The MLB playoffs may be in full swing, but the Toronto Blue Jays have been in offseason mode for a while now. Until the World Series finishes and free agency opens, there is unlikely to be a lot of news to report. (It’s generally understood that non-playoff teams shouldn’t make big news until the postseason ends.) For that reason, now is an opportune time to do a Blue Jays mailbag.
As always, thank you to everyone who submitted a question. Part one of the mailbag is below and part two will be posted later this week.
Note: Questions were edited for length and clarity.
How would you rank the free agents who are former Blue Jays (Yimi García, Kendall Graveman, Teoscar Hernández, Danny Jansen, Yusei Kikuchi) in terms of: (a) fit for the 2025 Blue Jays; and (b) likelihood of returning to the Jays? — Mike B
All of these players are a fit, to varying degrees.
Regarding both fit and likelihood to return, I’ll rank García at the top. The Blue Jays need late-inning relievers they can trust, and García was dependable for them and seemed to enjoy his time in the organization. This front office also has a history of trading relievers at the deadline, only to later bring them back (see: David Phelps).
Hernández is a great fit, roster-wise, as a right-handed power bat, but the Dodgers might be best positioned to re-sign him, especially given his fantastic postseason performance. The Jays have indicated they’re happy with Alejandro Kirk taking on a bigger role and the front office doesn’t seem keen to prioritize catching this offseason, which likely rules out Jansen, who should have plenty of other suitors in a shallow market.
A few months ago, I would have ranked Kikuchi as high for fit and likelihood to return, but the emergence of Bowden Francis seems to have changed Toronto’s calculus on starting pitching. With offence and bullpen a priority, and five capable starters already, the front office doesn’t need to target an impact starter like Kikuchi, who should have enough other teams interested.
Graveman is a risky signing after missing last season due to right shoulder surgery. If the Blue Jays target a former prospect who flourished elsewhere, Jeff Hoffman, who had a 2.17 ERA for the Philadelphia Phillies this season, would be a safer bet, although any reliever comes with risk.
How on earth is GM Ross Atkins supposed to rebuild this bullpen? Getting Jordan Romano back (maybe?) will help and hopefully, second-half Erik Swanson will show up next year, but after that, there really is no one internally who projects to help the team in an impactful way next year. — Matt B.
Rebuilding the bullpen into a competitive unit is going to be a significant challenge and it’s a top priority, but it’s possible. You mentioned Romano and Swanson, who both carry question marks, but internally, the Blue Jays also have Chad Green, Génesis Cabrera and Brendon Little, who should all have bullpen roles next season after solid 2024 seasons.
That means, the Blue Jays, at minimum, need to find three more relievers either via trade, free agency or waiver wire claims. They’ve got a few waiver claim projects in their system, and perhaps with an offseason to work with, they can unlock something in Dillon Tate or Tommy Nance.
But there is no question, the Blue Jays need to be aggressive this offseason and acquire at least two or three capable high-leverage arms.
Tanner Scott, Carlos Estévez, Hoffman and Kirby Yates are all coming off strong seasons and project to be some of the best relievers on the market. Kenley Jansen, Clay Holmes, García, Paul Sewald and Blake Treinen are other free-agent relievers with late-game experience. The Blue Jays could also bring back swingman Ryan Yarbrough, who had a 2.01 ERA in 31 1/3 innings with Toronto and fits the model of a reliable multi-inning arm.
The Detroit Tigers could be a source of inspiration. They took a middling bullpen in 2023 and made it into a top-two outfit in the AL this season. They didn’t do it with star power, either, but instead, they built a pen with waiver claims, minor-league signing success stories and internal pieces.
How much via free agency or trades do the Jays need to add to realistically contend for the division next year? — Matthew D.
The front office has significant work to do this offseason to remake the Blue Jays into a playoff contender. The question above outlines the work ahead to rebuild the bullpen, which will probably take bringing in at least two or three relievers.
As for the offence, the club needs to bring in two or three bats as well — and we’re talking proven hitters who ideally hit the ball over the fence with regularity.
The outfield, particularly left field, as well as third base and designated hitter are positions Toronto can look to fill this offseason. Finding a second catcher seems to be a lower priority but it’s also a position the Blue Jays could look to fill.
As for starting pitching, they’re well situated with five starters they feel comfortable rolling out, but they could also seek more depth in this area.
Do you think the Jays will be able to re-sign Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. this offseason? Do you see an increased likelihood they only extend one of those players and if so, who? I think it would behoove them to extend one or both as soon as possible if the FO is going to run it back and try to be competitive to attract some free agents. — Mark J.
I wish I knew if this would happen — and when — because then I would plan my offseason accordingly. Alas, I do not. But, what I will say is I think signing Guerrero to a long-term extension should be the front office’s number one priority this offseason — before signing free agents or trades or hiring coaches.
If the Blue Jays lock up Guerrero, who hit .323 with a .940 OPS and 30 home runs and proved he’s one of today’s elite bats and can be a pillar of the franchise, then other moves can flow from there. Prospective free agents would likely feel better about signing multiyear deals with Toronto knowing Guerrero is there for the long haul rather than just next season (or less if the season goes sideways and he’s traded).
Atkins recently spoke about the prospect of signing Guerrero and Bichette to long-term deals, saying it is “certainly a possibility” but that “that doesn’t make it just happen.” Having both players there long-term gives the Blue Jays a lot more certainty that they can continue to build a contender around them. But signing Guerrero takes precedence over Bichette, in my opinion, although recency bias is a factor. Bichette is coming off a career-worst season in which he was also sidelined by multiple injuries to his right calf and finger.
Seeing a healthy Bichette rebound in 2025 would benefit the Blue Jays, before signing him long-term. It would probably help Bichette, too, since it’s rarely advisable to sign a multiyear contract after a career-worst season.
If the Jays can’t extend Vlad by the start of spring training, do they trade him then or wait for the deadline? — Tom W.
As mentioned, signing Guerrero should be a priority this winter. It makes too much sense for the Blue Jays and Guerrero to work out an extension since there is mutual interest. But if a deal doesn’t get done, the Blue Jays still seem intent on competing next season and seeing this Bo-Vlad-led era through to the end.
Atkins was asked if there was any scenario this offseason where they reverse course on competing and decide to take a step back to reset — which would presumably involve moving on from one or both of Guerrero or Bichette — and Atkins answered with an emphatic no. “We are definitively committed to this core,” he said.
When asked if he would trade Guerrero or Bichette at the deadline, if they remain unsigned and the team isn’t competitive in 2025, Atkins said, “I would never say that we have to do something or don’t have to do something, and we’re fortunate to have incredible support that we aren’t ever backed into a corner that way. Now, should you, and will you and would you, are different questions that I’d rather have more information to answer.”
Piecing that all together, I think the likelihood of the Blue Jays trading Guerrero before the season is slim to none. But, if the season goes sideways, and Guerrero is still a pending free agent, then the Blue Jays would have to be willing to trade him or risk losing him for nothing more than draft-pick compensation. I think the club is willing to do that, because they understand how this business works, though it would be a worst-case scenario.
(Top photo of Guerrero: David Richard / USA Today)
