The Blue Jays Have Some Tough Outfield Decisions Ahead

The Blue Jays' outfield group has been a revolving door all season. At times, the team has used its outfield spots to add offence, turning to bat-first players whose defence left something to be desired. At other times, the Blue Jays have gone in the opposite direction, relying on players whose speed and defence make up for what their shortcomings may be at the plate. Then there are the group of players who simply haven’t been able to stay on the field this season, leaving their place in the 2027 picture up in the air.

While the Blue Jays are doing everything they can to secure a Wild Card spot in the final weeks of the season (and that remains the team's top priority), the bigger picture here is still worth watching. The Blue Jays already have a crowded group of outfielders going into 2027. With the team recently DFAing Jesús Sánchez, the picture has gotten a little clearer, but plenty of decisions remain. Here’s a look at the players who could factor into next season's outfield and what they need to show the Blue Jays down the stretch.

Stats from before games on Saturday, September 12.

Players With a Clear Path to a Role in 2027

Brett Bateman

• Stats in 2026: .339/.402/.424, 1 HR, 138 wRC+ 1.5 fWAR
• Contract Status: Pre-Arbitration, Free Agent in 2033

Brett Bateman has been a revelation for the Blue Jays since coming over from the Cubs at the deadline. Since he made his debut on August 7, he’s leading the team in fWAR. John Schneider has shown faith in the young center fielder, hitting him leadoff against both right- and left-handers. Even when the games matter most, Bateman has earned his manager's trust.

For the rest of the 2026 season, Bateman needs to continue down the same path he’s on. His elite center field defence and 87th-percentile sprint speed give him a high floor, even if the bat isn’t at this level long-term, and he has put himself firmly in the 2027 conversation. Has he shown enough already to be the team's starting center fielder next season, or will the Blue Jays be cautious with their young outfielder and start him in the minors? His performance in the remaining weeks could help answer that question.

Nathan Lukes

• Stats in 2026: .274/.322/.390, 10 HR, 102 wRC+, 1.8 fWAR
• Contract Status: Entering First Year of Arbitration, Free Agent in 2031

Nathan Lukes has almost quietly been one of the most productive outfielders for the Blue Jays this season. After dealing with injuries and vertigo early in the year, Lukes has hit well. John Schneider views him as a top-of-the-order bat against right-handed pitching (115 wRC+ vs. right-handers), and he has been producing as a league-average hitter who plays above-average defence.

Lukes doesn’t have much to prove for the rest of the season, as the Blue Jays know what they have with the 31-year-old. But there have been subtle signs of slowing down with the bat: the strikeouts have risen (13.7% in 2025 to 14.6% in 2026), the walks have dropped (8.7% to 5.2%), and some of the quality-of-contact metrics have declined as well. Now that Lukes is entering his arbitration years and becoming more expensive for the team, the Blue Jays may think they can find similar production elsewhere. For now, though, Lukes looks likely to be back for 2027; the question is whether he is an everyday player or someone the Blue Jays strictly use off the bench to face right-handed pitching.

Myles Straw

• Stats in 2026: .236/.299/.346, 3 HR, 82 wRC+, 0.8 fWAR
• Contract Status: Club Options for 2027 and 2028, $8 and $8.5 million, respectively

Myles Straw has been exactly what the 2026 Blue Jays expected. Coming off a 2025 year in which he was a pleasant surprise, he’s essentially been the same player. Elite defence in all three outfield spots and 96th-percentile sprint speed are the tools he brings to the table. The bat will never be a strength for the 31-year-old outfielder, but he finds ways to contribute on the offensive side when he can.

His outlook for 2027 is interesting. The Blue Jays do have club options for $8 million in 2027 and $8.5 million in 2028. On the free agent market, players with Straw's skill set historically haven’t gone for that much money, but the Blue Jays have an interesting choice to make. Do they continue to sacrifice offence in the outfield to keep their elite defence intact? Is it worth sacrificing a bench spot for a player who is out of options, with all the other outfielders set to return next season? It's an intriguing debate, and one the Blue Jays will certainly have internally, factoring in how important a presence he’s been in the Blue Jays clubhouse. It won’t be an easy decision.

Anthony Santander

• Stats in 2026: N/A
• Contract Status: Under Contract Through 2029, Club Option for 2030

The Blue Jays are still waiting for impact from their big free agent signing prior to the 2025 season. After a sub-par first season, Anthony Santander injured his shoulder in spring training and has been out since. He has started playing in rehab games and, barring another setback, it does seem like he’ll get some playing time in the final weeks of the season. Showing the Blue Jays that he’s healthy and can hit will go a long way toward the team feeling confident about his future in 2027.

With George Springer set to be a free agent at season's end, the DH spot opens, and Santander is the likeliest candidate for the role. This is still no guarantee; he needs to prove he’s healthy, and even when he’s been on the field as a Blue Jay, he hasn't been that productive (.565 OPS in 54 games). The Blue Jays will also likely be looking for impact bats this offseason, and the easiest spot to add one may be in the DH role. If that’s the case, Santander will be getting an extended look in the outfield, a place where, historically, he hasn't been that good. The Blue Jays need power in the worst way, and Santander is one of the few players on the roster who could provide it. But if he can't produce, Toronto could find itself in a similar situation to the one it just faced with Sánchez: his bat wasn't producing enough to justify the defensive shortcomings that came with it.

Addison Barger

• Stats in 2026: .045/.214/.091, 0 HR, 1 wRC+, 0.0 fWAR (nine games played)
• Contract Status: Entering Final Pre-Arbitration Season, Free Agent in 2031

Like Santander, Addison Barger’s 2026 season has been mired in injuries. He dealt with ankle injuries early in the year that kept him out for over a month, returned for one game, then developed elbow inflammation that effectively ended his 2026 season.

Barger’s key for the rest of the year is simple: He has to focus on getting healthy. If he does, his previous performance gives the Blue Jays plenty of reason to believe he can reclaim an important role in 2027. He was a key part of the 2025 season and playoff run, and with Kazuma Okamoto locked in as a regular at third base, the majority of Barger’s playing time is likely to come in right field. After he missed almost all of 2026, simply getting back on the field and showing that last year’s version of Barger is still there would be a major step forward, and he can be the impact bat the Blue Jays offence desperately needs going forward.

Josh Smith

• 2026 Stats: .223/.312/.352, 6 HR, 90 wRC+, 0.3 fWAR
• Contract Status: Entering Second Year of Arbitration, Free Agent in 2029

Josh Smith has been the Blue Jays' best offensive player since coming over at the trade deadline. All things considered, he’s likely going to be spending more time in the infield than the outfield, but he has played nine games in left field, and notably, he was the first one out there after the Sánchez DFA, showing the Blue Jays want to get his bat in the lineup more.

Because of his versatility, Smith isn’t necessarily competing with the other outfielders for playing time. His ability to move between the infield and the outfield will continue to be a great tool for John Schneider to have, particularly if his bat keeps improving.

The Wild Cards

Charles McAdoo

• 2026 Stats: .250/.299/.350, 2 HR, 83 wRC+, 0.2 fWAR (28 games played)
• Contract Status: Pre-Arbitration, Free Agent in 2031

Like Smith, Charles McAdoo will likely see most of his playing time in the infield, but he’s shown he’s been able to stand out there in the outfield and play a corner in a pinch. McAdoo has been a nice surprise, from being sent down to the complex league in 2025 to having a resurgence and having some moments in the majors this year. All things equal, he likely starts 2027 in the minors and will have to wait for his turn to come back to the big leagues.

Yohendrick Piñango

• 2026 Stats: .260/.306/.396, 5 HR, 97 wRC+, -0.1 fWAR (58 games played)
• Contract Status: Pre-Arbitration, Free Agent in 2032

Yohendrick Piñango had his moments early for the 2026 Blue Jays, hitting five home runs and providing a spark at times. Poor outfield defence is the biggest obstacle he needs to overcome, and until that gets better, it's going to be hard to see him be a regular every day outfielder. He’ll likely start the season at Buffalo and offer some corner outfield depth, with the chance to make an impact at some point later in the season.

Davis Schneider

• 2026 Stats: .142/.295/.274, 3 HR, 70 wRC+, -0.3 fWAR (62 games played)
• Contract Status: Entering Final Pre-Arbitration Season, Free Agent 2031

Davis Schneider’s 2026 season has been quite ugly. After being a fan favourite and having a massive home run in the 2025 World Series, he’s been up and down between Toronto and Buffalo and hasn’t gotten it going at the big-league level. 2027 feels like a make-or-break season for the 27-year-old; if he puts together another year like this one, the team may want to use his 40-man roster spot for someone else.

More Names To Know

• Jonatan Clase, RJ Schreck, Rudy Martin Jr., Carter Cunningham, Jake Casey

Once the dust settles and the Blue Jays’ season comes to a close, the team will have to take a deep look at its roster and build a team that can compete in 2027. Before any trades or free agent decisions are made, Toronto already has a crowded outfield, with more players than available spots. The same was true coming into the 2026 season, but injuries forced the Blue Jays’ hand and opened the door for players who may not have otherwise gotten an opportunity.

Depth across all positions is always a good thing, but it can quickly become a roster crunch when everyone is healthy. With two weeks to go in the regular season, these outfielders are playing for more than just their playoff lives. They’re also playing for a chance to show the Blue Jays that they deserve one of those spots when the 2027 season begins.

Are you optimistic about the Blue Jays right now?

Are you optimistic about the Blue Jays right now?

• Are you optimistic about the Blue Jays right now? Required
  

  
• Save

See All Blue Jays Polls >