This story was excerpted from Keegan Matheson’s Blue Jays Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
TORONTO — The Blue Jays will spend December shopping in the most expensive aisles of the store.
Yes, they’ll be in on Bo Bichette, Kyle Tucker and a number of this market’s top pitchers, both in free agency and via trade. The Blue Jays belong in all of these conversations, right alongside the Dodgers, Yankees and baseball’s big dogs.
Those are where the headlines will live, but the majority of Toronto’s offseason will exist outside of the one or two big moves that will define it. There are depth charts to fill and bullpens to bolster. What so often feel like the “boring moves” in December and January come to be the most important in June and July.
Did you pop champagne and take the afternoon off work last Dec. 13, when the Blue Jays and Eric Lauer agreed to a Minor League deal, bringing the lefty back to the big leagues from Korea? Probably not. It came to matter, though, and without Lauer stepping into the rotation, the Blue Jays don’t win the American League East.
We know that the Blue Jays want to land one of the big bats and they’d be wise to chase another big addition to their rotation — especially when considering this group beyond 2026 — but the list is longer.
Here’s what else they’ll consider:
1. The bullpen: Is Jeff Hoffman the closer?
For much of 2025, postseason included, Hoffman was a dominant closer. At other times, those words didn’t apply. The end result was a 4.37 ERA with 84 strikeouts over 68 innings. He also allowed 15 home runs in the regular season, then the game-tying home run to Miguel Rojas in the ninth inning of World Series Game 7.
The highs were brilliant and the lows were low.
When asked about Hoffman as the closer moving forward two weeks ago, GM Ross Atkins was noncommittal.
“The great thing about Jeff is he’s not married to that,” Atkins said. “Talking about the cohesion and team approach [of the Jays], he epitomizes that. I think he would be open to anything that makes us better.”
Edwin Díaz is the top reliever on the market and will command a large contract — something the Blue Jays haven’t handed out often to relievers. Devin Williams and Robert Suarez are also available. Keep Ryan Helsley’s name in mind. The Blue Jays had talks with the Cardinals about Helsley at the last Trade Deadline, and that interest hasn’t disappeared.
2. The Ty France role (bench bat and backup first baseman)
In the past, we’ve also called this the Justin Turner and Brandon Belt role. Given the success the Blue Jays had with their position players in 2025, this wasn’t as pressing a need. But the Blue Jays have still shown an organizational preference to have a true second option behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr. — ideally one who can contribute as a bench bat. While the Blue Jays loved France, it feels more likely that he’ll find more playing time elsewhere coming off a Gold Glove Award.
As it stands, the Blue Jays’ bench will look fairly similar to 2025. There will be a surplus outfielder or two (Myles Straw, Nathan Lukes, Joey Loperfido), a reserve infielder and the backup catcher. This feels like a good spot for a lefty bat, but some positional versatility beyond just first base could be key here. Guerrero took 24 DH days last season. Given the fact that George Springer and Anthony Santander likely will split the rest, any bench bat the Blue Jays add will need a second defensive position.
3. Rotation depth: Nos. 6, 7 and 8 starters
Who is Bowden Francis to the Blue Jays in 2026? Which role will Lauer pitch in? Can Trey Yesavage maintain his momentum and run away with AL Rookie of the Year? Could one of Ricky Tiedemann or Gage Stanifer be the next prospect breakthrough?
In past years, someone like Lauer or Ross Stripling has stepped in and played hero. In each case, they saved the Blue Jays from digging further into their depth. But that won’t always happen. Eventually, the Blue Jays will need to go 10 or 11 starters deep, and they’ll need to be prepared for it.
Other names include Jake Bloss (Tommy John rehab), Lazaro Estrada, Easton Lucas, Paxton Schultz and Adam Macko. The Blue Jays need to strike gold again like they did with Lauer, which is difficult to do at the most valuable position in baseball.
