November 1, 2025. Teary-eyed Ernie Clement’s voice was breaking. Chris Bassitt could barely speak. Shane Bieber was choking. The heartbreak was visible in the Toronto Blue Jays’ locker room. While the whole team had been looking forward to their next chance, their president, Mark Shapiro, has something else in mind.

“In my experience, anything like that is just not replicable,” Mark Shapiro explained that doing what they did in 2025 is going to be difficult.

“So I think the most important thing for us is to not focus on ‘getting back.’ It’s just a focus on step one, which is how do we get back to the playoffs? And then (if that happens), I think we will be well prepared to handle any of that.”

The pain of that Game 7 loss still lingers inside the Toronto Blue Jays clubhouse. Toronto lost 5-4 in 11 innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers. They were two outs away before the Dodgers forced extra innings.

Will Smith’s 11th-inning homer ended Toronto’s championship hopes heartbreakingly. Players and fans watched months of effort disappear in one unforgettable moment.

News served to you like never before!

Prefer us on Google, To get latest news on feed

Prefer Us on Google

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. reflected, “I can’t be any prouder of my teammates.”

Vladdy finished the postseason hitting .397 with eight home runs across eighteen games. That historic postseason showed how close Toronto truly came to winning everything.

Guerrero stayed inside the dugout longer than everyone else.

“When I left, I felt like I had faced reality,” he exclaimed.

Manager John Schneider said, “I said thank you probably about 10 times.”

That simple message showed appreciation but also reflected the emotional damage. That pain still fuels motivation as players prepare themselves for the upcoming season. Schneider made the team focus clear entering camp with an honest message.

“We’re attacking 2026 like we did in 2025 or any year.”

However, team president Mark Shapiro offered a grounded view about expectations ahead.

He emphasized that postseason qualification must remain the realistic and immediate priority.

Toronto plays inside the competitive AL East division with several improved opponents.

In 2025, Toronto and the New York Yankees finished with 94 wins. This showed that the Yankees can’t be questioned in the regular season. And with the Yankees landing the same team, it is not going to be easy for the Jays.

But Toronto strengthened its roster by adding pitching help to support its offense.

New arms like Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce improve rotation depth. Offensively, Guerrero and Ernie Clement remain proven contributors. Clement set a postseason record with 30 hits during Toronto’s playoff run.

That balance between pitching and offense keeps Toronto firmly among American League contenders. Still, division rivals made aggressive improvements that increase competition across the entire standings.

The Baltimore Orioles added Pete Alonso and Chris Bassitt, the one who hoped “to have another chance with” the Jays.

The Orioles already had rising star Gunnar Henderson producing strong numbers.

Meanwhile, the Boston Red Sox added Ranger Suárez and Willson Contreras. This added to the team that Roman Anthony and Garrett Crochet are going to be tough to beat. But it’s not just teams; even history is not in favor of the Blue Jays.

Game 7 losers have rarely won championships the following year. The Detroit Tigers accomplished it during the 1934 and 1935 seasons. The Kansas City Royals repeated that achievement after losing in 2014. The Yankees accomplished this comeback multiple times throughout their championship history.

That reality reinforces Shapiro’s view that reaching the postseason remains the first necessary step.

The chance of the Blue Jays making the postseason went up after the latest signing

Mark Shapiro has set his eyes on the postseason for the 2026 season, and the Jays are making sure that the team does not fall short.

Max Scherzer re-signed with the Toronto Blue Jays on a one-year, $3 million contract. Reports confirmed incentives could raise total earnings by $10 million, depending on performance.

“I’m 41 years old. I didn’t know I could love baseball this much,” reacted Scherzer.

Toronto structured the contract carefully after injuries limited Scherzer to 85 innings in 2025.

Toronto’s urgency increased when Bowden Francis required Tommy John surgery, ending his 2026 season. Plus, Shane Bieber’s forearm fatigue delayed his preparation, creating uncertainty throughout Toronto’s starting rotation plans.

Manager John Schneider noted, “He can still help us win games.”

Toronto plans a gradual buildup, allowing Scherzer to regain strength before meaningful innings. He already threw bullpen sessions and faced live hitters before physically reporting to the camp. His seven innings, 11 strikeouts against Detroit, proved flashes of the Mad Max we know is still there.

However, limited roster spots could create difficult decisions once injured pitchers return. Toronto must carefully balance game time while maximizing Max Scherzer’s in-game experience to help the rotation.

“The goal is to win right now,” Schneider shared after Scherzer’s return.

That belief reflected Toronto’s confidence despite injuries threatening the rotation stability entering the 2026 season.