The Toronto Blue Jays’ 2025 postseason run will be remembered for a good long time, even though they fell just short of the World Series title. It’s been a couple of days since they were only two outs away from winning it all. That’s why the sting of that loss, especially the way it happened, still lingers. Yet, the Blue Jays, along with CEO and president Mark Shapiro, are already looking ahead to the 2026 season. As they should!

“We care deeply about our players.” He admitted it during the end-of-season media availability. The first step in their care starts with meeting their lineup’s most obvious needs.

The two top free agents, who could cost Toronto a whopping $568 million, might be the key to upgrading much of their outfield and shortstop positions.

USA Today’s Bob Nightengale suggests that after their deep playoff run, the Blue Jays have had, they could be the ‘favourite’ landing spot for Kyle Tucker this offseason.

Tucker had a bit of an off year in 2025 due to injury. He somehow still managed 22 homers, 73 RBIs, and 25 stolen bases over 136 games. Now, imagine a lineup featuring both Tucker and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., arguably the best offensive duo in the game.

It’s still early. And the Tucker sweepstakes likely won’t be resolved until at least December’s Winter Meetings. He will cost the Jays nearly $400 million, but the Blue Jays won’t be financially holding back this time, not even when it comes to re-signing Bo Bichette, who will cost them somewhere around $186 million.

Bichette, who was expected to leave Toronto a year ago and whose name surfaced in trade talks, is now likely to stay to finish what feels like a goodwill tour.

At just 27, Bichette is already a two-time All-Star and has led the American League in hits twice.

Shortstops like him don’t come around often. He’s a homegrown star for Toronto, drafted in the second round of the 2016 MLB Draft. The Blue Jays have been fortunate to have him. According to Nightengale, the expectation is for Bichette to stay in Toronto.

The latest update from Nightengale makes the Blue Jays a team all clubs will keep an eye on.

Blue Jays to also bring in 29-year-old ace

Last weekend, Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith shared a column ahead of what could be a major offseason for the Blue Jays. He expects the team to be linked to big-name free agents, including top-tier starting pitchers, with Dylan Cease highlighted as a potential target.

“In a sense, the Blue Jays have already started their off-season shopping by locking up Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to a $500 million deal that keeps him off the open market and securing Shane Bieber for 2026,” Smith noted.

History suggests the Blue Jays will keep pursuing big names, starting with Bo Bichette. They’re also expected to show interest in Kyle Tucker, the top position player available, as well as the three top starting pitchers: Framber Valdez, Dylan Cease, and Ranger Suarez.

For the record, Cease and Suarez are clients of agent Scott Boras. Boras has previously worked with Atkins on deals for stars such as Max Scherzer, Yusei Kikuchi, and Hyun-Jin Ryu.

Of the pitchers mentioned, Dylan Cease is arguably the most intriguing. At 29, he’s younger than both Valdez and Suarez. While his 2025 ERA of 4.55 wasn’t impressive, his 3.56 FIP suggests he was unlucky at times.

Cease is exactly the type of guy who could take the Blue Jays’ rotation to another level and get the club back to the World Series contention.