Jim Scott

The 2026 Blue Jays struggled in many areas. Their 94 team wRC+ was 24th in the majors. But it gets worse. Their 648 runs scored were dead last – 30th out of 30 teams – as were their .298 team xwOBA, .134 team ISO, and 152 home runs. Some of that disappointing performance was due to injuries (Toronto lost $77 million of payroll to injuries – 5th highest in MLB) and some to underperformance (Springer + Guerrero Jr + Kirk + Clement had an aggregate 17 fWAR in 2025. In 2026, those four players aggregated 5.4 fWAR). So there is some reason for optimism that Toronto could rebound offensively to some extent in 2027. But it clearly behooves Blue Jays management to seek offensive upgrades in the offseason. There are several options potentially available. On the free agent front, Seiya Suzuki is coming off a 4.6 fWAR, 134 wRC+, .204 ISO season with the Cubs. Randy Arozarena was even better, statistically, with a 5.5 fWAR and 151 wRC+. On the international signing front, Teruaki Sato of the Hanshin Tigers is expected to be posted and is coming off a year of 306/.383/.609, 39 HR, and 106 RBI in Japan. And players like Cleveland’s Steven Kwan and Boston’s Jarren Duran are rumoured to be available in trade. The complication with most of these players is that their best position (other than ones Toronto has already filled) is corner outfield. On first glance, this does not appear to be an issue. In 2026, the Jays earned 0.9 fWAR from the left field position (24th in MLB). Their 1.9 fWAR from right field was better – 16th in MLB – but that was primarily due to Nathan Lukes’ 2.2 fWAR in 450 PA. And Lukes would make an ideal fourth outfielder – he can play all three outfield positions (with a Statcast fielding run value in the 86th percentile, which is excellent), so he would make a strong late-inning defensive replacement. His 2026 wRC+ of 102 is low for a full-time right fielder but more than adequate for a bench outfielder, and his career splits (110 wRC+ against right-handed pitching, 75 against left-handed) even make him a late-game pinch-hit option. So finding a role for him if the Jays were to sign (say) Suzuki and Sato would not be an issue. Which brings us to Addison Barger. Barger was injured for most of 2026, but in 2025 he had a torrid first half, with a .261/.317/.506 batting line, a .245 ISO and a 124 wRC+. He slowed down in the second half, but still managed a .172 ISO. So – potentially – exactly the kind of bat the Jays need in their lineup. And Barger will not reach arbitration until 2028, and will not be a free agent until 2031. The problem with Barger is that he is not really suited to be a bench player. He has a negative Outs Above Average at both of his primary positions – third base and right field – and his sprint speed is only average. And at his early stage of development (he has 755 career MLB plate appearances), limiting him to a bench role might never unlock his potential. So what could the Jays do with him? Right field will be (in my example) Suzuki or Sato. Third base, if 2026 is any indication, will belong to Kazuma Okamoto for the foreseeable future. Fourth outfielder is Lukes. As noted, the Jays’ production from left field was 24th in the majors in 2026. Right field was 16th. Most other positions were better, or are expected to be better in 2027 (think Bateman and Guerrero Jr.) But second base was a definite problem. Toronto’s 1.2 fWAR was 21st in the majors, and it would have been even lower except for the 0.8 fWAR put up by Josh Smith and Charles McAdoo in limited time at the end of the season. So second base is an issue, and finding a spot for Barger is an issue. Too bad that Barger can not play second base. Or can’t he? When Barger was playing in A-level ball, he was used extensively at second base. It was felt that his speed and athleticism were not sufficient for him to play shortstop at the major league level, and that second base was a viable option. He played 375 innings there over his minor league career. As Barger progressed through the Jays system, he was positioned increasingly at third base and right field (to take full advantage of his holy-cow-Batman 60+ grade arm). But his 2026 injury showed the danger of placing too much reliance on that arm. Playing second base – at a minimum in 2027 – would decrease his dependence on that arm, which might be especially prudent in a year in which he is returning from injury. A further benefit of playing Barger at second base is that it would free up Ernie Clement for the utility role that he played so well in the past. Ernie on the bench makes it possible to pinch-hit for Andrés Giménez in late innings, or to insert his career +28 DRS at third base (+14 FRV) for Okamoto in defensive situations. The Bottom Line “Wasting” Barger’s arm at second base may be counterintuitive. But wasting him and his potential as a bench bat, or failing to pursue a Suzuki or Sato to hold right field open for Barger, could be the greater risk – and the greater waste. View full article

The Jays’ 2026 season has been disappointing on many levels, including starting pitching injuries and underperformance, closer instability, and breakthroughs by Daulton Varsho and Ernie Clement in 2025 that did not carry through to 2026. But possibly the most visible surprise has been in the hitting. In 2025, the Jays’ 112 wRC+ and 798 runs scored were both fourth in MLB. So far in 2026 (before games on September 15), their 96 wRC+ is 23rd and their 613 runs scored rank 29th. There are grounds for optimism in 2027. Newcomers Josh Smith and Brett Bateman have (in small samples) wRC+ figures over 130. Addison Barger and Anthony Santander are expected back. Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s xStat line is substantially higher than his regular season stats. But Toronto should still be thinking about ways to make the team better at the plate. Unfortunately for the Jays, this year’s position player free agent class is limited. Jazz Chisholm Jr. has a solid .232/.312/.403 stat line, but his xStats of .218/.296/.370 are less attractive. Seiya Suzuki has a strong .268/.367/.474 line with 24 home runs, but his xStat line is .246/.345/.426, and he will turn 33 in 2027. His average exit velo / barrel % / hard hit % / LA sweet spot % percentiles have gone from 79th/95th/82nd/94th in 2025 to 40th/70th/41st/81th so far in 2026. There may, however, be another option. For years, Luis Arraez has been the epitome of lumber over leather. He won the batting title three times in a row from 2022 to 2024 (with three different teams!). But his -17 Outs Above Average over those three years ranked 32nd out of 34 qualifying second basemen – enough to bring his average fWAR over those three years to a cromulent 2.4. His power is also extremely limited; his career average ISO is .098 (major league average varies around .160), and he has never hit over 10 home runs in a season in his eight-year MLB career. His defensive shortcomings have limited him to playing at first base or designated hitter at times, both of which usually command a different offensive profile. So why would the Jays be interested in such a one-trick pony? Because of his 2026. From 2022 to 2025, Arraez had -19 Outs Above Average, ranking 37th among 39 qualifying second basemen. It was his Achilles' heel – the thing that kept him from stardom. But 2026 has been an epiphany. After working with renowned infield coach Ron Washington with the Giants, Arraez has improved enough to be called the most improved defensive player in 2026. This has translated into a 4.0 fWAR so far this year. Is he a perfect fit? Probably not. There are questions about the sustainability of his surge, particularly without Washington’s magic, and he will be turning 30 in 2027. Some might argue that, with players like Bateman (2026 ISO .100), Alejandro Kirk (career ISO .132) and Andrés Giménez (career .127), what the Jays need is more power, not more base hits. But converting a solo home run into a two-run shot has the same impact as hitting a second solo homer, and (as Arraez’s own career earnings have demonstrated) often singles hitters are appreciated less than long-ball mashers. The Bottom Line Arraez would be a gamble. If his defensive epiphany is only a blip, he could go from MLB's most improved defensive player to MLB's most expensive bench bat. But that uncertainty might make him easier to acquire than a conventional power hitter (he is only earning $12 million this year), and a potential top-of-the-order of Bateman + Arraez has holy-cow-Batman potential. Of course, the possible lockout is the ultimate wild card in any free agent speculation. Particularly when the player is on the wrong side of 30. But, again, what some teams call “risk” in that scenario, others might see as opportunity. View full article

Stop me if you’ve heard this one. As the trade deadline approached, the Jays were struggling. They were multiple games under .500, largely due to multiple injuries to key players, and so far behind the AL East leaders that a serious run for the division title was beyond a long shot. But the Jays had a very good starting pitcher on an expiring contract, and the team favoured to win the World Series needed one. And that team had a strong young slugging outfielder in their minor league system, MLB-ready but blocked, not only by the three excellent outfielders already on their major league team, but also by an uber prospect ahead of him in the minors. The Jays needed more offence. So, they traded a half-year of their pitching stud for the young outfielder. Am I talking about the Francisco Liriano trade for Teoscar Hernández in 2017? Or a Kevin Gausman trade to the Dodgers in 2026? Hear me out. It is entirely possible that the Jays find another gear in the remainder of July and play themselves into a Wild Card position. But if they don’t – if they are still 10+ games out of first place in the AL East and multiple games out of the last Wild Card with several teams to overcome – then selling becomes an option they would have to consider. And possibly their greatest trade chip would be Kevin Gausman, with his excellent career record and solid 3.83 ERA over 56 postseason innings pitched. There would be multiple teams interested, but one of the most intriguing would be the Dodgers. The Dodger Outfielders The Dodgers have three good outfielders in Teoscar Hernández, All-Star Andy Pages and sixty-million-dollar man Kyle Tucker, all of whom are performing well and signed through 2027. Their “fourth outfielder,” Tommy Edman, is hitting for a 165 wRC+ so far in 2026. So, the need for outfield help at the MLB level is minimal. That means that the many outfielders in their minor league system who rank among Baseball America’s Top 100 Prospects are blocked… and potentially available. The Pipe Dream Josue De Paula (BA #4 Overall, Scouting Grades – Hit: 60, Power: 60, Run: 40, Field: 45, Arm: 50) is currently hitting .321/.419/552 in Double A and is widely considered to be MLB-ready. He might be available in a Skubal trade, but it is unlikely that the Dodgers would part with a player with a Baseball Trade Values value of $54 million for a half-year of Gausman. Still, his combination of power and upside would make him an ideal target if somehow the Jays could pry him free. The Centre Fielder Mike Sirota (BA #12 overall, Scouting: 55/50/60/55/55) not only has plus bat speed and the potential for 60-grade raw power, with a 90th percentile exit velocity of 107 mph, but he is also a consistent centre fielder with plus speed and an above-average arm. Given that the Jays may lose Daulton Varsho to free agency and that Myles Straw still struggles with the bat, a hard-hitting centre fielder might be the best of all options. Sirota has a BTV trade value of $37 million – high, but with Pages under team control, he might be available for a package of Gausman + prospects. Unfortunately for Toronto, Sirota has recently elevated his profile with a 68-game on-base streak, which could elevate Los Angeles’ asking price if he is even still available. Hope That Swings Eternal A more plausible target is Zyhir Hope (BA #55 Overall, Scouting Grades: 40/60/55/50/50). He has plenty of bat speed and raw power, but his inconsistency makes it unclear whether he is MLB-ready, and he has struggled against left-handed pitching (a concept with which Jays fans will be painfully familiar!). Still, so far in 2026 he is batting .289/.363/.505 in Double A for a 124 wRC+ and has been said to have 40-homer potential if his flaws could be fixed – a scouting report very similar to Teoscar’s in 2017. The Dark Horse James Tibbs III (BA Dodgers #12, Scouting: 50/45/40/45/50) was considered a 40-grade prospect going into 2026, ranking #26 on the Dodgers’ top 30 prospects list. He has been called a fringe-average corner outfielder and emergency first baseman, with a fair amount of skills, though he had yet to find a way to put them all together. Then came 2026. In 382 PA, Mister Tibbs (sorry!) is hitting .284/.406/.559 with a .385 xwOBA and a 143 wRC+. His ISO has gone from a cromulent .182 to a holy-cow-Batman .275. Tibbs would be something of a gamble, as his MiLB career wRC+ is a meager 93. But the Jays have not been afraid of helium plays in the past, and Tibbs’ trade cost should be far less than the other candidates. The Bottom Line It has been said that the definition of a good trade is where each party receives something that is of greater value to them than to the trading party. Tibbs is far down the Dodgers’ outfield depth chart (as Teoscar was for the Astros in 2017), but LA could strongly use another proven playoff starter. If (big if) the Jays are out of contention at the deadline, their thoughts should shift from 2026 to 2027. A young, cheap, controllable, power-hitting outfielder would fill an important hole. View full article

The Jays need pitching. Their top three of Dylan Cease, Kevin Gausman and Trey Yesavage have all been excellent, with xERAs ranking in the top 20 in the American League (min. 35 IP). And Patrick Corbin has – so far – outperformed his 5.26 xERA with a strong 3.65 ERA. Yet, with Cease’s injury and Corbin’s bubble at risk of bursting, the Jays could badly use another MLB-ready starter. Someone like Simeon Woods Richardson, recently DFA'd by the Minnesota Twins. SWR has struggled in 2026, with a 7.74 ERA and declines in every conventional pitching statistic. So, why might the Jays be interested? Age and Control SWR comes with considerable risk. That is not necessarily a determining factor. Risk can be acceptable if it comes with a commensurate return. If the Jays were to gamble on “fixing” SWR, they would want to know that he will not retire next season – or leave as a free agent. In that respect, SWR is an attractive gamble. He is only 25 years old, and with less than two years of service time entering 2026, he will not be a free agent until 2031. So if the Jays did succeed in turning him around, the benefits could be long-term Price Woods Richardson is still in his pre-arbitration years, earning only $796,000 in 2026. He would only enter arbitration for the first time this coming offseason. That makes him cheap enough that the financial side of the gamble would be minimal. Pedigree SWR is having a poor 2026, but his performance from 2024-25 gives considerable cause for optimism. Consider this table: Pitcher IP ERA xERA SIERA Kevin Gausman 374 3.71 4.24 4.01 José Berríos 382 3.81 4.74 4.4 Chris Bassitt 341.1 4.07 4.35 4.13 Simeon Woods Richardson 245 4.08 3.83 4.48 On an xERA basis, SWR outperformed all three of the Jays’ top three starters over those two years. If he could return to that level, he would be – at a minimum – a solid No. 3 starter. And if Cease, Gausman, Yesavage, and Shane Bieber were ahead of him in the rotation, he could be one of the very best No. 5s in all of baseball. Fit One likely reason for SWR’s xERA being lower than his ERA is the Twins’ defence. SWR is not a power, strikeout pitcher. His fastball only averages 93 mph, and he strikes out less than a batter per inning. He needs a strong defensive team behind him. In 2025, Minnesota’s -12.4 team Def (as calculated by FanGraphs) was 22nd in the majors. Toronto’s +38.8 was first. The xERA stat is calculated on the basis that every ball is hit into an “average environment,” so it is entirely possible that, with an elite defence behind him, SWR could even outperform his 2024-25 xERA. Fly Balls SWR is a flyball pitcher. His career air rate of 64.1% is substantially higher than the MLB average of 55.8%. So, he needs an elite outfield defence. What about one led by someone like, say, Daulton Varsho – whose +34 OAA in the outfield since 2023 is fifth best in baseball. And that is despite multiple injuries and his having to play in left and right field as well as centre. The Projections The major baseball projection systems all predict a recovery for SWR over the remainder of 2026. Steamer projects a 4.12 ERA, while ZIPS projects 4.66. These are only projections, and many of them envision limited innings and a move to the bullpen, but there is still a consensus that his current 7.74 ERA does not tell the whole story. The Red Flags With all that said, there are still red flags. SWR’s split-finger fastball, a major weapon in 2025 with a 32.7% whiff rate and a .168 xwOBA, is at 20.4% and .427 so far in 2026. But this is despite improved velocity and better vertical and horizontal movement. Could the issue be that the increased usage of his splitter – from 10% in 2025 to almost 27% in 2026 – has reduced the “surprise factor”? Or could the drop in velocity differential between his splitter and four-seamer (7.1 mph in 2025, 6.0 in 2026) have had an impact? The Bottom Line Without question, SWR is struggling. And there is no guarantee that the Jays’ defence (which is itself struggling to repeat its 2025 performance) and a healthy dose of Pete Walker magic will be enough to turn the 2026 frog back into the 2025 handsome prince. But the financial risk is small, the potential upside larger, and the need even larger still. It may be true that SWR’s future “ain’t what it used to be,” but it is equally true that “it is tough to make predictions – especially about the future.” View full article

But is it at the high end of reasonableness? 😁 If you had to pick a fWAR for non-pitchers, would you see it as higher or lower than 2025?

With the signings of Dylan Cease, Tyler Rogers, and Cody Ponce (and with Shane Bieber exercising his player option), the Blue Jays have taken major steps to solidify their pitching staff in preparation for another World Series run in 2026. Attention has now shifted to the other side of the plate, and to the Jays’ ongoing discussions with free agent “big bats” such as Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette. There is no question that a Kyle or Bo would enhance the Jays’ offence. But there is considerable discussion about how critical such an upgrade really is. Suppose the Jays did not make any further offseason upgrades to their hitting – no Kyle or Bo, and no Ketel Marte or Steven Kwan either. The 2026 Steamer projections for the current Jays are now available on FanGraphs. They project the Jays’ position players to earn only 24 fWAR in 2026, after earning 33 fWAR in 2025. Disappointing! But many of their assumptions, particularly about the Jays’ defense, seem pessimistic. What would the Jays’ fWAR look like with different assumptions? The table below includes actual statistics from 2025, Steamer's 2026 projections, and modified 2026 projections. Note the colours in the final projections section: Yellow assumes 2026 will be the same as 2025, green assumes the same as Steamer, and blue assumes extrapolation of 2025 over a higher number of PA. Some key thoughts about the modified projections: The revised projection assumes a regular outfield of Anthony Santander – Daulton Varsho – Nathan Lukes and an infield of Addison Barger – Andrés Giménez – Ernie Clement – Vladimir Guerrero Jr. George Springer is assumed to be the primary DH, and Alejandro Kirk the primary catcher. The bench is Tyler Heineman – Davis Schneider – Myles Straw – other. This revised projection agrees with Steamer that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. should do better in 2026 and assumes the same 153 wRC+ and 4.8 fWAR. This might be conservative; Vladdy earned 5.3 fWAR in 2024 and 6.3 in 2021, and he is still in his prime. Steamer assumes that George Springer will drop off a cliff, with his fWAR declining 50% from the 5.2 he earned in 2025 to only 2.6 in 2026. The modified projection agrees that his 2025 production might not be sustainable, but assumes that staying at DH continues to energize him and that his decline will only be to 4.0 fWAR. Alejandro Kirk is widely held to be one of the best defensive catchers in baseball. But while Steamer projects his wRC+ to increase from 116 to 122, it has his Def (defensive runs above average) declining from the 24.9 (!) he earned in 2025 to 6.4 in 2026. The revised projection assumes he maintains the same defensive stats as 2025 and that his wRC+ does not increase. Anthony Santander is difficult to project. He had a terrible 2025 due to injury, but averaged 2.7 fWAR from 2022-24. Steamer projects him for 1.0 fWAR in 2026, but the revised projection assumes he returns to his average levels with an fWAR of 2.5. Like Kirk, Andrés Giménez has been an elite defender for most of his career. From 2022-24, his 58 DRS led all of baseball. He had a poor 2025 due to injury, but his defense was still excellent when he took the field. Yet, Steamer projects him to struggle defensively in 2026 (although it does project his hitting to improve to a 95 wRC+). The last time Giménez had a 95+ wRC+ was in 2023, when he put up a 3.8 fWAR. And that was while he was playing second base, where the positional adjustment of +2.5 is substantially less than the +7.5 he will likely earn at shortstop in 2026. The revised projection assumes he returns to his 2023 form, without any positional bonus for moving to shortstop. Daulton Varsho is another Blue Jay difficult to project. He modified his swing in 2025, greatly increasing his power, but was limited to 271 plate appearances due to injury. Steamer projects his wRC+ to decline from 123 in 2025 to 100 and projects his Def to be negative (-1.2) – this despite Varsho being a perennial Platinum Glove candidate. The revised projection assumes that Varsho plays a full season at 2025 levels (this could be conservative, as his defensive WAR in 2025 was well below his historical standards). Steamer’s projections of Myles Straw and Ernie Clement are similar to the system's projections for Varsho in that they have assumed a dramatic decline in those players’ plus-level defense. The revised projection assumes that they will continue to produce at 2025 levels on both offense and defense. The revised fWAR projections for Addison Barger and Davis Schneider are essentially the same as Steamer's. So, What Does This Mean? In aggregate, the revised projection assumes that the Jays will earn 38 fWAR from position players currently on the roster, even without any additions. This would be an increase of roughly 5 fWAR from 2025. Of course, it is hard to make predictions – especially about the future. Key Jays players could be attacked by sentient suitcases, or ambushed by sprinkler heads, or they could get frostbite in August or fall victim to an imaginary spider attack. So, the revised projection, in assuming no injuries or dramatic declines in production, is in one sense optimistic. But the projection is conservative in some respects too, assuming a maximum of 550 plate appearances from Springer, Varsho and Barger, no breakout from Barger or Lukes, only a 98 wRC+ from Clement, and that Vladdy does not return to his 2021 form. The Bottom Line Nobody questions that more elite hitting is better than less elite hitting. But there is a difference between upgrading at a position of extreme weakness and upgrading at one of relative strength. Could this be why the Jays have not pulled the trigger on a mega-deal (free agent or trade) for hitting yet? Their current strength gives them the luxury of being opportunistic, and potentially even waiting until the midsummer trade deadline to shop at the lumber yard. View full article

I agree with Terry that I would prefer to take the last year of arb discount and see how DV does. If he regresses back to a pure leather-over-lumber CF, $25m AAV is too high. If he continues to excel at the plate, waiting could be a mistake - but sometimes the best moves are the ones you don't make. That said, Bob is right too - a fair contract right now, given the high upside created by DV's 2025 breakout, probably *is* in the $25m AAV range. But do the Jays want to pay that risk premium based on a single half-year plus hitting?

What are your thoughts about Varsho's batting breakthrough in 2025? Epiphany or blip? Certainly a .310 ISO *seems* unsustainable, but he has retooled his swing so it does not appear to be completely random ...

At the 2025 trade deadline, the Padres traded shortstop Leo De Vries (a top-10 prospect in all of MLB) and pitchers Henry Baez, Braden Nett and Eduarniel Núñez to the A’s for fireballer closer Mason Miller and solid starter JP Sears. It was widely regarded as a high price for the Padres to pay, but Miller was (and is) considered one of the best closers in baseball. This past season, his 15.18 K/9 and average fastball velocity of 101.2 mph were both the highest in the majors by comfortable margins, and his Stuff+ of 123 was fifth best among pitchers with at least 50 IP (the highest Stuff+ in 2025? New Jay Tyler Rogers with 128!) Among the main selling points for Miller are his team control and cost. He has just under three years of service time and is not expected to become a free agent until after the 2029 season. He will be in his first year of arbitration in 2026, with a projected salary (per MLB Trade Rumors) in the $3.4 million range. That's cheap for a top closer. Miller certainly sounds like a keeper. But Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller is unpredictable, so when rumours are being floated that he is in discussion with the Mets about a possible Miller deal, they can not be easily dismissed. But it raises the question: Should the Jays be in the Miller derby? Let’s start with the fit. A Blue Jays bullpen of Miller – Hoffman – Rogers – García – Varland – Lauer – Fluharty – Little (Ponce? Miles? Bastardo? Tiedemann?) would be one of the best (if not THE best) in baseball. And it would have the advantage of depth, with the top four all having closing experience. There is also a chance of Miller being converted back to a starting role, one he briefly held in his first season with the A's, putting up a very respectable 3.38 ERA and 3.49 xERA in four starts before suffering a UCL sprain. The Jays are said to be looking for arms "capable of starting". But stretching him out would be dangerous, given the stress that his extreme velocity places on his arm. His "mild" UCL sprain in 2023 led to a four-month stint on the injured list. The reward of trying to move him to the rotation might not outweigh the risk. So, what would the Padres be looking for in a Miller trade? Most writers agree that the Padres’ most immediate needs are two or three starting pitchers (with Dylan Cease lost and Yu Darvish hurt) and at least one power bat of the 1B/DH type (with Luis Arráez and Ryan O’Hearn both free agents). An uber-prospect to replace De Vries would also be welcome. The Jays do not have a prospect of De Vries’ calibre. As Trey Yesavage is likely off the table, the top prospect going back to the Padres would likely have to be Arjun Nimmala or JoJo Parker. For the first starting pitcher, the Jays might have to start with Eric Lauer. In 15 starts (74 IP) in 2025, he pitched to a 3.77 ERA. Alternatively, the Jays could offer José Berrós with cash to reduce his cost. For the additional pitcher(s), the Padres would likely expect arms with some MLB experience and upside, but with issues that would need to be resolved. Bowden Francis had a poor 2025, but in 13 starts (77 innings) in 2024, he had an outstanding 2.92 ERA and .221 OBP. Jake Bloss had Tommy John surgery in May 2025, but he was considered a top-100 prospect by FanGraphs before he went down, and he had a 3.18 ERA across the minors in 2024. And Ricky Tiedemann was ranked #22 on Baseball America's top 100 prospects list prior to the 2024 season. If the Jays did choose to include a slugger, it might make sense to discuss Anthony Santander (again, with a potential paydown). Santander had a poor 2025, largely due to injury, but from 2022-24, his 105 home runs were sixth in baseball, and his .234 ISO was top 20. If the Jays succeeded in signing Kyle Tucker, their outfield could be crowded (assuming Springer as the primary DH), with Daulton Varsho, Nathan Lukes, Davis Schneider, Joey Loperfido, and Myles Straw all competing for the remaining two outfield spots. And Santander projects better as a DH, which would perfectly fit San Diego’s needs. So, suppose the deal were Nimmala/Parker + Lauer/Berrios+$$$/Tiedemann + Bloss/Francis? Would the Padres accept? Or what if the Jays offered Francis + Berríos + Santander + $$$, possibly with an additional prospect? The Bottom Line It is always dangerous paying top dollar – whether in cash or in player capital – for a top reliever, as their performance can be unpredictable and inconsistent. But in Miller’s case, the talent is unquestionable. Is it high enough, and does a player who only pitches about 60 innings a year merit, the very high price the Jays would have to pay? View full article