logo
Looking at the Blue Jays’ 2026 draft situation after the flurry of free agent signings
alt
Photo credit: © Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Jan 18, 2026, 18:00 ESTUpdated: Jan 18, 2026, 17:05 EST
Comments
The Toronto Blue Jays 2026 draft situation is essentially settled.
With Bo Bichette departing, the Blue Jays will receive an additional draft pick in 2026, meaning it’s worth it to take a look at their draft situation. Of course, things can still change. If the Blue Jays were to sign either Zac Gallen or Framber Valdez, the latter they’ve been linked with recently, they’d lose two additional picks due to those two players declining qualifying offers.
But with their starting rotation all but settled, it just doesn’t seem likely. Dylan Cease was added earlier this off-season and because the Jays signed him, they’ve lost a couple of picks. Usually, a team just loses a second, but since the Blue Jays were taxpayers, they’ve lost both their second and fifth-round picks for the 2026 draft.
Last season, the competitive tax balance was $244 million, but since they were $40 million over that threshold, the Jays first-round pick has dropped back 10 spots. That means that their first-round pick is actually the 39th overall selection. Like 2025, the Blue Jays will be without a second-round pick, with the loss of last season’s draft due to signing Anthony Santander.
That didn’t stop them from having a strong draft in 2025, so neither should the loss of the 2026 second-rounder. Their next pick is in the third round, as they’ll select 105th overall. Again, this could change if they end up signing Valdez for some reason. It also may not be their next pick, as competitive balance round picks (after the first and second round) are eligible to be traded, but that is also not likely.
In the fourth round, the Jays selected 135th overall. Although they lost their fifth-round pick, they’ll essentially get it back with the compensation pick they received for Bichette signing with the Mets. Most teams that lose a player after giving them qualifying offer pick after the second round, but since the Blue Jays are taxpayers, it drops to after the fourth round.
They don’t have a fifth-round pick, and if they were to sign a second player with a qualifying offer, they won’t have a sixth-round pick either.
The 2026 draft will require the Blue Jays to be savvy, much like they have been the past three drafts. The good news is that they may have a bunch of picks in the 2027 draft. The Jays will almost certainly be over the second tax threshold to drop their first-round pick down 10 spots, but Shane Bieber and Daulton Varsho will be eligible for a qualifying offer, meaning that if they decline and sign elsewhere, the Jays will get a pick or two after the fourth-round.
José Berríos could also opt-out after the 2026 season and is eligible for a qualifying offer, but he’d have to have a career year to do so, which just doesn’t seem likely. Another method to acquiring an additional pick is if Trey Yesavage wins Rookie of the Year or finishes top 3 in MVP or Cy Young voting, the Jays will receive a pick after the first round, which will probably be their highest pick of the draft if that happens.
The draft is set to take place on Jul. 12 and Jul. 13 during All-Star weekend, in Philadelphia.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

Featured

Editorials

Breaking News