Leo Morgenstern

Add the Toronto Blue Jays to the list of teams that have checked in on six-time NPB All-Star Kazuma Okamoto. In addition to the Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates, the Blue Jays reportedly have interest in signing the slugging infielder, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Okamoto, 29, is DiamondCentric's no. 15 free agent this winter, projected to sign a four-year, $68 million contract. He has been one of NPB's most prolific sluggers over the last eight years, leading the Central League in home runs three times. Some evaluators have questions about his third base defense, suggesting he really belongs at first base or DH, but he would need to stick at the hot corner to make sense for the Blue Jays. The Yomiuri Giants posted Okamoto in mid-November, giving him until January 4 at 5:00 pm ET to sign with an MLB club. That date is significant, because the Blue Jays might not know by then whether or not they will be able to re-sign star shortstop Bo Bichette. So, what do you think about this rumour? Would you like to see the Blue Jays pursue Okamoto, or should they look elsewhere to upgrade the offense? Voice your thoughts in the comments below. Featured image courtesy of Darren Yamashita, Imagn Images. View full rumor

After signing Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce to kick off their offseason, the Blue Jays find themselves with a surplus of starting pitchers. Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, and Trey Yesavage are locks for the 2026 rotation, as is Cease. That leaves one spot left for Ponce and José Berríos, unless the Jays are planning to use a six-man cycle. Berríos, who has started more games than any other pitcher in MLB over the last eight years, has three years and just over $64 million remaining on his contract. Yet, it seems unlikely the Jays would have committed $30 million to Ponce, the reigning KBO MVP, if they weren't going to give him a chance to start. One way to clear up the rotation logjam could be a trade, and to that point, The Athletic's Mitch Bannon reports that the Blue Jays are "willing to listen" to trade offers for Berríos. That doesn't mean a deal is likely, especially since Berríos is coming off a down year that ended with an elbow injury. In other words, it might be hard to find a taker for the veteran and his contract. Still, a Berríos trade is now a possibility that Jays fans must at least consider. So, do you think the Jays should shop Berríos? Which teams do you think might be interested, and what would you be looking for in return? Have your say in the comments below! Featured image courtesy of John E. Sokolowski, Imagn Images. View full rumor

Last week, my boss here at DiamondCentric asked me to prepare “a truly killer piece” for the Monday after American Thanksgiving. Well, here goes. You’ve seen a lot of articles on our website about Bo Bichette lately. The general consensus? The Blue Jays need to do whatever it takes to re-sign him. Sure, we’ve considered backup plans, but they’re backup plans for a reason. Bringing Bo back is the goal. But maybe it shouldn’t be. I started writing this article just to see if I could. I wasn’t always planning to publish it. After all, I’ve been calling on the Jays to re-sign Bichette as much as anyone. I didn’t want to write this title if it was only going to be clickbait. I needed to find an argument I believed in. Before long, I’d found several. Now, I should mention that I started writing this article early last week, before the Blue Jays signed Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million contract. My primary argument, at the time, was that signing a pitcher like Cease should be Toronto's number one priority. I'm feeling pretty good about that argument right now. Here's what I wrote: ***** Toronto’s top priority this winter absolutely needs to be pitching. The 2025 Blue Jays' offense was one of the best in the league, even subtracting Bichette’s performance. The pitching staff, on the other hand, was closer to average (if not slightly below) with a 4.19 ERA (19th) and 11.7 FanGraphs WAR (21st). To be fair, those stats are full of noise. More than a quarter of last year’s innings went to pitchers no longer in the organization, while arms like Trey Yesavage and Louis Varland should play much bigger roles in 2026. So, perhaps a better way to explain why the Blue Jays need pitching is to lay out their projected lineup and pitching staff for next season. Let’s start with the position players: Position Projected Starter C Alejandro Kirk 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 2B Ernie Clement SS Andrés Giménez 3B Addison Barger RF Anthony Santander CF Daulton Varsho LF Nathan Lukes/Davis Schneider DH George Springer That’s a complete lineup. Is it a great lineup? No. Bichette’s absence leaps off the page. But there is at least an average major leaguer at every position. I can’t say the same for the starting rotation: Position Projected Pitcher SP1 Kevin Gausman SP2 Shane Bieber SP3 Trey Yesavage SP4 José Berríos SP5 Eric Lauer Kevin Gausman is a great pitcher, but for a team with World Series aspirations, he’s ideally a number two starter, not an ace. He’ll also be 35 next year. Shane Bieber has that ace upside, but he hasn’t pitched a full season since 2022, and the Bieber we saw last year looked more like a mid-rotation arm. Trey Yesavage remains something of a question mark. Could he blossom into Toronto’s ace? If last October was any indication, the answer is an emphatic yes. But that’s his ceiling, not his 50th percentile projection. As is the case with Bieber, a mid-rotation arm is the expectation here, and anything more is gravy. As for José Berríos, I think we’re looking at a back-end innings eater as the most likely outcome in 2026 – presuming his elbow is healthy enough for him to keep racking up innings. Once again, the upside for more is there, but the version of Berríos we saw last season isn’t someone you want starting a postseason game. Finally, we come to Eric Lauer, who simply cannot have a guaranteed role in Toronto’s rotation if this team is serious about returning to the World Series. It’s not that he wasn’t great last season, but he has not proven he can hold down a full-time starting job. On top of that, he’s more valuable as a swingman; the Jays should plan to use him as a multi-inning lefty in the bullpen, but he will inevitably move into the rotation at some point as injuries pop up. All that to say, the Blue Jays would benefit tremendously from adding a true ace to put at the top of their rotation, sliding everyone else down a spot. No single addition at any position would improve this team more than adding, say, Dylan Cease (Editor's Note: ding ding ding!), Tatsuya Imai, Framber Valdez, or Ranger Suárez (DiamondCentric’s top four free agent starters). If the Blue Jays want to get back to the playoffs and challenge for another title, bringing in a new number one starter should be their number one priority. ***** Well, mission accomplished! So what now? The Blue Jays should have plenty of Mr. Rogers’ money to spend after their hugely successful run to the World Series. They can still afford to re-sign Bichette after landing Cease. But I haven’t talked about the bullpen yet. This ‘pen needs help: Position Projected Pitcher CL Jeff Hoffman RP Louis Varland RP Yimi García RP Brendon Little RP Braydon Fisher RP Yariel Rodríguez RP Mason Fluharty RP Tommy Nance After Jeff Hoffman and Louis Varland, I’m varying degrees of nervous about every player in that table. And considering the only two names I feel good about are Hoffman, who gave up more homers than any other AL reliever last year, and Varland, who only has one season of experience as a full-time reliever, this is clearly a high-volatility group. It’s not that there’s nothing to like about this bullpen. Every one of those pitchers flashed great stuff at some point in 2025. The problem is that relievers are wildly unpredictable, and this group especially so. Thankfully, the Jays have options. Or, I should say, Brendon Little, Braydon Fisher, and Mason Fluharty have options, as does Varland. In addition, Tommy Nance is a DFA candidate. So, GM Ross Atkins has the flexibility to add several arms to this bullpen. He could (and should) go after one of the big-name free agent closers: Edwin Díaz, Devin Williams, or Robert Suarez. He could (and should) also pursue one or two more proven veterans, such as Seranthony Domínguez, Emilio Pagán, or Tyler Rogers. Bo Bichette is a more valuable player than anyone Atkins could add to the bullpen. I’d rank him above anyone they could have signed for the rotation too, be it Cease, Valdez, Imai, or Suárez. That’s why he’s the No. 2 free agent on DiamondCentric’s top 50. Yet, a starter like Cease knocking Lauer out of the rotation or, say, a closer like Díaz knocking Nance out of the bullpen would improve this team more than Bichette taking playing time away from the likes of Clement/Barger/Schneider/Lukes. It’s not just a question of who the Jays are adding; who they’re replacing matters just as much. Of course, Toronto’s front office should have the resources to prioritize improving the rotation, the bullpen, and the lineup equally. Even so, I could argue that Bichette shouldn’t be Toronto’s top target. Why? Because he’s only No. 2 on DiamondCentric’s top 50 free agents list, and the Blue Jays have the money, the clout, and the roster flexibility to set their eyes on No. 1. Kyle Tucker is the best free agent on the market. We’re projecting him to sign a 10-year, $360 million deal. That’s more than twice the guaranteed money we’re projecting for Bichette (seven years, $175 million). That massive contract projection is a reflection of Tucker’s MVP-caliber talent. As much as I love Bo, it’s hard to argue that Tucker isn’t the superior player. He won’t hit for quite as high an average, but his power, discipline, and speed are superior, as is his defense, albeit at a less valuable position. Tucker would also be a better fit for Toronto’s lineup. The Jays’ two best hitters, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and George Springer, both hit right-handed. They have plenty of lefties, but no one who’s a sure thing to make a serious impact from the left-hand side. Turning to defense, adding Tucker would mean Barger and Schneider would see more of their reps in the infield, while Lukes would be relegated to a smaller role. But none of that is meaningfully different from what would be the case if the Jays signed Bichette – just replace the word “infield” with “outfield.” Ross Atkins finds himself in the best position he’s ever been in to convince ownership to spend big and convince superstar free agents to sign north of the border. He needs to capitalize. Re-signing Bo Bichette would be a great move. The Blue Jays would be far better with him than without him, and the fans would be thrilled to have him back. At the same time, re-signing Bichette isn’t the best move Atkins can make. There are other ways he can improve his team even more, and he needs to consider all of them. (Signing Cease was one such move.) So, I’m not saying no to Bo. But maybe re-signing him isn’t the absolute, ultimate, be-all end-all, must-do, no question top priority we’ve been treating it as. Maybe there’s another path. View full article

Speaking on MLB Network yesterday, Jon Morosi reported that the Arizona Diamondbacks are "actively listening" to trade offers for All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte. He added that no deal is imminent, but multiple teams have checked in, including the Philadelphia Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays. As Morosi points out, Marte has limited no-trade rights in his contract with Arizona (a deal that runs through 2030, with a player option for 2031). However, neither Philadelphia nor Toronto is on the list of teams to whom he could reject a trade. So, how do Jays fans feel about the club potentially trading for Marte? Do you think it's a realistic possibility? Would you be happy to have Marte in Toronto if it means Bo Bichette is signing elsewhere? Have your say in the comments below. Featured image courtesy of Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images. View full rumor

This afternoon, the Toronto Blue Jays announced they had placed left-handed pitcher Easton Lucas, 29, on unconditional release waivers. This will free up another space on the 40-man roster, giving the front office three open spots to work with. Lucas made his MLB debut with the Athletics in 2023 and bounced from the A's to the Tigers to the Blue Jays in 2024. He made a pair of excellent starts for Toronto this past April, striking out 11 in 10.1 scoreless innings. Unfortunately, he struggled after those two outings and could not stick with the major league club. As is often the case when a team releases a player seemingly out of nowhere, it is believed that the Blue Jays granted Lucas his release so he could sign a contract with a foreign professional team (per Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith). According to reporter Francys Romero, that team will be in Japan's NPB. Featured image courtesy of Mitch Stringer, Imagn Images. View full rumor

In a move that's more procedural than anything else, Bo Bichette officially rejected his $22.025 million qualifying offer this afternoon. He is expected to sign a long-term, nine-figure contract in free agency – far more than the value of the QO. So, his decision today comes as no surprise. Now that Bichette has rejected the offer, the team that eventually signs him – unless it's the Blue Jays – will have to forfeit a draft pick (and possibly also international bonus pool space). Speaking to our own John Bonnes at the GM Meetings, Ross Atkins made it clear that the Jays are interested in re-signing Bichette. However, they will have competition. Most recently, the Red Sox have emerged as a potential suitor for his services (per Rob Bradford of WEEI.com). Featured image courtesy of Nick Turchiaro, Imagn Images. View full rumor

Major League Baseball introduced a brand-new award last night and bestowed the inaugural prize on Toronto Blue Jays superstar Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Vladdy is MLB's very first Entertainer of the Year. It's a well-deserved honour for one of the most delightful personalities in the sport, both on the field and off. Guerrero was not present at the awards show on Thursday, so his godfather, Hall of Famer Pedro Martínez, accepted on his behalf. In other Blue Jays awards news, Guerrero was also named to the All-MLB First Team, winning over Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz. In even more of a surprise, Bo Bichette earned Second Team honours, beating out shortstops like Geraldo Perdomo, Trea Turner, Francisco Lindor, and Jeremy Peña. Featured image courtesy of Nick Turchiaro, Imagn Images. View full rumor

Speaking to DiamondCentric's John Bonnes at the GM Meetings on Wednesday, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said the Jays "definitely, definitely have interest" in extending Daulton Varsho, who is entering his final season of arbitration eligibility. "The interest is definitely there," said Atkins. "I can't say enough about Daulton, the player, the person, the teammate. He checks all the boxes we're looking for." The GM did not want to speak about any potential negotiations, but from his tone, it certainly seems like an extension for Varsho will be one of the team's priorities this winter. Varsho, widely considered one of the best defensive outfielders in the league, is coming off an injury-shortened but highly promising 2025 campaign. Tapping into his power like never before, he hit 20 home runs in 71 contests, with a career-best .833 OPS, .341 xwOBA, and 123 wRC+. He finished with 2.2 fWAR and 2.8 bWAR in less than half a season of games. Featured image courtesy of Kiyoshi Mio, Imagn Images. View full rumor

The AL Silver Slugger Award winners were announced on Friday, with George Springer taking home the prize at DH. This is his third career Silver Slugger, after previously winning in 2017 and '19 with the Astros. Springer led the AL's primary designated hitters in home runs (32), runs scored (106), stolen bases (18), and FanGraphs WAR (5.2). His victory over fellow finalists Yandy Díaz and Brent Rooker comes as little surprise. Springer was also a finalist for a Silver Slugger as an outfielder but lost to Aaron Judge, Riley Greene, and Byron Buxton. Toronto's other two finalists, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette, came up short as well, with Nick Kurtz claiming the honors at first base and Bobby Witt Jr. winning at shortstop. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays lost the Silver Slugger Team of the Year Award to the Yankees, who won for the second year in a row. Featured image courtesy of John E. Sokolowski, Imagn Images. View full rumor

To no one's surprise, the Blue Jays have extended the $22.025 million qualifying offer to All-Star shortstop Bo Bichette. Bichette technically has until November 18 to decide whether or not to accept the offer, but it's all but a guarantee that he will reject it and seek a long-term contract in free agency. Once he rejects the offer, any team that signs Bichette – except for the Blue Jays – will have to forfeit a draft pick (and possibly also international bonus pool space). That could give Toronto a leg up on the competition for his services. Featured image courtesy of John E. Sokolowski, Imagn Images. View full rumor

Don Mattingly is leaving the Blue Jays. As first reported by the New York Post's Jon Heyman, Mattingly, who served as Toronto's bench coach for the past three seasons, is stepping down from his role. However, he is not yet retiring and would consider taking on a role with a new team. To that point, Phillies insider Jim Salisbury reports that Philadelphia has had internal discussions about bringing Mattingly on as a bench coach. It's not yet clear if Mattingly would be willing to take on the same role with a new organization. Featured image courtesy of John E. Sokolowski, Imagn Images. View full rumor

Great point. Although different sources seem to have different ideas about the exact yearly breakdown of what Vladdy is earning. This Sportsnet article from April suggests he's only earning a $13M signing bonus and $17M salary (total $30M), which would actually be significantly less than he made in 2025 ($28.5M salary + $20M signing bonus). But RosterResource says he's making $40.2M in 2026. It's all complicated, but ultimately, I'm just glad we can come back to that idea that ownership won't be hand-wringing over dollars and cents for next year's payroll. Hopefully, there's quite a bit of money freed up from last year, but even if there isn't, the FO should be aggressive.

The Blue Jays ran a record-high payroll in 2025. According to Cot’s Contracts, their final commitment came in just over $254 million, and just under $279 million for luxury tax purposes. Only four teams, the Dodgers, Mets, Yankees, and Phillies, spent more. Toronto’s payroll estimates from RosterResource were a little higher ($258 million and $283 million, respectively), but the overarching point remains: The Blue Jays spent more money on player salaries in 2025 than ever before. And it worked. That record-high payroll carried the Jays to their most successful season in more than thirty years. Now, just days after that magical season came to a disappointing close, it's already time to talk about what the payroll will look like in 2026. The Blue Jays have a good deal of money coming off the books this winter, with Chris Bassitt ($22M), Bo Bichette ($17.6M), Max Scherzer ($15.5M), Seranthony Domínguez, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and Ty France (about $4M combined) hitting free agency. Shane Bieber (about $3M) will presumably join them. (Scratch that!) Others like Chad Green ($10.5M), Erik Swanson ($3M), and Spencer Turnbull ($1M), who Toronto cut earlier in the season, have also collected their final paychecks from the Blue Jays organization. Several players still under contract are due raises in 2026, which will cancel out some of the savings from those expiring contracts. The biggest raise (almost $12 million) is for Vladimir Guerrero Jr., whose 14-year, $500 million extension officially kicks in next year. Andrés Giménez ($5M raise), Jeff Hoffman ($5M), Alejandro Kirk ($4.1M), Anthony Santander ($3M), and Myles Straw ($1M) will also earn pay bumps, as will arbitration candidates Eric Lauer (estimated $2.6M raise), Ernie Clement ($2.33M), Daulton Varsho ($1.5M) Nick Sandlin ($370K), and Tyler Heineman ($219K). So, RosterResource currently estimates a $219 million payroll for the Blue Jays in 2026 – $39 million below their final figure from 2025. However, keep in mind, that $219 million figure uses the estimated arbitration salaries from MLB Trade Rumors and presumes the Jays will tender contracts to both Sandlin and Ryan Burr, which is no guarantee. My guess is they’ll keep Sandlin and non-tender Burr, so I’ll go with that for the sake of this article. Subtracting Burr would bring the RosterResource estimate down by about one million. But that total doesn’t line up with my own calculations, which I came to using the individual numbers from RosterResource. The sum of all of Toronto’s guaranteed contracts on RosterResource is about $201.9 million. Add another $21.4 million for arbitration salaries, and you get $223.3 million. Combine that with RosterResource’s estimated $12.5 million for pre-arb salaries, and the total is just under $236 million. The difference between $236 and $218 million is a lot more than just chump change; that's a mid-rotation starter right there. As for the luxury tax, the Blue Jays either finished just above or just below the third tier of penalties in 2025, depending on whose estimate you look at. Next year, the third threshold climbs to $284 million. If RosterResource is correct, the Blue Jays have more than $50 million of room before they hit that point. Though in truth, I think they have a bit less to play with than RosterResource suggests. Thankfully, the exact numbers probably don't matter all that much. The Blue Jays proved in 2025 that they have the resources to be one of the top spenders in the sport, and that was before they made it to the World Series. Rogers earned a ton of extra revenue this October – almost half the country tuned in to Game 7 at one point or another – and they should have every incentive to pour that money back into the team. (It's almost as if spending money on talented players is good for business. Who could have guessed?) So, Ross Atkins and his front office really should have all the flexibility they need this winter as they work to re-sign Bichette, replenish the rotation, and upgrade the bullpen in an effort to build an even stronger contender in 2026. It might take another record-high payroll, but that shouldn't be a problem – ownership can and should make it happen. View full article