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Looking at the Blue Jays’ starting pitching depth heading into 2026
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Photo credit: © John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Nov 25, 2025, 16:45 ESTUpdated: Nov 25, 2025, 16:48 EST
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Starting pitching is the Toronto Blue Jays’ biggest priority this off-season.
There’s a handful of notable starters available in free agency: Michael King, Dylan Cease, Tatsuya Imai, Framber Valdez, and a few others. The Blue Jays have an incentive to sign a starter because there’s a possibility that Trey Yesavage is the only starter under contract heading into 2027, with Shane Bieber and Kevin Gausman’s deal expiring, and José Berríos can opt out.
It’s not something the Jays can kick the can on, as the 2026/27 free agency is a weak one, with Tarik Skubal being the best starter of the bunch. Signing a starter to term is of utmost importance to the Blue Jays. They’ve already been linked to a handful of those starters, with the most noise around Valdez.
But what if an injury happens? How does the Blue Jays’ starting depth look next season? Let’s take a look at some names who could eat some innings in the rotation.

Fifth starter options

You’d have to imagine that Eric Lauer is the frontrunner to fill the role he did last season. With Max Scherer’s injury and Bowden Francis’ struggles, Lauer stepped up in a big way. In 104.2 innings pitched, the left-handed pitcher authored a 3.18 ERA and 3.85 FIP, with a 23.9 K% and 6.1 BB%. 
Lauer had a tough start once Bieber joined the Jays’ rotation, as he gave up eight runs (six earned) in four and two-thirds innings, before returning to the bullpen. Regardless of whether the Blue Jays sign a starter or not, Lauer is going to play a role on the 2026 Blue Jays.
Another pitcher in the Blue Jays bullpen who could battle for a rotation spot is Louis Varland. Aside from starting two bullpen games, this was the first big league season where Varland didn’t serve time in the rotation. From 2022 until 2024, Varland had a 5.27 ERA and 5.46 FIP in 114.1 innings pitched out of the rotation.
He found new life as a reliever in 2025, with his fastball velocity increasing two ticks, posting a 2.97 ERA and 3.14 FIP in 72.2 innings pitched, as well as breaking the record for most pitching appearances in a single postseason. Shortly after the trade, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said that the team was open to Varland pitching out of the rotation. Truth be told, keeping Varland as a reliever is the ideal option.
Bowden Francis was pencilled in as the team’s fifth starter in 2025 after a dominant second half of the 2024 season. Unfortunately, the 2025 season was tough for the 29-year-old, as he posted a 6.05 ERA and 6.85 FIP in 64 innings pitched before a shoulder injury ended his season. The question is how much that shoulder injury impacted his season.
Adam Macko started the season on the injured list with a knee injury, but returned in May and joined the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons in June. Over 64 innings pitched with the Bisons, the left-handed pitcher had a 5.06 ERA and 4.56 FIP in 64 innings pitched. Macko pitched out of the bullpen for his remaining eight games, but always went 2.2 or more innings pitched in the role. He could serve as a swingman/spot starter next season.
Another lefty on the 40-man roster who could play a role in the Jays’ rotation next season is Ricky Tiedemann. The 23-year-old was once their top prospect, but the left-handed pitcher missed all of 2025 due to Tommy John surgery in the summer of 2024. This was on the back of two injury-filled seasons where his command was suspect at times. That said, when Tiedemann is at his best, he very much has ace stuff.
Angel Bastardo also spent the entirety of the 2025 season on the Injured List due to Tommy John surgery. The Blue Jays selected the 23-year-old in last off-season’s Rule 5 draft. Due to missing the entirety of the 2025 season, regular Rule 5 restrictions apply to Bastardo in 2026, meaning he probably won’t be on the Jays’ roster come the start of Spring Training.
Lastly, Lázaro Estrada will factor into the Blue Jays’ plans in 2026. In the big leagues, Estrada had an .859 ERA and 5.18 FIP in seven and one-third innings pitched, with a 5.73 ERA and 4.81 FIP in 97.1 innings pitched with the Bisons. That ERA is a lot harsher than how he pitched, as he went four one-third innings in his MLB debut, and was pitching well through two and one-third in his second game before eventually allowing six earned runs in three and one-third innings.
This shows that the Blue Jays have a ton of starting pitching depth. But as it is, the Jays need to sign a middle-of-the-rotation starter this off-season.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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