The Toronto Blue Jays are in a tough spot this winter because their pitching rotation is falling apart. The front office now wants to sign a 30-year-old right-handed pitcher with a $56 million contract. He used to be one of the best pitchers in the NL East, with a career ERA of 3.65, but Tommy John surgery cut short his 2024 season. His return hasn’t been easy with a 5.36 ERA in 31 games. However, the Blue Jays look past the numbers to the talent that made him one of baseball’s best starters.

Toronto’s aggressive pursuit of Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara stems from desperation rather than luxury. General manager Ross Atkins can’t get into bidding wars for top free agents because the team’s payroll is set to be $225 million in 2026. And Alcantara’s contract, which pays him $17 million in 2026 and gives the club the option to pay him $21 million in 2027, is a way to keep costs down.

Toronto is still aggressive, even though their farm system isn’t very deep and they have a payroll of $225 million. They can’t offer more money than other teams to get free agents, especially if they want to keep Bo Bichette, as per Kerry Miller of the Bleacher Report. It’s a good idea for them to trade for Alcantara to keep their rotation stable as Chris Bassitt, Max Scherzer, and Shane Bieber leave.

But after his Tommy John surgery, Alcantara had a rough season, making 31 starts and going 11-12 in 174.2 innings pitched, with 142 strikeouts and 57 walks. The struggles were evident in specific outings, including games where he allowed two-run homers, such as shots by Freddie Freeman and Shohei Ohtani.

Yet Alcantara had a 2.28 ERA in 2022, which won him the NL Cy Young award. The Blue Jays are betting that he can get back to being that dominant with the right help and workload management.

The situation is getting worse because Toronto is losing three rotation pillars this winter. Bassitt, Scherzer, and Bieber are the veterans who are leaving, as reported by Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report. Bieber will most likely turn down his player option, while Bassitt and Scherzer will become free agents.

Meanwhile, Kevin Gausman’s contract runs through 2026, after which he will become a free agent in 2027, creating uncertainty about whether Toronto will need to re-sign him or seek alternatives. And José Berríos, too, can opt out after the 2026 season to become a free agent, giving up $48 million over the final two seasons. This opt-out decision creates a different kind of uncertainty.

If Berríos performs well through 2026, he could leave in free agency rather than remain with the Blue Jays for the final years of his deal.

So, the Blue Jays can’t afford to stay still while their chance to win the championship gets smaller. Getting Alcantara is their best chance to stabilize a rotation that is going down fast.

Blue Jays eye Tarik Skubal as an alternative to Alcantara

The Toronto Blue Jays want more than just Alcantara, though. There are also rumors about Tarik Skubal, who is in a contract dispute with the Detroit Tigers. There are millions of dollars at stake for both sides, and scouts think the stalemate could make Detroit do something. Toronto knows what its current lineup is missing.

A starter who can change the game and take its October performance to the next level. Skubal has shown that he can do just that.

During the postseason, the reigning AL Cy Young winner showed that he can dominate when it counts. Skubal pitched a masterclass in Game 5 of the ALDS against the Seattle Mariners. He only gave up one run in six innings and struck out 13 batters. In that same game, he set a record for the most strikeouts in a row in the postseason. Skubal had a 1.74 ERA and 36 strikeouts in three postseason starts over 20⅔ innings.

This shows the kind of clutch excellence that can help a team get through October. In 31 starts during the regular season, the left-hander had a 2.21 ERA and struck out 241 batters in 195⅓ innings. This was elite production that got him Cy Young consideration.

Now, the Blue Jays are at a crossroads because their hopes of winning the championship are at odds with the reality of their roster. They can’t just rely on internal development. As they try to save their World Series hopes, Toronto will continue to be aggressive in its search for top starting pitchers, whether through trades or free agency.