The Toronto Blue Jays feel like a team stuck between a rock and a hard place. Missing out on marquee free agents in back-to-back campaigns and seeing opposing AL East teams get better early out of the gate this winter has fans reeling on social media, which comes on the heels of a disappointing campaign.

To make matters more complicated, there are concerns over the future of the club given the likes of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, Chris Bassitt, Kevin Gausman, Daulton Varsho, Alejandro Kirk, and a handful of other roster players are slated to hit free agency over the next two winters. José Berríos can also opt out of his deal following the 2026 season, bringing more question marks to the future of who will be around when the 2027 season comes into focus.



The club addressed some of those concerns with the <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-to-acquire-andres-gimenez-in-trade-with-guardians">Andrés Giménez deal</a> as he will be around through the 2029 season at a minimum but even with the future concerns set aside, the Toronto Blue Jays haven't done much yet to improve other areas of the roster that need to be tightened up - an impact bat or two, some outfield help, some pitching help in both the rotation and bullpen, and potentially another catcher. The key word here is 'yet' as there is still time for the front office to get work done but if social media is any indicator, which one should be wary of, fans are not optimistic about things turning for the better or a repeat of the 2024 winter is on the horizon.

Whether that is true or not remains to be seen but general manager Ross Atkins knows he is on the hot seat and needs to find a way to make this team better next season, whether that is through signing some other high-profile players out there right now or using some infield depth to trade for upgrades. Both options can also be utilized but it ultimately depends on <a href="https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/blue-jays-believed-to-have-avoided-cbt-but-financial-flexibility-may-remain-tight/">how much money</a> the Jays have to work with - a tricky subject to get out of anyone from the organization given their pursuit of Soto seeming like the club is open for large deals but the potential to reel things back in after missing on the impact slugger.

Let's take a look at where the Blue Jays need to focus their current priorities this winter if they want to find a way to roster a competitive squad in 2025 and beyond.
<h2>1. Extend Vladimir Guerrero Jr.</h2>
This one seems like it needs to be the first domino to fall. Extending Vladimir Guerrero Jr. past the 2025 season is high on many Jays fans' wish lists and it makes the most sense. Keep the homegrown player around who can be one of the most impactful bats in the game while showing free agents that you have a centrepiece player to work around within a contested AL East division.

Guerrero put an exclamation mark on the back half of the 2024 season and owns a career .288/.363/.500 slash line with a .863 OPS and a 137 OPS+ through six seasons. He's added 160 home runs and 5o7 RBIs and has been a driving force for this Blue Jays organization over the past few seasons. We have seen what he is capable of dating back to his AL MVP worthy campaign in 2021 but we've also seen him go through the ebb and flows of the big leagues, with him struggling early last year and posting a sub .800 OPS in 2023.

While he doesn't play the most premier defensive position at first base, Guerrero can handle his own on the right side and ultimately, you're not signing the Montreal-born product for anything other than what he can at the plate. At just 25 years old, he is setting himself up for a lifetime-worthy deal and is expecting to get paid for it - as he rightfully should. There are<a href="https://twitter.com/mikedeportes/status/1867797754287943837"> reports</a> that he rejected a deal worth $340 million already this offseason but the validity of those is questionable.

https://twitter.com/mikedeportes/status/1867797754287943837

The rumour mill has the two sides waiting for the new year to continue the bargaining talks which is tough considering free agents may lay in waiting to see how the two sides figure things out before they want to commit to Toronto. That being said, even if the conversations drag on into the new year, the priority remains keeping him in a Jays uniform for a long time. It will likely cost the front office a pretty penny but that's the going rate for top talent and the Jays cannot let him head to free agency if they want to keep him around long term. Adding other teams into the mix just drives the price further.

It takes two to tango in extension talks but the Blue Jays would be wise to change the tune and get something done, even if it means overpaying to keep him in Toronto. The deal may turn sour over time which is a road to cross later when Atkins likely isn't around anyway but for now, there's no reason to let your superstar player head to free agency.
<h2>2. Acquire at least one impact bat</h2>
Guerrero needs some help in the lineup this season and it's a <a href="https://twitter.com/thehazelmae/status/1866938644134498806">sentiment echoed</a> by manager John Schneider at the Winter Meetings earlier this month. The Jays just don't have the power-threat type bats to put themselves ahead within the division let alone the postseason, and that's even considering a bounce-back campaign from the likes of Bichette and George Springer, which aren't guaranteed.

The key difference between last winter and this offseason is that when it comes to missing on the marquee free agent, the pivot opportunities this year are more potent and game-changing compared to a year ago.

Teoscar Hernández, Anthony Santander, Pete Alonso, and Alex Bregman are all out there in free agency and all of them would greatly improve the Jays 2025 roster and beyond when it comes to offensive production. There are pros and cons for each (IE Bregman isn't the most prolific home run hitter of the group and Hernández's whiff rate is atrocious) that is an article in its own right but again, the objective here is to add at least one impact type bat that isn't from the bottom tier of players looking for a comeback type opportunity. If the Jays are worried about spending in free agency, they could even try and trade for Josh Naylor (Guardians) or a Cubs outfielder but the state of the organization's farm system may limit them unless they send away some top prospects to deplete the farm system even more or deal from one of their rotation arms like Bassitt.

https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/1865546698367369267

Each of the players mentioned above has some historical pedigree to back up the money they are demanding in free agency (or trade value) and the truth is that the going rate for top talent is at an all-time high. Adames got a $26 million AAV from the Giants while Tyler O'Neill secured a $16.5 million AAV from the Orioles so the Jays know that they need to be in that ballpark when it comes to spending. They've reportedly been poking around on Hernández and Santander but until something is in writing, it's all a moot point.

Signing bottom-tier bats last winter didn't work out for the ballclub in 2024 and it isn't likely to do so again this year.
<h2>3. Acquire a starter</h2>
I flip-flopped with this point and #4 for some time before finishing here. The Blue Jays rotation picture looks very unsettling after the next two seasons and adding some stability here seems like it needs to be a bit higher on the priority chain than some other points listed below. That, and the fact that the Jays have improved the bullpen already with Nick Sandlin and bringing back Yimi García provides some more stability for the relief corps but again, more moves need to be made there as well (this is explained later).

Corbin Burnes is the go-to pitcher on the market right now with Blake Snell, Max Fried, and Luis Severino off the table and the rumour mill has the Jays and Burnes connected in some regard (again, sources here are all over the place). Their biggest competitor appears to be the San Francisco Giants, who hold the 'playing in your home state' card in their pocket but the reports have the Jays with the highest offer - which I think we can all take with a grain of salt given the numerous reports out there that contradict each other. There's no such thing as first or second in free agency or 'frontrunners' - you either sign the player or you don't - it's that simple. Things can change quickly as we have seen in the past and ultimately, it's the player's decision at the end of the day when the contracts are laid out and sometimes money isn't the biggest driving factor (Kyle Gibson to the Orioles anyone?).

https://twitter.com/TodayJays/status/1868319969110556799

Burnes would make this Jays rotation one of the best in the American League and give some stability to a core that could lose three of their top arms to free agency in the next two years. There are some obvious risks like the declining strikeout rate but he's got a solid track record, has experience in the division after spending last season in Baltimore, and can be a dominant arm in the rotation when things are rolling. The match makes sense on paper.

Should the Jays miss on Burnes, they can pivot to some other arms to fill the gap that aren't as exciting but are excellent complimentary pieces like Sean Manaea or Jack Flaherty, who again provide that stability the team would need even if they aren't as flashy. Further down the list, there are back-end or risky bounce-back arms like Andrew Heaney, Nick Pivetta, Jose Quintana, Walker Buehler, and Kyle Gibson but all have their noted flaws - hence the asking price being that much lower.

Alternatively, the Blue Jays could push all their chips in on Japanese sensation Roki Sasaki, <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-roki-sasaki-set-to-be-posted-by-chiba-lotte-marines-this-off-season">who was posted</a> earlier this month. Given the posting system with players from NPB, money isn't the driving factor - Sasaki is limited to the international amateur free agent bonus pool restrictions for each club. The Jays have some money to play with but so do all 29 other teams, it's pretty much a level playing field outside of a $1-3 million variance. For Toronto to win the Sasaki sweepstakes, they need to sell him on other aspects of the organization and the city itself, which again will be tough because all 29 other teams are going to follow suit. It's a risky move because the odds are not really on the Jays' side, so this is less likely to be succesful when compared to adding via free agency.

Regardless of where you look on the list, starters are raking in the dough this winter - Nathan Eovaldi snagged a $25 million AAV with the Rangers and the Fried, Snell, Kikuchi, and Severino deals are in the $20+ million area as well. It's the going rate for arms and the Jays will need to fly past the first threshold of the CBT if they want to add a starter or two, regardless if it's Burnes or someone a little further down the rankings.
<h2>4. Add at least one more bullpen arm (two would be better)</h2>
The Blue Jays have done some lifting already to improve the bullpen by adding Sandlin and García but the work should not be done. While the likes of García, Erik Swanson, and Chad Green can handle the later inning tasks, there is still work to be done in the middle relief areas with names like Brendon Little, Zach Pop, Tommy Nance, Ryan Burr, and a host of internal names looking to find space in the bullpen. The Jays will also need to figure out where Bowden Francis and Yariel Rodriguez will slot in but as it currently stands, one is likely heading to the rotation and one is heading to the bullpen, with Rodriguez needing to approve any demotions to the MiLB from this year onward - an additional wrinkle.

https://twitter.com/DownToBlack/status/1867592985845936484

While having one or two of these players is fine and dandy, adding some more arms that have a track record to go behind them is needed to just give some more insurance to the relief corps, especially if injuries or poor performance impact the club again like fans saw last year.

The <a href="https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/winter-meetings-notebook-blue-jays-quietly-in-relief-market/">hot stove</a> has the Jays not so high on top arms like Tanner Scott, Kirby Yates, or Jeff Hoffman but finding a player or two within the $4-$8 million AAV is the most likely bet, which again doesn't boast the most flashy of names available but provides more stability than what the Jays have internally. They also could pivot to some veteran arms in a short-term capacity, like Kenley Jansen, who will go for more than the $8 million range I mentioned earlier but only on the hook for a short time. The previous group would be players like Tommy Kahnle, Paul Sewald, and Chris Martin types but there are quite a few names out there that fit in the same category.

The Blue Jays could also use their middle infield depth to trade for a reliever, with the likes of Ryan Pressly, David Bednar, and Ryan Helsley all potential trade candidates. This would take some different track package configurations depending on the player in question but the options are out there if the front office decides to pivot to that route versus signing a pitcher or two.

Toronto still needs to do some work to improve the bullpen and while it may not be the most exciting names out there (if the rumours remain true), some serviceable arms can help this team that won't break the bank are still available.
<h2>5. Circle back to the bats</h2>
This is where things get interesting. I put the idea of adding another bat back into the rankings because it can go a few different ways:
<ol>
 	<li>Either the Blue Jays sign someone like Burnes and don't have a ton of money left over for a premier bat like Santander or Hernandez</li>
 	<li>The Jays signed a high-profile bat and are now looking further down the list to make the roster that much better offensively</li>
 	<li>The Jays miss on a starter and a high-profile bat and pivot to multiple lower-end solutions similar to last winter</li>
</ol>
For this point, it is contingent on one or two different types of signings coming to fruition which at this point, are just needed. To miss on a high-impact bat or a top arm is just unacceptable for a team that is preaching contention and this point circles back around to improve upon those ideas coming through, not banking on them. The third subpoint is just not going to work but I add it because it is a possibility.

This is where you would have bats like Joc Pederson, J.D. Martinez, Jurickson Profar, Jesse Winker, Gleyber Torres, Michael Conforto, and Paul Goldschmidt enter the picture. Whether they are aging stars looking for a comeback-type season or someone who fits a platoon type like Pederson, these are added moves on top of what the club has already done. There are more names out there but these players stand out amongst the group.

https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1780423424310956084

If the Jays sign Burnes or a Manaea type, they sign someone to a short-term deal - all of which will depend on how much the Jays front office wants to spend will determine the player in pursuit. The Blue Jays can also gamble and wait out the market for someone getting desperate to find a contract, adding to the depth that is hopefully already there.

Should the Jays sign someone like Santander or Bregman, this is where the team can pivot to a short-term deal for a bat late in the offseason - again, someone waiting out the market and now just looking to play. The club can keep adding more bats as needed but that seems more unlikely unless the Jays are willing to smash internal payroll records.

There are a lot of moving parts to this point but the underlying reason remains - adding two bats is better than one.
<h2>6. Look for some catching depth</h2>
The Jays will enter the season with Kirk and Tyler Heineman splitting the catching duties with Phil Clarke down in triple-A as depth. This is alright on paper but if Kirk goes down with an extended injury, the Blue Jays might be in a bit of trouble.

The catching market continues to thin but there are some backup catcher options still remaining that provide additional depth that likely have Heineman as the third option on the depth charts. This wouldn't be the priority compared to adding a pitcher or an impact bat but signing someone like Yasmani Grandal, Elias Diaz, or Yan Gomes fits and shouldn't break the bank or impact other signing opportunities when the dust settles.

Ranking the current offseason priorities for the Toronto Blue Jays

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