Ryu In My House

Welcome to the General Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2026) — a year-round space for thoughtful conversation about everything surrounding the Toronto Blue Jays. This thread is for big-picture questions as much as day-to-day developments: roster construction, player development, coaching and analytics trends, organizational strengths and weaknesses, and what “success” should realistically look like for this team in 2026 and beyond. Whether you’re optimistic or skeptical, stats-driven or eye-test focused, all well-reasoned perspectives are welcome. To get things started: what do you see as the biggest unanswered question facing the Blue Jays right now? Will the Jays sign Bichette, Tucker, or neither?

Signing Bichette and Okamoto would be sweet. Combined, less cost than a Tucker signing likely. That would be a very long lineup, particularly is Santander comes back like he should. Wow.

I am very interested in Mark Leiter Jr. That would be a great pickup.

I do. I am a fan. But yeah, it could end badly.

I wonder if Anthony Kay could be a low risk gamble. He seemed to do well in the NPB and is now a free agent. Another starter available is Marcus Stroman. Tbh, I think extending him a 1-year deal could be interesting. He would love to make the Yankees eat it. Is he an actual clubhouse cancer? Maybe he'd be calmer now. I think a lot of you know would not be down with this.

This is absolutely shocking. Wow.

I love this current team. Having followed the Jays since 1984, I have never seen a team like the 2025 Blue Jays. So, I essentially want more of the same. The Blue Jays’ 2026 offseason plan should be ambitious but focused, built around retaining elite talent, reinforcing pitching depth, and maintaining the clubhouse chemistry that carried them through 2025. The centerpiece move is re-signing Bo Bichette to a 10-year, $275 million contract ($27.5 M AAV - is this even enough???) securing his prime years and reaffirming the organization’s commitment to its homegrown core. On the pitching side, Toronto should try to bring back both Chris Bassitt and Shane Bieber, ensuring a deep, experienced rotation behind Gausman, Berríos, and Yesavage. Bassitt’s versatility makes him ideal for a one- or two-year deal in the $12–15 million range, splitting duties between the rotation and bullpen — a role he clearly enjoys and excels in. Bieber would take some big money - and maybe he has no intention of saying. but perhaps a five-year, $150 million deal with a player opt-out after three years, is a solid offer. Dunno. The bullpen picture should stabilize with health. Assuming Nick Sandlin and Yimi García are fully recovered, re-signing Seranthony Domínguez to a three-year, $27 million contract ($9 M AAV) would complete a high-leverage relief core capable of closing out playoff games. With Anthony Santander already under contract, the everyday lineup remains intact, and Toronto should let Isiah Kiner-Falefa walk, opening space for younger, more dynamic bench options. A smart (IMO), under-the-radar target would be Anthony Kay, the former Blue Jays left-hander who reinvented himself in Japan with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars. His improved command and ground-ball profile make him a low-cost, high-upside fit as a swingman or multi-inning reliever. Altogether, these moves would likely push Toronto’s payroll into the $270–280 million range, modestly over the first competitive-balance-tax threshold but appropriate for a franchise in full contention mode. With Bichette locked up long-term, Bieber and Bassitt reinforcing the rotation, and a healthy, power-armed bullpen anchored by Hoffman, Domínguez, Sandlin, and García, the 2026 Blue Jays would be poised for a sustained championship push — blending continuity, experience, and enough pitching firepower to compete with the best clubs in baseball.

This team was incredible. I have followed the Blue Jays since 1984, seen a lot of really good teams during that span, but this team was amazing, and never gave up. When their back was to the wall, and fans had all but given up, they kept proving people wrong. Something had to give in game 7. I am very sad and disappointed, but I appreciate all the amazing memories of this run I will have. I hope the Blue Jays FO can just build on things from here, and make some additions/extend some players to keep everyone exited and keep on making runs into October for a while. Playoff ball is SO fun.

Arrr, sounds like some salty dogs can’t handle a friendly ‘mate.’ Best they stay ashore with their hurt feelin’s! Mate!

Arrr, the damage be done, and the sea be full o’ bad ideas! Mate!

Blimey! If prevention be the goal, ye should’ve wrapped the mainsail tighter! Mate!

Too late, ye landlubber! The ship’s sailed, the post be spawned, and there’s no scuttlin’ it now! Mate!

Arrr, if only me father’d worn a rubber o’ the seven seas, this cursed post might ne’er have been born!. Mate.

I am not sure anyone of the roster is "right" at this stage.

Shite, mate. Ahoy, ye pirates. Meat.

Shite, mate.

One Day at a Time, Great series.

Not bad use of AI.

How long have you waited for this?

I think he would be one of my high leverage guys. I cannot believe he touched 97 mph recently.

Someone DMed me that Spanky is the most blocked profile on this forum. I blocked him after he called me "mate" too often, like he's from the UK or something.

I keep thinking about the Angels and Mike Trout. Not the same thing, but they gave him a big contract and just kept on messing up on all fronts. Such as waste.

Key contracts expiring after 2025 According to MLB / team-reporting, here are some of the major Blue Jays salaries set to expire after the 2025 season: Chris Bassitt — ~$22 million MLB.com+1 Bo Bichette — ~$17.6 million MLB.com+1 Max Scherzer — ~$15 million (one-year deal) MLB.com+2BetMGM+2 Chad Green — ~$10.5 million MLB.com Erik Swanson — ~$3 million MLB.com If you sum those up alone, you get roughly $68–69 million of payroll relief (gross) just from those five names.

I’m not sure people realize just how much the luxury tax mechancis might be restricting what the Jays can commit long term. The Jays barely avoided a tax penalty in 2024 by trimming payroll (ending ~$233.9M), and going over the 2025 threshold (~$241M) opens them up to stiff penalties, especially if they do it repeatedly. Right now, management has some breathing room — they’re projected ~$13M under the 2025 limit after arbitration and contract commitments. But a big extension for Bo might blow that wiggle room away, risking them going into the second- or third-tier tax zone. That’s a serious deterrent. In short, I think an extension is unlikely. But who knows.