It has been just over five weeks since the Blue Jays fell to the Dodgers in Game 7 of the World Series, and as heartbreaking as that was, they are already making big moves this offseason to increase their chances at repeating as American League Champions. There was going to be a lot of work to do this offseason regardless of how their playoff run ended, but given how close they were to winning it all, the Jays appear to be determined to do whatever it takes to improve the club and bring a championship back to Toronto.
With the departures of Chris Bassitt and Max Scherzer, starting pitching was going to be a priority this offseason. They needed a front-line starter to pair with Gausman, and then ultimately replace him as his contract ends after next season. In a move that seemingly came out of nowhere, the Jays got their guy as they signed right-hander Dylan Cease to a 7-year, $210 million deal. This is the largest deal for a starting pitcher in franchise history, and reinforces the fact that the Jays are willing to spend big to make the team better.
Cease posted a 4.55 ERA last season with the Padres, but some underlying numbers would suggest he pitched better than the results would indicate. He had a K/9 of 11.5 last season, his fastball averages 97mph, and since 2021 has not missed a start. His strong durability and crazy strikeout capabilities are what makes him one of the best pitchers on the market and what played into the decision for the Jays to give him this big contract.
The Jays didn’t stop there as they have also signed RHP Cody Ponce to a 3-year, $30 million deal. Ponce pitched in Korea last season where he absolutely dominated. He posted an ERA of 1.89 with 252 strikeouts and was named the KBO’s MVP. He gives the Jays more starting depth, and in worst case, another strong strikeout pitcher in the bullpen. Pitching in Korea is different than pitching in MLB, but there have been plenty of MLB players who struggled in MLB at the start of their careers, went overseas, found success, and translated it back to America. Most notably for the Jays is Eric Laurer who was instrumental in the team’s success in 2025 after spending half of 2024 in the KBO.
With two big pitching moves out of the way, the Jays can turn their attention to bolstering the lineup. Bo Bichette is a free agent, so they have to find a way to replace his production, either by bringing him back, or acquiring a better replacement. The only free agent that would be considered better than Bo is Kyle Tucker; he is the top free agent on the market, and the Jays have been linked to him all offseason.
It was recently reported that Tucker visited the Jays in Dunedin at their Spring Training facility. As exciting as this news may appear, it is nothing more than standard practice when it comes to pursuing top free agents. However, what it does show is that the Jays are at least seriously considering the possibility of signing Tucker, if the price is right. Tucker is an All-Star caliber player and would make any team significantly better. He would give the Jays a left-handed hitting power outfielder who can also play gold-glove defence. He’s posted at least 4.6 WAR every season since 2021 and pairing him with Vladdy in the middle of the lineup could give the Jays one of the best one-two punches in the AL.
If the Jays fail to land Tucker, they need to seriously look at bringing Bo back regardless of the cost. He’s made it clear that he enjoys playing here and that he would love to spend his entire career playing with Vladdy. The two of them have essentially grown up together, as they have played their entire pro careers with each other, including the minors. Bo is still entering the prime of his career and has shown to be one of the best hitters in baseball. Had it not been for a knee injury that cost him the last month of the season, he likely would have led the AL in hits for the third time in his career. For a while it felt that the Jays had to choose between Vlad or Bo, but given how this season played out, I think there is now a real possibility of Bo staying. The excitement around the team during their postseason run and the idea that there is unfinished business, could make Bo lean towards staying even if the Jays aren’t the highest bidder.
Despite not winning the World Series, the incredible run they went on could have a strong impact on the way players view Toronto. It’s always mentioned as a great place to play as a visitor, but being in the same division as Boston and New York, may decrease your chances of winning. However, with Vladdy locked up, the team’s willingness to spend, and seeing the incredible culture and success this year, the tune around Toronto could be changing. It will still almost always come down to money, but Jays have shown a willingness to spend, and if the money is there, players may be looking at Toronto as a very enticing place to go because they believe they will have a legitimate shot at winning for the foreseeable future.
There hasn’t been this much excitement around the Blue Jays in many years, and there is no reason to think that the front office won’t do whatever it takes to make the team better. We are still over two months away from spring training, and there are a lot of moves to be made if the Jays want to not only get back to, but ultimately win the World Series. They are working on building something special in Toronto, and hopefully 2025 was just the beginning.