As we evaluate a team’s roster, we constantly face the urge to critique and nitpick every fine detail.

Going beyond this season, the Toronto Blue Jays need to evaluate their roster and factor in pieces of who fits and who doesn’t. We already know the rotation has been fortified with José Soriano added to the likes of Dylan Cease, Trey Yesavage, and Cody Ponce (with potentially José Berríos), as well as the bullpen looking quite strong compared to some past seasons.

Looking ahead past 2026 means taking a deep dive into different players on the roster. As we know in pro sports, things can change in the blink of an eye. A prime example is Alek Manoah, once a Cy Young candidate and key piece of the Blue Jays rotation who was designated for assignment near the end of 2025. Things change daily and, as John Schneider said going into this season, the expectations and standards have changed and will likely continue to change going forward as the chase for a World Series is at the forefront of the organization. Who is possibly slipping through the cracks and running out of time in the organization? While there are many to choose from, let’s look at three players who may not be in the Blue Jays’ plans for 2027 and beyond:

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: Davis Schneider struggles in the first few months of the season, so he gets optioned to Triple-A Buffalo. He then gets called back up after a month and proceeds to hit better. Following Schneider’s career has been nothing short of a rollercoaster; a lot of it could be attributed to bad luck in the strike zone, and a lot of it is that Schneider has struggled with confidence in the batter’s box.

Sure, Schneider can draw a walk, but a lot of that is mitigated by the fact that his swing is not making enough contact. Putting the ball in play could lead to his future being elsewhere with another club. It is very hard to say that about a fan favourite, but with no options remaining after this season, the team could see Schneider on another club by the time next season begins.

Sure, Schneider is an example of someone who needs a bit more time when it comes to his approach at the plate, as he is still only 27 years old and hovering around MLB expectations with a career .712 OPS. Schneider needs to work a lot more on his approach and vision at the plate regarding his swing decisions. It’s clear that the Blue Jays organization values this player and wants him to succeed; however, the organization can only do so much to contribute to that success.

This one really is not a surprise to anyone. When acquiring Lenyn Sosa back in May, the Blue Jays brought in the player who led the Chicago White Sox in home runs and RBIs in 2025. As for 2026, the less said about his season, the better. He has a .188 batting average and an on-base percentage of .205. Among all batters who have played for the Blue Jays this season, Sosa has the third-lowest OPS (.480) among those who have played at least 10 games. The only players who have a lower OPS were Sean Keys, who had only played 12 games in the majors, and Tyler Heinemann, who was designated for assignment and traded to the Los Angeles Angels on June 17.

Sosa does have team control until 2031, but with the way his tenure has gone and with names like Luis Urias and Charles McAdoo passing him on the depth chart—along with other names coming up the ranks of the farm system—there really is not enough of a case to keep Sosa in the fold. While losing a player for nothing is not ideal under any circumstances, and teams would likely pick up Sosa in the off-season for cheap, this is a move the team feels is inevitable as they evaluate who will be roster pieces for 2027 and beyond.

With the acquisitions of Soriano and Spencer Arrighetti at the trade deadline, Bowden Francis feels more and more like a distant memory. The 30-year-old right-hander has not pitched in a game since June 2025 and underwent UCL surgery this past February. Recovering from the surgery, Francis has yet to pitch in a rehab assignment as of this writing. Similar to Berríos, Francis faces a long recovery ahead as he works to make his way back to the major leagues.

With the Blue Jays depth chart going into 2027 potentially consisting of Soriano, Cease, Yesavage, and Ponce, the team is hopeful to have arms come up through the ranks—whether returning from injury or rising from the minor leagues. Francis has a minor-league option remaining, and any rehab starts he makes will not count toward risking losing him through waivers. Francis finished 2025 with an ERA of 6.05, but had a strong 2024 campaign with a 3.30 ERA in 27 games.

If he does not fit into the plans for the rotation, it’s possible Francis could be used in long relief out of the Blue Jays bullpen. With Spencer Miles also acting as a bulk-inning reliever, having two arms that can go multiple innings in a pinch can benefit a team looking to stock up on as much pitching as possible. However, with Francis recovering from Tommy John surgery, the team may see his missed time result in him slipping down the depth chart—and ultimately leaving the organization entirely.

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