The
Toronto Blue Jays are officially watching the 2026 postseason from sunny vacation villas after a disappointing season. Injuries and poor performances torpedoed what was supposed to be a redemption season for a club that was just a few outs away from capturing a World Series championship just under a year ago.
Fear not, Jays fans. Should you wish to watch some former players on the big screen this upcoming week during the four different Wild Card series matchups, you are in luck – numerous former Jays are suiting up over the next few days.
Daulton Varsho – OF*
Houston Astros
Starting this one with an asterisk (no pun intended).
Daulton Varsho was traded to the Houston Astros at the 2026 trade deadline, and across 41 games, the outfielder posted a .172/.224/.311 slash line with a .535 OPS. He struggled to find any rhythm with Houston post-trade.
Things have turned even worse for the outfielder, as he landed on the IL last week with wrist inflammation. He likely won’t make the Astros Wild Card roster, but he could return if Houston makes it past the Chicago White Sox.
Ryan Yarbrough – LHP
New York Yankees
Soft-tossing southpaw Yabrough is heading back to the postseason with the Yankees after a quick stint with the Blue Jays back in 2024.
Pitching as a bulk reliever for the Yankees this season, Yarbrough pitched to a 3.69 ERA across 38 outings and 63.1 innings to the tune of a 1.216 WHIP.
Ali Sanchez – C
New York Yankees
Sanchez was a depth catcher for the Jays last season and suited up in eight games for the Jays amid the injuries to the catching staff.
He signed a minor league deal with the Yankees this year and has been with the big league squad since mid-June. Across 86 at-bats with the Yankees, Sanchez has posted a .244/.275/.302 slash line with two doubles and one home run while working in a back-up capacity.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa – INF
Boston Red Sox
Jays fans likely have some not-so-fond memories of
Kiner-Falefa from the 2025 postseason run. The veteran infielder will be looking to shake that off this time around with the Boston Red Sox.
Forearm inflammation limited him to just 66 games this season, and the right-handed bat posted a .653 OPS with 16 RBIs when healthy.
Jordan Hicks – RHP
Chicago White Sox
In his first season with the Chicago White Sox, Jordan Hicks has found himself in the bullpen once again after some soul-searching on the Giants and Red Sox rosters since pitching for the Jays in 2024.
This year, the right-hander owns a 3.94 ERA and a 3.64 FIP across 48 innings while walking batters at a 6.2 BB/9 clip compared to a 12.0 K/9.
Anthony Kay – LHP
Chicago White Sox
It’s been over four years since Anthony Kay last donned a Blue Jays jersey, and after some time spent in Japan to recraft his game, the left-hander has found himself back in the big leagues with the White Sox.
Through 33 outings (31 starts), Kay owns a 4.44 ERA through 158 innings, a career high for him on this side of the Pacific. He leads the league with 26 hit batters, but has been a staple for the White Sox rotation this year.
Trevor Richards – RHP
Chicago White Sox
That’s right – the Silver Fox is heading to the postseason.
Since pitching for Toronto back in 2024, Richards has suited up for the Twins, Royals, Diamondbacks, and Phillies before landing back with the White Sox in early May. Through 52 games with Chicago, Richards has found his groove again, allowing just 33 earned runs across 78.2 innings (3.78 ERA) while also striking out opposing batters at a 7.8 K/9 mark.
Randal Grichuk – OF/DH
Chicago White Sox
Speaking of old friends.
Randal Grichuk last suited up for the Blue Jays in 2021 and has bounced around a few teams before finding himself in Chicago in early May after being DFA’d by the Yankees.
Grichuk struggled with New York but has been a strong presence for the White Sox down the stretch, amassing a .299/.328/.598 slash line with 21 doubles, 15 home runs, a .926 OPS, and 44 RBIs through 234 at-bats. Not too shabby!
Jason Adam – RHP
San Diego Padres
Acquired by the Blue Jays just before the start of the 2019 season, he spent most of the year on the IL and in the minor leagues before he was called up to the big league squad in early August, appearing in 23 games before being non-tendered during the offseason.
Since then, Adam has split his time between Tampa Bay and San Diego, where he has become a key cog in the Padres bullpen. A shoulder strain and quad surgery limited him to 38 outings this season, with the right-hander pitching to a 2.62 ERA, 4.85 FIP, and a 1.165 WHIP through 34.1 innings.
Robbie Ray – LHP
San Diego Padres
It seems just like yesterday that Robbie Ray was dominating with the Blue Jays. After winning the AL Cy Young Award in 2021, Ray headed out west with the Mariners before being traded to the Giants during the 2023/2024 offseason. He would be moved again at the 2026 trade deadline to the Padres in exchange for two prospects.
Since joining San Diego, Ray has pitched to a 3-2 record and a 5.02 ERA across nine starts and 43 innings. Ray could be a factor for the Padres if the series goes to Game 3.
Ty France – INF
San Diego Padres
Ty France’s tenure with the Jays was brief after the 2025 trade deadline, appearing in just 37 games for the squad down the stretch.
France took his talents back out to San Diego on a short-term deal, and the first baseman didn’t disappoint. Through 440 at-bats, France amassed a .295/.363/.502 slash line with 24 doubles, 21 home runs, and 72 RBIs while posting a career high .865 OPS.
Samad Taylor – OF
San Diego Padres
Samad Taylor is a familiar name to those who have followed the Blue Jays’ farm system over the years.
He’s had a cup of coffee with the Royals and Mariners since 2023, but this past season, he appeared in a career high 47 games and 152 at-bats for the Padres, finishing the season with a .316/.390/.408 slash line with 13 stolen bases and a .798 OPS. He missed some time earlier this season with an oblique strain, but the Padres have to be happy with Taylor’s output on a MiLB deal.
Tim Mayza – LHP
Philadelphia Phillies
Old reliable – at one point, left-hander Tim Mayza was the longest-standing member on the Jays roster. After struggling to find his 2023 form, the Jays DFA’d the fan favourite, and he has pitched for the Yankees and Pirates before finding himself in the NL East with the Phillies.
This season, Mayza has rediscovered that same form that made him a popular figure with the Jays fanbase. Through 60 outings and 67.1 innings, Mayza pitched to a 3.48 ERA and a 3.40 FIP while striking out batters at an 8.6 K/9 clip and dropping his walk rate to a strong 2.4 BB/9. A go-to member in the Phillies bullpen, expect to see Mayza at some point during this series.
Matthew Boyd – LHP
Chicago Cubs
Once a highly touted prospect in the Blue Jays farm system, left-hander Matt Boyd was traded to the Detroit Tigers as part of the David Price deal at the 2025 trade deadline.
Now with the Chicago Cubs after stints with Detroit, Seattle, and Cleveland, the southpaw made 22 starts this season, pitching to a 3.91 ERA and a 4.21 FIP. Boyd will make the Game 1 start for the Cubs, as the former Jays hurler really found his stride as the season wore on.
Kevin Gausman – RHP
Chicago Cubs
After spending parts of five seasons with the Blue Jays, Gausman was dealt to the Cubs this past summer in exchange for two prospects. Since then, the right-hander has made nine starts for the Cubbies, allowing 27 earned runs through 50.1 innings (4.83 ERA) while striking out 57 batters (10.2 K/9) and walking just 11 (2.0 BB/9).
A fielding play late in the season has Gausman’s left shoulder banged up, so it will be interesting to see how he factors in the Cubs Wild Card plans. Manager Craig Counsell advised the media that Gausman will pitch during the Wild Card series, but didn’t elaborate on his defined role.
PRESENTED BY THE BLUEJAYSNATION NEWSLETTER
