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Blue Jays Nation Roundtable – What’s next this off-season?
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Photo credit: © Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Nov 30, 2025, 16:00 ESTUpdated: Nov 30, 2025, 15:47 EST
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Just under a month into the off-season, the Toronto Blue Jays have already made a big splash.
On Wednesday, the Blue Jays agreed to terms with starting pitcher Dylan Cease, solidifying their rotation for the 2026 season, barring any other moves for their rotation.
That said, the Winter Meetings are still about a week away, and there are still plenty of holes that the Blue Jays need to plug this off-season. Let’s take a look at what Blue Jays Nation writers had to say about what could be next for the Blue Jays this off-season.

With the signing of Cease, what is the Blue Jays’ biggest need this off-season?

Ryley: The Blue Jays’ next biggest priority is signing a bat. It could be Kyle Tucker, Cody Bellinger, or Bo Bichette, but they need to bring in one of those guys. Bonus points if they can somehow sign both Bichette and Tucker, which seems incredible unlikely at this point.
Tyson: The Blue Jays need to find a way to add some potency to the lineup, and that starts with bringing back Bichette. That’s my top priority. If we are being greedy, signing him, Tucker, and Robert Suárez and giving Kevin Gausman a short-term extension to give the rotation some more stability caps off the perfect offseason, even if I have to pay an extra couple of dollars on my Rogers bill once the postseason money runs out.
Veronica: Toronto just made its blockbuster move to fill the gap in the rotation. While there can never be enough pitchers on the roster, the Blue Jays’ biggest task now is either re-signing Bichette or addressing the offensive gap by bringing someone else in. The team’s depth at shortstop ranks only 21st on Fangraphs if Bichette doesn’t return; the Blue Jays can’t fill that hole with internal alternatives.
Ben: The Blue Jays need to add another reliever to their bullpen, ideally someone who can compete with Jeff Hoffman for the closer role. A reunion with Seranthony Domínguez is one of several possibilities the club could consider. Anyone who gets swings and misses at an elite level—and doesn’t give up many home runs—would be a good fit. 
Ian: To me, a big bat is next on the list. This could be shopping at the top of the market again for a Tucker, Bellinger or Alex Bregman, or this could be going via trade like Ketel Marte. Especially if Bichette signs elsewhere, bolstering the starting lineup should be the next big priority for the front office. The trouble is there is quite a large drop-off in talent from that upper tier, which is why I think the Blue Jays may be leading towards filling that void via trade. 
Chris: You could make a strong argument for either an All-Star calibre bat, or a high leverage bullpen arm as the biggest priority, and the Blue Jays will ideally address both, but I’m going to go with the former. 
Yes, I know that the Jays managed to get to the World Series without Bichette in the ALDS and ALCS, but it didn’t take long for the 27-year-old to show why he makes them a better team, and why it needs to be a priority to keep him as a central figure of the franchise. The former second-round pick has spent his entire career in the organization, and alongside Vladimir Guerrero Jr., has formed a dynamic duo that has been the focal point of the offence for several years. 
Losing him would really sting, even if they have the depth to cover a scenario like that with capable internal options, and it’s hard to imagine the Blue Jays being a better team in 2026 without him. If he does end up in another uniform, they will need to find another impact bat one way or another, whether that’s Tucker, Bellinger, or someone else.
Matthew: With signing Cease, I do think there is another move coming for this club. It’s clear they want to improve the bullpen, but I do believe they want to make some moves off the roster to clear up space. From the next bat to sign, Bichette by far needs to be done next. As we saw with signing Guerrero Jr., locking up your core long-term is enticing for free agents to want to play with other players. Signing the guy who led the major league in hits is by far the top priority for Ross Atkins, and the factthat  the market is quiet on him now can prove to be quite beneficial for the Blue Jays. 
Evan: Save for Josh Naylor signing with the Seattle Mariners, the Blue Jays have set the tone in the free agent market with the Cease deal. It’s clear that they are not complacent with the World Series appearance, and they’re looking to strengthen their roster with the intention of getting back to October & November baseball. 
In what may be a cop out on answering this question, I think the Blue Jays should be looking to strengthen wherever they can, still including starting pitching. After the Guerrero Jr. extension, Rogers chairman Edward Rogers referenced multiple times bringing a World Series back to Toronto. As the offseasons go by, the Blue Jays are seemingly setting new records on franchise free agent contracts. Ownership is putting their money where their mouth is; they should be the “annoying” favourite in as many free agents as they can.
If I had to make a choice, though, give me a Bo Bichette contract, please.

Which other players do you think the Blue Jays should target this off-season?

Ryley: On the bat side of things, Tucker should be their biggest priority as he’s a true game-changer. If they end up with just Bichette, that works for me as well. On the pitching side of things, I’m a big fan of Devin Williams to contend with Hoffman for the closer spot. Luke Weaver and Gregory Soto are two interesting names.
Tyson: I still want a back-end arm, and I think Suárez is the perfect short-term type of deal to put the Blue Jays over the edge. 
Veronica: The Blue Jays have to replenish their bullpen. There are many top-end arms available–namely, Edwin Díaz and Williams–but Toronto could easily opt to sign someone who is flying under the radar, such as Brad Keller, or trade for someone who is even more underrated, like Sean Newcomb. Signing or trading for big names can be fun, but what really pays off are barely noticeable moves that shine either during the regular season or the playoffs.
Ian: With the starting rotation in a good place, I think the focus needs to turn towards the starting lineup and the bullpen. Players like Tucker and Bellinger would be clear upgrades on the incumbents in the outfield, but it’s a bit of a clunky fit to get everybody onto the roster. Especially if Addison Barger moves to right field next season (which he absolutely should), there isn’t much room to get all those outfielder bats into the lineup, plus George Springer at DH. That’s why I feel an infield bat would be more impactful, someone like a Bregman, Jorge Polanco or even Eugenio Suárez.
Chris: The good news is that there are several viable options on the free agent market for what I would consider their highest priorities. If they don’t bring back Bichette, then it would obviously be a huge win if they could bring Tucker north of the border, but they’ll need to have more than just a Plan A and B in what’s expected to be a competitive field at the top of the market. Names like Bregman and Bellinger could make sense as well, and there would be the added benefit of subtracting them from the Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees lineups. The reality is, the Blue Jays have a lot of options thanks to the positional flexibility of their existing roster, so they’re not pigeon-holed into looking for an infielder or outfielder, let alone one specific position. 
As for the bullpen, I’m typically not one to advocate for paying a premium for a closer, but with the Blue Jays looking to get back to the World Series in 2026 and experiencing a blown save in Game 7, now is as good a time as ever. I don’t think they’ll end up spending enough in this department to land a guy like Díaz, but I wouldn’t rule out names like Robert Suárez, Pete Fairbanks, or Devin Williams. The Blue Jays would be wise to add to their late-inning relief group, especially with Seranthony Domínguez likely leaving as a free agent, and it would be ideal if they added another arm capable of closing games.
Matthew: I feel the priority for the team is going to be to look at improving the bullpen. With getting Yimi García and Louis Varland potentially as candidates internally to help out with being late-inning setup guys and Hoffman still in the mix as closer, getting someone who’s more accustomed to the role, like Díaz or Robert Suárez can prove to be quite beneficial. Fairbanks is another intriguing candidate, and even taking a flyer on guys like Kenley Jansen and Williams, who have a lot of pedigree with closing games, can help bolster late-inning leads and secure tight wins. 
Chris G: The Blue Jays need to stay aggressive and remain in the mix for some of the best free agents available. Tucker would have the biggest impact, but Bregman would also be a big addition should they prefer a shorter-term deal than what Bichette will likely demand. Adding at least one high-leverage reliever is also a must after their postseason bullpen struggles, although Díaz and Suárez certainly won’t come cheap. Fairbanks and Williams would be lower-cost additions that could make a big impact 
Evan: I would love for the Blue Jays to take another swing at Kyle Schwarber. Of course, that would take us down the rabbit hole of how to divide playing time between Springer and Anthony Santander, but Schwarber has proved durable and effective since 2022, and the baseball adage of “these things just work themselves out” would likely take effect here.
I was also a big fan of Michael King, but the Cease deal might end those dreams for me.

Do you think the Blue Jays will make a trade at some point this off-season?

Ryley: Trades in the off-season are so unpredictable. No one saw the Teoscar Hernández trade coming in 2022. The Daulton Varsho trade was a little expected, but who saw the Jays acquiring Andrés Giménez last off-season? Not to mention that they didn’t make a trade in the 2023/24 off-season. I could see them trading José Berríos for another starter who needs a change of scenery.
Tyson: I think the Jays will move some of their outfield depth, but I also have a sneaking suspicion that if they strike out on the free agent front for another bat, they’ll trade for Nolan Arenado. Have him play third, Ernie Clement and second, and make Barger the right fielder would be the scenario, but again, only if the Jays don’t bring Bichette back or sign a profile bat, which I also don’t see happening to some extent. You won’t give up much for Arenado; the Cardinals will likely kick in some money for the contract, and third base is shored up with a guy looking to find his rhythm on a new team with two years left on his deal.
Veronica: Trades aren’t quite off the table for the Blue Jays, especially after what they have accomplished this year. They have no choice but to go all in once again, and if the trade will get them better players than signing free agents, that’s what the front office will have to focus on. The fact of the matter is that the Blue Jays’ roster has a logjam of role players in the outfield and infield, and that opens up some avenues for trades this winter. 
Ian: It wouldn’t be an offseason if the Blue Jays didn’t swing a deal, so I’m sure they’re working behind the curtain to get some sort of trade done for either a bat, or a relief pitcher. In retrospect, it’s wild to think the Myles Straw trade may have been more impactful than the Giménez one, but we may see something similar to that where the Blue Jays take on an undesirable contract in order to avoid paying heavy prospect capital. If there’s some sort of “bad contract swap meet” to find a new home for Berríos while taking on another deal, I think the Blue Jays go for it.
Chris: I think it’s likely that Ross Atkins and company will make a trade of some sort before the off-season is over, but I think most of their potential moves are tied to what happens in free agency. For example, if they can re-sign Bichette or ink Tucker to a mega-deal, there could be extra motivation to trim some payroll in another area. That could mean that they see what the market looks like for someone like Berríos, or maybe even Santander, but I’m not overly confident that either would bring back much more in return than salary relief. Otherwise, I feel like whatever they’re able to do in their pursuit of an elite bat could provide the domino effect in whatever trades they could make.
Matthew: It would be very uncharacteristic for the team not to make a move after the season they just had. The last few times the team went to the postseason in 2022 and 2023,they made seismic moves by trading away Hernández and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Trades with this team will likely not be as big as those in terms of happening early on in the offseason, but with the team sniffing around for Marte, I do think they aren’t afraid of trading futures for a win now caliber player. Ideally, the move is going to reflect a team’s needs, such as a backend reliever, starting depth and a bench bat that can provide some pop off the bench. 
Evan: I agree with Chris’s comments that, as free agency develops, trades will be easier to create. I do believe that a trade – whether major or minor – is in the cards for the Blue Jays this offseason. The Milwaukee Brewers being concerned with payroll and the Diamondbacks listening to offers on Marte, tell me there is plenty of smoke around the league, and where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

One wild prediction for the remainder of the off-season

Ryley: I truly believe deep in my heart that the Blue Jays are going to sign Tucker. The rumours have a different feel to them compared to the Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto links of the last two off-seasons. Not just that, but I think signing Bichette and Tucker is possible, albeit highly unlikely at this point.
Tyson: The Blue Jays will sign Michael Soroka. Bring the Canadian kid home.
Veronica: This may not be the wildest prediction, but this front office could bring Chris Bassitt back on a one or two-year deal. It’s not the hottest or fanciest of the offseason moves, but it would be a smart one if Bassitt can replicate his consistency and versatility. Bassitt will no longer just be a starter; he’d be taking on both starting and relief roles, basically becoming another long man on the team. That’s the kind of creativity and savviness the team needs to compete in a tough division already. 
Ben: The Blue Jays are going to trade Berríos. The late-season removal from the rotation, the mysterious injury, his absence from the dugout during the playoffs — all signs point to the relationship between Berríos and the Blue Jays having run its course. Don’t be shocked if the team is willing to eat a significant portion of his deal to move him to another team, preferring a less disgruntled and more effective Eric Lauer as its fifth starter. 
Ian: One of the most telling quotes from Atkins’ end-of-season press conference was him mentioning how the Blue Jays were open (and had discussed with Hoffman) about Hoffman not necessarily holding the closer’s role in 2026. When he signed that three-year deal last offseason, most assumed he would be the de facto closer until he wasn’t a Blue Jay anymore, but it sounds like they’re amenable to being flexible and finding a different role for Hoffman if that makes the team better as a whole.
It may not be that wild, but I think the Blue Jays will try to find a high-leverage reliever to complement Hoffman, perhaps even replacing him as closer by Opening Day. That could be Fairbanks, it may be Díaz, but it would not shock me if there is somebody else getting the call in the ninth inning for the Blue Jays next season.
Chris: Before the news of Cease signing for seven years and 210 million, I would have answered this question by saying the Blue Jays would sign two big-money players this winter. Now that feels like something more likely than wild, especially as the Blue Jays are widely reported as being as aggressive as ever. 
As far as “wild” goes, I’ll take my shot with a guess at a creative and longer-term contract for Bichette to remain in Toronto. I’ll say he signs something like a 10-year, 250 million dollar contract, but agrees to defer enough salary to lower his AAV and help the Blue Jays maintain flexibility. They reportedly negotiated some deferred salary into Cease’s new contract, and in a perfect world, they’d be able to do the same with Bichette as well.
Matthew:  I think this team ends up going out and making a monster trade to rock the rest of the league. Marte’s name has come up way too much, and I feel as if those old trade partners revisit one another. The Varsho trade works out well for the Jays in the present day, so I feel there’s a deal coming with Marte coming north of the border, regardless of what happens with Bo Bichette’s camp. I can see the team sending the likes of Jake Bloss and Johnny King to go out to replenish a struggling Arizona pitching staff. The same goes with needing some bats; the surplus of outfielders such as Joey Loperfido, Nathan Lukes and even Straw can go out to make room for Marte. This deal also may be the one you dangle Arjun Nimmala for, and then you look at a really deep team that can scare a lot of teams in the league and look to try and contend in the postseason once more. 
Chris G: Even after acquiring Cease, I think the Blue Jays will still tinker with their rotation. I believe they will shop Berríos, opening up the opportunity for a reunion with Max Scherzer. There’s almost no chance Scherzer pitches a full season, but the Jays should have the depth to withstand an injury, especially considering it would be the fifth starter spot. Scherzer showed how impactful he can still be in big games, boosting his value quite a bit compared to what he may give you in the regular season. For a team looking to get right back to the World Series, bringing back a battle-tested vet would be a big move.
Evan: Assuming the relationship between player and front office isn’t permanently damaged (because I don’t know), the Blue Jays will bring back Alek Manoah. I don’t think the last chapter has been written there.

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