“Toronto is a winning franchise and I would strongly consider being part of it.” Super-agent Scott Boras cited the player community. He hinted that a lot of players would seriously consider joining the Blue Jays. If you remember, for years, Toronto wasn’t viewed as a top destination for elite talent, but their run to Game 7 of the 2025 World Series seems to have changed everything.

Now, the Jays are expected to have a bigger pool of targets than ever, and fans could realistically see some big-name additions this offseason.

After all, team president Mark Shapiro did promise they’d go all out heading into 2026. However, amid all the optimism, Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi reminded everyone that the Jays need to make sure their focus is in the right place.

And that focus should be their starting rotation….

“The trickiest piece of free agency for them is going to be the starting pitching market, right. I think that if you just look at the way the roster is constructed right now, where the depth is, that you can definitely make the case that they are better positioned from a position player standpoint than a pitching standpoint, and particularly a rotation standpoint,” Davidi said via the SportsNet podcast.

And even if it means letting Bo Bichette go, Davidi would be fine with quality starters on the team. “The Bo situation is tricky, but because they have depth there, they can afford to play that out… Once that starting pitching is gone, it’s gone.”

But why focus on the starting rotation rather than the offense?

Toronto’s urgency to reinforce its rotation comes down to simple math: elite starting pitching is scarce, expensive, and disappears quickly once free agency opens. With Kevin Gausman and Shane Bieber approaching free agency after 2026, and Jose Berrios holding an opt-out next fall, the Jays can’t afford to rely on short-term patches. Their position-player core gives them flexibility on offense, but the rotation lacks that same depth — which is why analysts like Shi Davidi continue to stress that pitching is their true make-or-break priority.

Adding a dependable top-end starter would not only replace the void left by Chris Bassitt and Max Scherzer but also stabilize the rotation for the next several years. Someone like Dylan Cease would immediately raise the staff’s ceiling, while a younger arm such as Tatsuya Imai offers long-term frontline potential. With Toronto expected to be aggressive this winter, the blueprint is simple: secure a starter who can anchor the future.

And that brings everything back to the present reality. With Bassitt and Scherzer gone, the Blue Jays face a significant gap in their rotation — and filling it has become their defining offseason mission.

Notably, Kevin Gausman and Shane Bieber are set to hit free agency after 2026. Jose Berrios is holding an opt-out next fall. So, it makes sense for Toronto to target a true front-line starter who can anchor the rotation for years to come. Right now, the most realistic plan seems to be adding one more starter to slot in with that group. That presumably, Trey Yesavage.

On the other hand, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is still the centerpiece, and with big names like Kyle Tucker already linked to the Jays, Davidi believes the team could afford to move on from Bo Bichette if it came to that. But what they can’t afford is skimping on reliable starting pitching.

The Jays are already in the race for a few famed arms

So, the first big name on the Blue Jays’ radar is Dylan Cease. And guess what, he’s an ideal fit. Notably, this year, he wrapped up with an 8–12 record, a 4.55 ERA over 168 innings, 215 SOs, and a 1.33 WHIP across 32 starts.

You might argue that’s not an elite level. But still, ESPN projects him for a five-year, $145 million deal, averaging $29 million AAV. And if he could slot in as Toronto’s No. 2 behind Kevin Gausman, Cease would push Shane Bieber to No. 3. Then, Trey Yesavage to No. 4, and Berrios or Francis into the fifth spot. Thus, giving the Jays one of the deepest rotations in the league, not just the AL.

There’s more…

The next intriguing possibility is Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai. For reference, Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report listed the Blue Jays as a potential destination, and it’s easy to see why… He posted a 1.92 ERA with 178 SOs over 163 innings in 2025.

Now it’s just a matter of whether Toronto can strike the right balance — fortifying the rotation while still keeping their offense strong.