The Toronto Blue Jays lost Game 7 of the World Series on Saturday night to the Los Angeles Dodgers in heartbreaking fashion. The Blue Jays were two outs away from their first championship since 1993, but the Dodgers ended up winning in extra innings to become MLB’s first repeat champ in 25 years.
Fresh off securing the franchise’s first AL East title since 2015 and first pennant since that aforementioned 1993 season, the Blue Jays will now head into the winter with plenty of questions to address if they want to repeat as division champions — something Toronto hasn’t done in more than three decades.
Here are a few particular matters the Blue Jays will weigh this winter.
1. What will happen with Bichette?
Bo Bichette, the Blue Jays’ starting shortstop since 2019, wasn’t on the roster for most of their playoff run after spraining his knee late in the regular season. Bichette returned in the World Series and was impactful against the Dodgers, even though he was not 100%. Bichette hit a three-run home run off Shohei Ohtani in Game 7 that looked as if it might serve as the title-clinching blast.
Alas, the Jays surrendered the lead, and it’s possible that Bichette’s absence earlier in October was a preview of life to come. He’s now slated to hit the open market this winter as one of the most attractive free agents available.
Bichette, 27, is a career .294/.337/.469 hitter (121 OPS+) with 111 home runs and 60 stolen bases to show for his seven big-league seasons. His contributions have been worth an estimated 20.8 Wins Above Replacement, according to Baseball Reference. Bichette isn’t considered a strong defensive presence, but there’s no denying his offensive aptitude — that, plus his relative youth, will make him an appealing target for teams seeking an upgrade on the infield.
“I’ve said I want to be here from the beginning,” Bichette told reporters after the Game 7 loss.
The Blue Jays made a splash earlier this year when they locked up first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on a $500 million extension, thereby preventing him from reaching free agency this offseason. Toronto general manager Ross Atkins confirmed he wanted to do the same with Bichette around that time, but nothing has materialized since.
“The interest is definitely there,” Atkins said in April. “…It’s also our vision for [Guerrero and Bichette] to continue to play together. We will do everything in our power to see if we can line up.”
The Blue Jays will continue to have exclusive negotiating rights with Bichette for a few more days. After that, it’s anyone’s ballgame. If the two sides can’t line up on a new agreement to keep Bichette in town, the Blue Jays could just slot in Andrés Giménez at the six, the way they have throughout this postseason. Alternatively, Toronto could look outside the organization. There aren’t many compelling shortstop options available, however, suggesting that Giménez is not only the path of least resistance, but perhaps the best path period.
2. What about the rotation?
Bichette isn’t the only notable Blue Jays veteran who could be on their way elsewhere.
Indeed, most of Toronto’s starting rotation is eligible for free agency, beginning with seasoned veterans Chris Bassitt and Max Scherzer. Deadline addition Shane Bieber could join them too, provided he does as expected and voids the $16 million player option he holds for the 2026 season. Those three combined to start 31 of Toronto’s 66 second-half games.
To provide further uncertainty, the Blue Jays also lost José Berríos to elbow inflammation in September and Bowden Francis to a shoulder impingement in June. The good news is that both resumed throwing throughout the month of October, though neither was deemed in position to help in a playoff round.
Presumably Berríos and Francis will be good to go come this spring. If that is the case, the Blue Jays could — without any re-signings or outside additions — trot out a starting five consisting of Kevin Gausman, postseason breakout star Trey Yesavage, Berríos, Francis, and Eric Lauer. It stands to reason the Blue Jays will look to add at least one arm, if only for insurance purposes.
3. Can key additions perform better in Year 2?
For as well as the season played out for the Blue Jays, it’s easy to forget that a few of their top additions from last winter did not live up to expectations.
Outfielder Anthony Santander followed up the best full-season of his career by hitting just .175/.271/.294 (57 OPS+) with six home runs in 54 games. Closer Jeff Hoffman, meanwhile, posted a 4.37 ERA (98 ERA+) and issued more than 16 walks in his final 28 ⅔ innings — those troubles didn’t prevent him from saving 33 games and finishing 26 others, but they did stray from the marks he had compiled in the years prior. His home run issue (Hoffman allowed two homers per nine innings in the regular season) came back to bite him in Game 7 of the World Series as he allowed the game-tying blast to Miguel Rojas in the ninth inning.
A return to form for either/both would go a long way in helping the Blue Jays position themselves to return to the World Series next fall.
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