Examining which former Blue Jays are set to become free agents this fall
Photo credit: © Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 30, 2026, 12:30 EDTUpdated: Sep 30, 2026, 11:31 EDT
Plenty of former notable Toronto Blue Jays players are set to hit free agency five days after a new World Series victor is crowned.
The Blue Jays have some players of their own set to become free agents in the next month: George Springer, Jameson Taillon, Shane Bieber, Yimi García, Max Scherzer, Paul Sewald, Patrick Corbin and Luis Urías. Bieber and Sewald are the most realistic candidates to bring back, though the Jays should have time for Springer and Scherzer if they wish to keep playing.
But what about former Blue Jays set to become free agents? Well, let’s take a look at some of the notable former Blue Jays who are set to become free agents this autumn.
Editor’s note: There are plenty of free agents like Rowan Wick, Rob Refsnyder, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Santiago Espinal, Luke Maile, and others who won’t be included in here.
Position players
If Bo Bichette becomes a free agent, he may just become the best bat available. After a terrific 2025, which was capped off by a three-run home run off Shohei Ohtani in Game 7 of the World Series, Bichette signed a massive contract with the New York Mets, a three-year deal worth $42 million annually that features opt-outs after each season.
Bichette had a tough first half to his season, posting just an 88 wRC+, but has turned it around in the second half. He had a particularly strong June and August, before an average September. We know how good Bichette can be, even with a tough season.
Sticking with former Blue Jays who were a part of the 2025 World Series run, Daulton Varsho didn’t have a great stretch with the Houston Astros after the trade. He’s currently in the playoffs, so we’ll see if he can bump up his stock. It can’t be understated how vital he was to the team’s success in the regular season in 2025.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa had a tough season with the bat, slashing just .242/.322/.311 with two home runs in 183 plate appearances with the Boston Red Sox. Another bench bat during the Blue Jays’ run, Ty France, had a career resurgence with the San Diego Padres. In 500 plate appearances, France slashed .295/.363/.502 with a career-high 21 home runs.
The last of the notable free agents is one of yesteryear, Randal Grichuk. Playing mainly for the Chicago White Sox, Grichuk slashed .287/.314/.566 with 15 home runs in 280 plate appearances this season. The 35-year-old mashes left-handed pitching and should be of interest for the Blue Jays this off-season.
Starting Pitchers
Back in 2021, Robbie Ray won the American League Cy Young with the Blue Jays. Afterwards, he signed a contract with the Seattle Mariners before bouncing around the west coast. This season, the lefty finished with a 3.59 ERA and 4.69 FIP in 165.2 innings of work. Ray’s strikeout numbers are down, owning a 19.9 strikeout rate, but he’s still been a solid pitcher the past few seasons.
After Ray’s departure, the Blue Jays turned to Kevin Gausman. Like Varsho, Gausman was traded before the trade deadline and has made the playoffs with the Chicago Cubs. Following the trade, he posted a 4.83 ERA and 4.33 FIP in 50.1 innings of work.
Chris Bassitt was a part of the 2025 Blue Jays’ rotation during the regular season, before moving to the bullpen for the American League Championship Series and the World Series. Last off-season, he signed a one-year deal with the Baltimore Orioles, where he finished with a 4.59 ERA and 4.31 FIP in 102 innings of work.
Eric Lauer pitched for the Blue Jays, but had a tough go of things before being designated for assignment. He hasn’t been much better with the Los Angeles Dodgers, posting a 4.50 ERA and 5.53 FIP in 72 innings of work. He had a strong 2025 season, but it’s been a rough contract year.
Foster Griffin pitched just two innings with the Blue Jays back in 2022, but he’s come over from Japan and has had a solid season. Split between the Washington Nationals and Cleveland Guardians, he has a 3.60 ERA and 3.96 FIP in 172.2 innings of work. It stands to reason the Jays could have some interest in the left-handed pitcher, as they reportedly did last off-season according to The Athletic’s Mitch Bannon.
Relief pitchers
There’s also some former Blue Jays relievers who are set to become free agents. Jason Adam is the best of the bunch, posting a 2.62 ERA and 4.85 FIP in 34.1 innings of work. He hasn’t posted an ERA above 3 since 2021, but his strikeout rate dipped drastically. Adam spent the 2019 season with the Blue Jays.
Ryan Yarbrough spent some time with the Blue Jays in 2024 following the trade deadline, posting a 2.01 ERA and 3.49 FIP in 31.1 innings of work. The southpaw has spent the past two seasons with the New York Yankees, where he has a 3.69 ERA and 3.45 FIP this season.
Another lefty who pitched in relief for the 2024 Blue Jays, Tim Mayza, had a solid season. In 67.1 innings of work with the Philadelphia Phillies, the veteran southpaw finished the regular season with a 3.48 ERA and 3.40 FIP.
Lastly, Jordan Romano had a solid bounce back season with the Colorado Rockies, finishing his season with a 4.21 ERA and 4.04 FIP in 25.2 innings with the team. His stint with the Los Angeles Angels didn’t go great, but it’s nice to see the Canadian find some success.
Cynthia Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, DFOEdmonton, and DFOCalgary. She can be followed on Twitter @CynthiaRDelaney.