Days before Dylan Cease was signed to the largest free-agent contract in franchise history, an agent described the Toronto Blue Jays as a potential behemoth this winter. One move into the offseason, the franchise is certainly acting that way.
The Jays identified signing a top starting pitcher as their biggest offseason priority. After signing Cease, perhaps the best starter in the free-agent market, for $210 million over seven years, that box is checked.
But even with a priority addressed, the offseason is far from over.
The bullpen still needs back-end arms, Bo Bichette and Kyle Tucker remain in free agency and the rotation may require more moves.
The most obvious next priority would be bringing back Bichette. At his season-ending news conference, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins confirmed the team will be in his market this winter.
Cease’s signing won’t quell interest in keeping Bichette, the homegrown star. But with Ernie Clement, Andrés Giménez and Addison Barger able to fill infield positions, retaining Bichette isn’t necessarily a mandatory move. Toronto could instead turn to a secondary infield option like Jorge Polanco or simply enter 2026 with the same infield trio that helped the Jays to the World Series after Bichette suffered a late-season injury.
The Jays, too, have been frequently connected this winter to top free-agent hitter Tucker. With George Springer entering his final year of club control, a 28-year-old four-time All-Star like Tucker could usher in a new outfield anchor. Though it’s difficult to discern posturing from true strategies at this point in the offseason, talk of Tucker isn’t quite as loud within the Blue Jays organization.
League sources said the Jays showed interest in back-end relief at the GM meetings in Las Vegas, like closer Edwin Díaz. (Dustin Satloff / Getty Images)
The one area the Jays are almost sure to address is the bullpen. While Toronto has plenty of reliever depth and currently has Louis Varland, Jeff Hoffman and Yimí García at the back of the bullpen, league sources said the Jays showed interest in back-end relief at the GM meetings in Las Vegas earlier this month. Toronto met with top free agent closer Edwin Díaz, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported.
Cease may not even be the final rotation move. With Cease, Toronto should have one of the best rotations in baseball in 2026. A top five of Cease, Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, Trey Yesavage and José Berríos projects for 13.1 fWAR in 2026, per Steamer, with Cease leading at 3.7. Only eight teams collected higher WAR from their entire starting staffs last year. The Jays ranked 23rd in rotation WAR at just 8.5.
There’s room for another depth arm or swingman type like Eric Lauer. With Bieber just months removed from Tommy John recovery and Yesavage coming off the highest pitching workload of his life, pitching depth will be key for the Jays in 2026.
A trade could open the money and roster space for a more significant addition, too. They’d have a candidate in Berríos.
While Berríos was one of baseball’s most reliable starters for his entire career, the righty posted a 4.17 ERA in 2025, suffered an elbow injury and lost his rotation spot at the end of the year. Owed $18.7 million in 2026 before a player opt-out, the Jays could look to move Berríos after four years in Toronto. Even if the 31-year-old remains with the Jays, he’ll have to earn a rotation spot again in spring training, another reason to add more depth.
No matter what direction they go next, the Jays have already signalled clear aggression. Cease was the highest-ranked right-handed pitcher on The Athletic’s top 50 free agency big board, and the second-highest pitcher overall behind Framber Valdez.
The Jays have made big free agency plays in recent years, signing Springer for $150 million ahead of 2021 and Gausman for $100 million the next winter. But months after extending Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for $500 million, the Blue Jays have once again shown a willingness to flex their financial muscle.
The Blue Jays have never spent beyond the third competitive balance tax threshold, falling just below the $281 million barrier in 2025. Toronto, per Cot’s Contracts, projected to have a 2026 40-man collective bargaining tax payroll around $235 million before signing Cease. Even after deferments are expected to bring the right-hander’s annual average value down around $26 million, per a league source, the Jays will already be just $20 million from surpassing the third threshold.
Cease may end up as Toronto’s biggest addition of the winter. However, one more significant signing would push the Jays past the threshold.
If there were ever a time to reach uncharted payroll territory, it may be now.
The Jays are coming off the franchise’s first World Series appearance since 1993 and could have over $70 million coming off the books after 2026, with Springer, Gausman, Bieber and Daulton Varsho all on the verge of free agency, perhaps allowing Toronto to reset luxury tax penalties.
