to enter free agency again? Brandon Lowe is 32 and may be better suited to a shorter term; Luis Arraez or Gleyber Torres could also serve as short-term replacements. The Blue Jays will try to walk a fine line: add offense in 2027 without making a long-term commitment that could block their prized infield prospect’s path to the majors.

Bryan Jaeger - The Blue Jays' big-bat acquisition will come via trade. And Nolan Perry and/or Ricky Tiedemann will be the piece moved to get them

The Blue Jays recently dipped into their prospect pool to improve the big league roster, trading away top infield prospect Arjun Nimmala at the most recent trade deadline to bolster their pitching staff. So there is certainly a case they will do it again.

Nolan Perry has quickly risen through the Blue Jays' farm system and recently earned recognition as a runner-up for MiLB Breakout Player of the Year. His breakout season has increased his value around the league, potentially making him an attractive piece in a deal for an established big league bat.

Ricky Tiedemann, on the other hand, has had some of the shine wear off since he was a top-100 prospect, but in 2026 he showed he could get healthy and had moments in the big leagues. Pitching primarily in relief, he appeared in five games and struck out 27.6% of batters he faced. The left-hander still has plenty of upside paired with big league experience, making him an intriguing option for any team looking for young, controllable starting pitching, particularly if another team wants to stretch him into a starting role this spring.

The price will be high, but that's just the price of doing business in baseball.

Leo Morgenstern - The Blue Jays' biggest free agent signing will be a pitcher, not a hitter

Given how poor the Blue Jays offense was in 2026, most expect their biggest move to be on offense. However, there is more than one way to build a championship roster.

Last season, the Blue Jays signed Dylan Cease to a seven-year contract, so they are no strangers to dipping into the pitching market. The Blue Jays may kick the tires on Tarik Skubal, or make calls on Michael King, Freddy Peralta, or Adrian Morejon, and rely more on bouncebacks from the players they already have to improve the offense. It won't be the most popular move, but that's what makes it bold, and while offense remains the most obvious area of need, the Jays may decide adding another high-end pitcher is the best way to improve their chances of competing again in 2027. 

Owen Hill - Brett Bateman does NOT open 2027 as the Blue Jays' starting center fielder

No, this is not Brett Bateman slander.

Bateman was incredible after he came over at the trade deadline and quickly became a mainstay for the Blue Jays down the stretch. After the trade deadline, he was the Blue Jays' second-best position player by fWAR, with a top-25 mark in baseball over that span. So it would be easy to just pencil him back in to center field going into 2027.

But this prediction can come true in many ways. The Blue Jays outfield mix is already crowded. Addison Barger and Anthony Santander will return and get more time in the outfield. Nathan Lukes will still be around, and Jonatan Clase is out of options, so the Blue Jays will either have to move on from him or give him an extended look.

Plus, the Blue Jays could add a center fielder. Tyrone Taylor or Trent Grisham could be of interest and play center field. Or the Blue Jays could bring back Myles Straw and go with elite defense in center field again, and they always have the option of going the trade route.

Injuries, positional movement, and role will all play a factor here too, but on paper, Bateman seems set to be the everyday center fielder in 2027, which is what makes this prediction bold.

Mike LeSage - Kevin Gausman will re-sign with the Blue Jays

The fit makes too much sense to ignore. By all accounts, Kevin Gausman and his family loved their time in Toronto, and the Blue Jays loved having him around, as his five-year, $110 million contract may go down as one of the best in franchise history.

Going into 2027, there may be a match. Gausman will be 36 by next season, and in 2026, his ERA rose above 4.00 for the first time since 2019, while his fastball velocity dropped, likely a testament to how many innings he’s thrown over the last half-decade. Pair that with the fact that the Blue Jays already seem to have several starting pitching options (stop me if you've heard that before), and the team might look elsewhere when deciding how to allocate its resources this winter.

But that's what makes this prediction bold. Gausman knows he’ll be comfortable in Toronto, and much of the Blue Jays fanbase will be happy to see him return. He just put his Toronto home up for sale, and with several former Blue Jays scattered across free agent leaderboards, Gausman may be the Blue Jays' biggest temptation to reunite with.

Jesse Burrill - The Blue Jays will prioritize range and speed with their outfield acquisitions this winter

With recent reports of MLB testing outfield positional rules to spur offense, outfielders could soon need designated starting positions on the grass, meaning range and speed in the outfield will matter more, and the Blue Jays may use this winter to get a head start. Bateman already has range and speed in the outfield, and Lukes has a strong glove, too, but I bet the team wants to add a defensive first outfielder to double down on that strength and improve the offense elsewhere.

Cedric Mullins was fifth in OAA among outfielders in 2026 and could be an interesting fit. The Jays may pick up the option on Straw again. Seiya Suzuki isn’t at the same level on defense, but he ranked in the 88th percentile in outs above average and provides the best mix of offensive impact with defensive prowess. He could be a target on the higher end.

With Ross Atkins also identifying baserunning as an area for improvement in 2027, the Blue Jays could prioritize outfielders who address both needs. Adding a player with above-average speed and defensive range would improve Toronto's ability to take extra bases and cover more ground in the outfield, while they look to get their high-impact offensive addition at another position.

Will any of these predictions come true? It's hard to say. Our regular season bold takes have proven that predicting baseball is nearly impossible, and with one of the more unpredictable offseasons ahead, the challenge gets even harder. But if even one of these comes true, that’s a success and worth celebrating. For now, baseball rests, and it's time for transactions.

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