As much as the Toronto Blue Jays’ front office is focused on adding an impact hitter this off-season, either in the form of re-signing Bo Bichette, landing marquee free-agent Kyle Tucker or a Plan C option that has yet to materialize, their biggest priority may actually be fortifying the starting rotation.

And not just for next season, but two, three, four (you see where this is going) years from now, too.

The current rotation for 2026 includes Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, Trey Yesavage, José Berríos and Eric Lauer. But there isn’t much certainty in terms of dependable depth beyond that starting five, with the likes of Bowden Francis, Adam Macko, Lazaro Estrada and Easton Lucas already on Toronto’s 40-man roster as options.

For a franchise aiming to build off its recent World Series run, there needs to be more upside added to that group before spring training arrives in roughly three months. Plus, another factor to consider is that this staff could look drastically different a year from now.

This time next winter, the Blue Jays will have Gausman (entering final season of five-year, $110-million contract), Bieber (triggered 2026 player option worth $16 million) and Lauer all reaching free agency, and Berríos could join them if he decides to opt out of the final two seasons of his seven-year, $131-million extension.

Meanwhile, Yesavage would be left to fend for himself among a massively depleted rotation heading into 2027 — vacancies that’ll coincide with a lacklustre free-agent crop of front-line starting pitchers (assuming Tarik Skubal is extended, either by the Tigers or another franchise). And there’ll be a looming CBA-expiring lockout to worry about then, as well.

Not only does Toronto need to acquire a starting pitcher who’ll bolster its staff in 2026, but, in a perfect world, he’s also someone capable of becoming part of the organization’s rotation core alongside Yesavage moving forward.

There are a few top-of-the-market hurlers available in free agency who fit that description, like Dylan Cease and Ranger Suárez, both of whom will enter their age-30 seasons in ’26. Japan’s Tatsuya Imai, who’ll turn 28 next May, would also align with the franchise’s long-term competitive window.

With immense salaries coming off the books after next season, the Blue Jays can afford to spend at the top of the starting pitching market this winter, maintaining their aggressiveness from previous pursuits of elite talents such as Max Fried, Corbin Burnes and Roki Sasaki last off-season, as well as two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto two winters ago.

That financial flexibility could also pave the way for an impact starting pitching trade for any team looking to unload a front-line starter who’s nearing free agency — Freddy Peralta, Joe Ryan, Pablo López, MacKenzie Gore, and Sandy Alcantara come to mind in that regard, none of whom will be older than 30 next season.

Coming away with any one of those talented arms would be a major win for Toronto. The best part about this situation is that management doesn’t have to act desperately, given they only have one rotation spot to fill thanks to Bieber’s team-friendly decision of forgoing free agency. Instead, they can be patient and let both markets develop before making a decisive move.

What that’ll ultimately be remains to be seen. Based on recent history, we may not know until late December or early January, the time when this front office has done most of its heavy lifting. When they do strike, though, being mindful of the bigger picture will be crucial.