logo
5 bold predictions for the Blue Jays in 2026
alt
Photo credit: © Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
Ben Wrixon
Mar 7, 2026, 12:00 ESTUpdated: Mar 7, 2026, 09:28 EST
Comments
Baseball is a game of statistics, but it’s also a game of surprises, breakouts, disappointments, bounce backs—players deviating from expectations make the game so fun to watch. Not everything goes according to plan. 
So, with that in mind, here are five bold predictions for the Blue Jays in 2026. 
1: Dylan Cease will be a Cy Young Award finalist
Cease was the runner-up for the American League Cy Young in 2022 and finished fourth in the voting for the National League award in 2024. However, he’s coming off a season in which he posted a 4.55 ERA and 1.327 WHIP. The Blue Jays paid him $210 million because they believe his best is yet to come—and they’ll be proven right. 
Cease is going to dominate in 2026. Expect an ERA in the low threes, nearly 200 innings, and roughly 250 strikeouts. He’s coming for Tarik Skubal’s hardware. 
2: Anthony Santander gets left off the playoff roster
Santander’s recovery from his recent shoulder surgery is expected to sideline him until July or August. He’ll be dropping feet-first into intense competition against pitchers who are in mid-season form when he comes back. Not ideal. 
There simply won’t be enough runway for Santander to get back on track. The Blue Jays won’t give him a long leash to struggle while they’re in a playoff race, and come October, he won’t have shown enough to warrant a postseason roster spot. 
3: Jesús Sánchez crushes 20+ home runs in a career year
The decision to acquire Sánchez in exchange for Joey Loperfido was met with mixed reviews. Many fans lamented the front office’s decision to trade away a promising young player, but they will likely feel differently when they see what Sánchez does at the plate this season. 
Sánchez has been on the precipice of a breakout for years. He has elite bat speed and absolutely crushes the baseball when he makes contact. Hitting coach David Popkins is going to turn him into a monster—buckle up for a career-high in home runs. 
4: Jeff Hoffman doesn’t finish the season as the team’s closer
Hoffman’s struggles in 2025 were well-documented. Most thought the Blue Jays would be looking for a new closer this offseason, with general manager Ross Atkins suggesting Hoffman himself wouldn’t resist a change. The groundwork for a change has been laid. 
The Blue Jays will be hunting for an upgrade even if the right-hander pitches better in 2026. If a premier closer is available at the trade deadline, they will swing a deal to avoid a repeat of what happened in Game 7 of the World Series. However, even if they don’t go the trade route, Hoffman could still be supplanted by one of his teammates. 
5: The Blue Jays repeat as American League champions
While the New York Yankees may look better than the Blue Jays on paper in the loaded American League East, the boys in blue have proven they can handle their toughest division rival—and that they have a little playoff magic in them, too. 
This team will get back to the World Series on the strength of its much-improved starting pitching. It will be hard for any team to compete against Cease, Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, and Trey Yesavage in a playoff series. This quartet will get them through to the biggest stage for a chance at redemption after last year’s heartbreak. 

CHECK OUT OFF THE ROSTER – NEW EPISODES EVERY WEEKDAY

Off The Roster is Toronto sports. Hosted by Cabbie Richards, Lindsay Dunn, and Dan Riccio, this is the go-to morning conversation for everything happening in the 6ix – Hockey, Baseball, Basketball and everything in between. From breakout performances and questionable trades to throwback jerseys, viral moments, and the stories fans are actually talking about—it’s smart, sharp, and never scripted. Live weekday mornings on the Nation Network YouTube channel and available wherever you stream podcasts, the show delivers real opinions, real chemistry, and real Toronto energy. Missed an episode? Catch up anytime. Off The Roster—The new sound of the 6ix.

Featured

Editorials

Breaking News