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 eventually won in extra innings to become MLB's first repeat champion in 25 years.
Fresh off their first AL East title since 2015 and their first pennant since the aforementioned 1993 season, the Blue Jays will now head into the winter with a lot of questions to answer if they want to repeat as division champions – something Toronto hasn't done in over three decades.
Here are a few specific questions the Blue Jays will be addressing this winter.
1. What will happen to Bichette?
Bo BichetteThe Blue Jays' starter since 2019, was kept out of the lineup for most of the playoffs after spraining his knee late in the regular season. Bichette returned to the World Series and played an effective game against the Dodgers, although not at 100%. Bichette hit a three-run home run off Shohei Ohtani in Game 7 that looked like it could serve as a shot in the arm for the title.
Alas, the Jays relinquished the lead, and it's possible that Bichette's absence in early October was a sign of things to come. Now he's set to hit the open market this winter as one of the hottest free agents around.
Bichette, 27, is a .294/.337/.469 (121 OPS+) hitter with 111 home runs and 60 stolen bases in seven major league seasons. His contribution is valued at 20.8 wins above replacement, according to Baseball Reference. Bichette isn't considered a strong defensive player, but there's no denying his offensive ability – that, plus his relative youth, will make him an attractive target for teams looking to improve their infield skills.
“I said I wanted to be here from the beginning” Bichette told reporters after losing Game 7.
The Blue Jays made waves earlier this year when they locked up a first baseman. Vladimir Guerrero Jr.. on a $500 million contract extension that will prevent him from becoming a free agent this offseason. Toronto general manager Ross Atkins confirmed that he wanted to do the same with Bichette around the same time, but nothing has happened since.
“There is definitely interest,” Atkins said in April. “…This is also our vision [Guerrero and Bichette] keep playing together. We'll do everything we can to see if we can line up.”
The Blue Jays will still have exclusive rights to negotiate with Bichette for a few more days. After that, it's someone else's game. If both teams can't come to a new agreement to keep Bichette in town, the Blue Jays could simply take Andres Jimenez's spot in the sixth, as they have done all postseason. Alternatively, Toronto could look outside the organization. However, there are few compelling stopping options, suggesting that Jimenez is not only the path of least resistance, but perhaps the best part of the journey.
2. What about rotation?
Bichette isn't the only Blue Jays veteran standout who could head elsewhere.
Indeed, most of Toronto's starting rotation is eligible for free agency, starting with seasoned veterans. Chris Bassitt And Max Scherzer. Deadline for adding Shane Bieber could join them as well, provided he does what was expected and exercises the $16 million player option he has for the 2026 season. Those three combined to start 31 of Toronto's 66 second-half plays.
To add further uncertainty, the Blue Jays also lost Jose Berrios to elbow inflammation in September and Bowden Francis before bruising my shoulder in June. The good news is that both resumed throwing during October, although neither was able to help in the playoff round.
Berrios and Francis are expected to be available this spring. If that's the case, the Blue Jays could – without any re-signings or outside additions – field a starting five consisting of Kevin Gausmanpostseason star Trey YesavageBerrios, Francis and Eric Lauer. It goes without saying that the Blue Jays will look to add at least one arm, if only for insurance purposes.
3. Could key additions perform better in year two?
Even though the season has been played out for the Blue Jays, it's easy to forget that some of their best players from last winter didn't live up to expectations.
Outfielder Anthony Santander is coming off the best season of his career, hitting just .175/.271/.294 (57 OPS+) with six home runs in 54 games. Closer Jeff HoffmanMeanwhile, he posted a 4.37 ERA (98 ERA+) and issued more than 16 walks in his final 28⅔ innings—those issues didn't stop him from saving 33 games and completing 26 others, but they did deviate from the marks he'd compiled in previous years. His home run problem (Hoffman allowed two homers in nine innings during the regular season) came back to bite him in Game 7 of the World Series when he allowed Miguel Rojas to hit the game-tying hit in the ninth inning.
Getting one/both back into form will go a long way in helping the Blue Jays prepare to return to the World Series next fall.
