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3 under-the-radar players the Blue Jays may target this off-season
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Photo credit: © John Jones-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Nov 30, 2025, 20:30 ESTUpdated: Nov 30, 2025, 20:51 EST
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The Toronto Blue Jays’ interest in the top players in free agency has been well documented.
From signing Dylan Cease last Wednesday, to being considered the “favourites” to sign Kyle Tucker, to being reported that the Jays have met with Edwin Díaz’s camp, it’s going to be a busy off-season for the Blue Jays.
You have to imagine that the Blue Jays are going to touch base with most free agents in every facet of the game. In this article, we’ll look at under-the-radar signings for a position player, a reliever, and a starter.

Yoán Moncada

The Blue Jays were linked to Yoán Moncada last off-season, but he ultimately signed with the Los Angeles Angels. When healthy, it was a good season for the third baseman, slashing .234/.336/.448 with 12 home runs in 289 plate appearances, with an 11.1 BB% and 26 K%.
It’s not hard to see a team sign Moncada based on the upside he once had. The Cuban was a top prospect at one point and had a strong season in 2019, batting .315/.367/.548 with 25 home runs in 559 plate appearances for a 139 wRC+.
Since then, he’s only played one full season (2021), where he had a 120 wRC+ thanks to 14 home runs in 616 plate appearances. The 2020, 20222, and 2023 seasons saw Moncada post a wRC+ below 100.
Moncada wouldn’t be Bo Bichette’s replacement, but the power off the bench makes him an intriguing low-end signing.

Luke Weaver

The Jays could end up with a new closer this off-season, but if they wish to improve their middle relief, Luke Weaver would be a great option. Weaver, 32, was selected 27th overall in the 2017 draft, but didn’t really put it together for the first eight seasons of his big league career.
In 2023, he had a 6.40 ERA and 5.61 FIP in 123.2 innings pitched between the Cincinnati Reds, Seattle Mariners, and New York Yankees. It was with the Yankees where he had a new lease on his career, as he posted a 2.89 ERA and 3.33 FIP in 84 innings pitched, with a 31.1 K% and 7.9 BB% in 2024.
Weaver served as the Yankees’ setup man this past season, at least in the first half, as he finished with 21 holds. When Devin Williams struggled early in the season, Weaver collected eight saves in 12 opportunities as well. As a whole, he had a 3.62 ERA and 3.89 FIP in 64.2 innings pitched, going from a multi-inning reliever to a one-inning reliever used in higher leverage, at least in the first half.
The 32-year-old is an extreme flyball pitcher, generating a ground ball rate of 27.4%. Throughout his career, the long ball has been an issue, as he has a 1.37 HR/9 in his career, with a 1.37 HR/9 in 2025. That said, Weaver generates a ton of chases outside of the zone and whiffs. Could be an interesting low-leverage guy.

Anthony Kay

As it stands, the Blue Jays don’t have a left-handed starter in their rotation. And they probably won’t unless they trade someone like José Berríos and continue to use Eric Lauer as a long man.
One interesting left-handed starter available on the market is actually a former Blue Jay, Anthony Kay. Acquired by the team ahead of the 2019 deadline alongside Simeon Woods Richardson for Marcus Stroman, Kay struggled throughout his big league career before being designated for assignment after the 2022 season.
After another subpar season in the major leagues, Kay went overseas to pitch for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Nippon Professional Baseball, winning the Japan Series in 2024 with the team.
Kay’s 1.74 ERA and 2.55 FIP in 155 innings pitched were fantastic, even if NPB is currently in a dead-ball era. One of Kay’s biggest issues in the big leagues was his walk rate (12% in 85.1 innings pitched), but he dropped it to 6.8%, while his K% stood at 21.5%.
The Jays would need to make quite a few external moves to bring in Kay, so it seems unlikely. That said, he’s one of the more intriguing left-handed starters on the market.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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