Jump to content
Jays Centre
  • Create Account

  • Toronto Blue Jays Free Agent & Trade Rumors, Notes, & Tidbits

    The latest Toronto Blue Jays free agent and trade rumors, along with notes and tidbits about the team.
    Show all categories
    Leo Morgenstern
    The Blue Jays already have the kind of rotation depth most teams can only dream of, with Dylan Cease, Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, Trey Yesavage, Cody Ponce, José Berríos, and Eric Lauer on their starting pitching depth chart. Yet, Sportnet's Shi Davidi and Ben Nicholson-Smith suggest they might not be finished bolstering that group.
    According to Davidi and Nicholson-Smith, the Jays are "open to adding further pitching capable of starting." One name they're interested in – who should be 'capable of starting' – is Brad Keller. 
    The right-hander pitched out of the Cubs' bullpen in 2025, making 68 appearances with a 2.07 ERA and 2.93 FIP. However, he was primarily a starter for the first several years of his career. Pitching for the Royals from 2018-23, Keller started 114 games with a 4.28 ERA and 4.35 FIP. He averaged 5.2 IP per start.
    Last month, Joel Sherman of The New York Post reported that Keller was generating interest "as both a starter and reliever." It's not hard to see why. He revitalized his career as a full-time reliever last year. It's tantalizing to think about him maintaining some of that newfound dominance while taking on a starter's workload.
    For the Blue Jays, Keller would only transition back to the rotation as a last resort. In a best-case scenario, he would take on a high-leverage bullpen role and repeat his success from 2025. He would only need to stretch out if multiple names ahead of him on the depth chart suffered injuries. Still, the fact that he could stretch out in such a way would make him a nice insurance policy. 
    If Keller is looking for a team that's going to give him a guaranteed opportunity to start again, the Blue Jays are out of luck. But if he's willing to start the year in the bullpen while staying prepared to stretch out if needed, he could be just the pickup this pitching staff needs.
    Featured image courtesy of Matt Marton, Imagn Images.
    Leo Morgenstern
    According to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic, the Blue Jays are considering trading one of their surplus outfielders for a reliever. Rosenthal and Sammon named Nathan Lukes, Myles Straw, and Joey Loperfido as the most likely trade chips.
    Addison Barger, Davis Schneider, or even Daulton Varsho would bring back a stronger return, but that's precisely why the Jays would be less inclined to trade them. Varsho will be the everyday center fielder in 2026, while Barger and Schneider are promising bats with the flexibility to play both the infield and the outfield.
    Rosenthal and Sammon's report shouldn't come as a surprise. The Jays have a bit of a logjam as it is on their outfield depth chart, and they're likely to add at least one more bat before the offseason is done. Speaking to reporters, including our own John Bonnes, at the Winter Meetings, manager John Schneider said he'd like the team to add "a bat of some sort."
    Schneider also identified the arm barn as an area of need. He said that adding a "high-leverage bullpen arm" is a priority. So, it stands to reason that the team would look to solve two problems at once. GM Ross Atkins could clear up the outfield logjam and bolster the bullpen in one transaction. 
    Of course, that doesn't mean the Blue Jays will be eager to part with any of their outfielders. Lukes and Straw were key contributors to last year's squad. They would be missed on the field and in the clubhouse. Trading Loperfido would mean selling low on a former top prospect. 
    What's more, if Atkins is really hoping to land a high-leverage reliever, he would need to throw one or more prospects into a potential deal as well. 
    So, what do Jays fans think of this rumour? Will the team trade an outfielder this winter, and if so, which one? Share your thoughts in the comments.
    Featured image courtesy of Kevin Sousa, Imagn Images.
    Leo Morgenstern
    Shoulder and back injuries kept Anthony Santander out for most of the 2025 season and playoffs. It was a disappointing start to his Blue Jays tenure.
    From 2022-24, the man known lovingly as Tony Taters hit 105 home runs for the Orioles, posting a 123 wRC+ and 8.1 FanGraphs WAR. In his first year with Toronto, the switch-hitter swatted just six homers in 54 games, with a 61 wRC+ and -0.9 fWAR. However, the Jays are hoping a healthy Santander can look more like the Silver Slugger they signed to a five-year, $92.5 million contract last winter.
    Manager John Schneider addressed reporters on Tuesday at the Winter Meetings. DiamondCentric's John Bonnes was on hand for the event.
    "Tony is going to be huge for us," said Schneider. "He's a big part of what we're doing."
    The skipper continued, "I've told him this: 'I don't want you to think you have to do anything you don't do well. You don't have to come back and hit .300 with 50 homers to make up for last year.' We need Tony to fit in the way we know he can when we signed him."
    As for the shoulder subluxation that forced Santander to the injured list in May and the back tightness that forced him off the ALCS roster in October, Scheider doesn't seem to be concerned.
    "Shoulder is good. Back is good. He's just feeling normal,"  the manager explained. He went on to express hope that Santander will have a regular spring training. Schneider acknowledged that the veteran is a "notorious slow starter," but seemed optimistic that he can "hit the ground running" in 2026.
    Featured image courtesy of Dan Hamilton, Imagn Images.
    Leo Morgenstern
    Earlier this afternoon, Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider told reporters at the Winter Meetings (including our own John Bonnes) that his coaching staff for 2026 has been finalized.
    "We have filled [the] assistant hitting coaching job," he said. "We have kind of backfilled [former bench coach Don Mattingly's] spot in a variety of ways. I'm giving those guys time to finalize with the teams they were with, and you'll have that full list really soon. One is internal, and two from outside."
    Sportnet's Shi Davidi reports that former White Sox catching coach Drew Butera is one of the two external additions. The other is former Rangers minor league hitting director Cody Atkinson, according to Mitch Bannon of The Athletic. Bannon also notes that Eric Duncan was promoted to the major league coaching staff from within the organization. He was previously Toronto's director of position player development.
    Presumably, Atkinson is the new assistant hitting coach, but it is not yet official what roles any of the Blue Jays' new coaches will be taking on.
    Jesse Burrill
    One of the smaller questions surrounding the Blue Jays has been answered this week. On Tuesday, Ross Atkins addressed the media at the Winter Meetings, and among the many topics he covered was the future role of right-hander Louis Varland. He will remain in the bullpen and will not be stretched out as a starter in 2026 (per Sportsnet). 
    Varland was acquired at the trade deadline and appeared in 23 regular season games with the Blue Jays, posting a 4.94 ERA with 28 strikeouts. He followed that with an MLB-record 15 postseason appearances, delivering a 3.94 ERA and 17 strikeouts.
    There had been some early offseason chatter that Varland may be stretched out as a starter, as he made 23 starts over four seasons in Minnesota, but after the Blue Jays signed Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce earlier this offseason, they are opting to keep Varland in a relief role.
    The Blue Jays' bullpen remains in flux; Nick Sandlin and Yariel Rodríguez have already been removed from the roster, and more moves are expected. For now, it's a safe bet to pencil Varland into one of the club's eight bullpen spots for 2026.
    Featured image courtesy of Brad Penner, Imagn Images.
    Brock Beauchamp
    Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet has reported that the Blue Jays are interested in Robert Suarez, one of the top relievers in this free agent class. Nicholson-Smith says that the interest has not yet moved into negotiations.
    The 2025 Blue Jays bullpen finished the regular season with a bullpen FIP- of 94, ranked 5th among MLB relief units. Jeff Hoffman handled the ninth inning, with Seranthony Domínguez, Yariel Rodríguez, Louis Varland, and Brendon Little working the highest-leverage situations. Over the final month of the regular season, Toronto relievers posted a 3.42 ERA and 3.60 FIP, ranking ninth and seventh in the league, respectively. 
    Suarez has four MLB seasons with San Diego, beginning in 2022. From 2022 through 2025, he threw 210 innings, striking out 219 batters. In 2025, he appeared in 70 games and pitched 69 2/3 innings, with a 2.97 ERA, 2.88 FIP, 75 strikeouts, and 40 saves.
    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.
    Leo Morgenstern
    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.
    Bob Ritchie
    On December 2, the Toronto Blue Jays announced that their seven-year, $210 million contract with Dylan Cease had been finalized. Today on X, the New York Post's Jon Heyman reported the financial structure of the deal.
    When the Cease deal was first reported, pending the results of a physical, it was widely believed that the contract included deferrals. According to Heyman and others, the total amount deferred will be $64 million. The salary to be paid from 2026-2032 is $123 million, plus a $23 million signing bonus. Also, the contract contains a limited no-trade clause. The timing of the deferred payments Toronto will make to Cease was not reported. 
    The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported that the AAV of the deal was close to $27 million ($189 million divided by seven). That would make the present value of the deferrals for Competitive Balance Tax (“CBT”) purposes approximately $43 million ($189 million less $146 million in salary and bonus).
    It should be noted that under the CBA, teams must fund a deferral by the second July 1 following the season in which the deferral was earned. In other words, Toronto would have to fund the $10 million deferral for 2026 by July 1, 2028. The amount funded is the present value of the deferred amount using a 5% discount rate. A rough estimate is that Toronto's first funding payment will be approximately $7.5 million.
    From the team’s perspective, the primary advantage of deferrals is the reduction of the AAV used for CBT purposes. Given that Toronto pays the CBT, every little bit helps! 
    Featured image courtesy of Denis Poroy, Imagn Images.
    Matthew Lenz
    As has been the case since basically day one of the offseason, the Toronto Blue Jays have been and will continue to be one of the most aggressive teams in the trade and free agent market. After landing Dylan Cease via free agency, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet reports that they may not be done adding to the rotation.
    In a recent column, Nicholson Smith reported that the team has remained "engaged with the starting pitching market" and named Michael King, Chris Bassitt, Max Scherzer, and Cody Ponce as potential free-agent targets. Additionally, he identifies starters Joe Ryan of the Minnesota Twins and MacKenzie Gore of the Washington Nationals as trade targets, both of whom they discussed at the 2025 deadline. In short, it doesn't sound like anyone is out of sight when it comes to bolstering their starting rotation for 2026.
    Despite a current rotation of Cease, Trey Yesavage, Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios, and Eric Lauer, the Blue Jays know starting pitching depth is essential to another World Series run. Nicholson-Smith points out that 10 of the 12 playoff teams had at least six pitchers make 10 or more regular-season starts, including their World Series teams, who had seven such pitchers.
    Who do you think the Blue Jays should target for their rotation? Let us know in the comments!
    Leo Morgenstern
    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.
    Leo Morgenstern
    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.
    Bryan Jaeger
    With December's Winter Meetings approaching, free agency rumors around the Blue Jays are intensifying. The central question is whether Bo Bichette will be re-signed. If he doesn't return, a significant void arises in the batting order, and urgent solutions will be needed.
    Jeff Passan of ESPN reports the Blue Jays want a left-handed hitter to pair with Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
    Kyle Schwarber and Kyle Tucker have been suggested, but they are widely sought after, and each could earn about $34–36 million annually. The Blue Jays may look at less expensive options after losing out on top talent in recent offseasons, including Shohei Ohtani, Roki Sasaki, Corbin Burnes, Max Fried, and Juan Soto.
    Passan now links the Blue Jays to Cody Bellinger as a more affordable option than Schwarber or Tucker. DiamondCentric projects a six-year, $130 million contract for Bellinger. Last season with the New York Yankees, he hit .272/.334/.480 with 89 runs, 29 home runs, 98 RBIs, an .814 OPS, and a 125 wRC+. He can play any outfield position or first base, though the team values Guerrero's glove at first. George Springer will likely remain the primary designated hitter to stay healthy.
    The Blue Jays' outfield is crowded with Nathan Lukes, Daulton Varsho, and Anthony Santander returning. However, with Varsho's and Santander's injury histories, a healthier option would be a smart addition, and Lukes can come off the bench. Bellinger has played at least 130 games in each of the last four seasons. As the World Series showed, the Blue Jays need more offense, and if Bichette doesn't return, Bellinger could fill the resulting production gap.
    Featured image courtesy of Brad Penner, Imagn Images.
    Bryan Jaeger
    The Blue Jays' number five prospect, Ricky Tiedemann, was Rule 5 eligible and was headed for the Rule 5 draft on December 10. However, the Blue Jays protected him by adding him to the 40-man roster. The 23-year-old had impressive first two MLB seasons, posting a 2.17 ERA over 78 2/3 innings in 2022 and a 3.68 ERA over 44 innings in 2023. He missed most of the 2023 season due to a biceps injury.
    He was still dealing with the injury at the start of the 2024 season. In July, he left a game due to another injury and subsequently required Tommy John surgery. This surgery caused him to miss the remainder of 2024 and the entire 2025 season while recovering.
    Being added to the 40-man roster shows the Blue Jays have MLB plans for Tiedemann next season. The team could use a fifth starter instead of Eric Lauer, and Tiedemann could take his spot as the lefty in the rotation. If the prospect can replicate his early success in spring training next season, he could make the Opening Day roster. This decision will also depend on the Blue Jays' offseason moves. Tiedemann could also be a late-season call-up, following the Trey Yesavage path, and join for the postseason run if needed.
    Leo Morgenstern
    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.
    Matthew Lenz
    With a bevy of relief pitchers on the 40-man roster, the Toronto Blue Jays have effectively non-tendered one who was in his arbitration years.
    According to the Blue Jays' official transaction log, pitcher Nick Sandlin has been outrighted by the team. MLB Trade Rumors projected the righty to earn $2 million via arbitration. The Jays now have 37 players on their 40-man roster.
    Sandlin, acquired via trade about a year ago, made 19 appearances, throwing 16 1/3 innings in 2025. Injuries limited his availability and likely his productivity.
    So, do you think he'll choose free agency or accept his assignment to the minor leagues? Let us know what you think in the comments!
    Featured image courtesy of Eric Canha, Imagn Images.
×
×
  • Create New...