An examination of the Toronto Blue Jays upcoming 2025 season.
Well, it's New Years day and everyone is still wondering what's next for the Toronto Blue Jays?
The Blue Jays could surprise everyone by extending Vladimir Guerrero Jr., but at this point, Ross Atkins would need to offer the face of the franchise the world to keep him from testing free agency next winter at just age 26.
As Spring Training begins to linger over the horizon, it feels like the big story will be what is Vladdy's future going to look like with this club?
That's not an ideal place for the Blue Jays to be.
Along with Guerrero in this situation is Bo Bichette.
Bo is also entering his first chance to test free agency in 2026 and is only 26 years old.
And while Bichette was plagued with injuries last season, he is healthy now and you can expect he and Guerrero will put up career numbers going into free agency.
As much as I would love to see the Blue Jays extend both, it's hard to see Ross Atkins extending Bichette, especially if he pulls a rabbit out of his hat by signing Guerrero long term before the spring training deadline.
If the Blue Jays can't land a big bat via free agency you may see Bo traded before the season starts.
Now you may disagree because you think his stock is low right now, however like the aforementioned reason above, other General Managers know he will most likely put up career numbers in 2025, and may be worth taking a flyer on.
There's also a flip side to that coin, If the Jays have another down season you can expect Bichette to be traded at the deadline.
If he remains healthy and has the year everyone expects him to have, the Jays should get a good return for Bo.
If Bo has another injury marred season you can expect a Josh Donaldson / Julien Merryweather type situation where Atkins trades him for bupkis.
We can only hope as Jays fans, that Atkins gets lucky in this sticky situation.
Along with Guerrero and Bichette, Chris Bassit is entering the final year of his contract valued at $22 million.
Chad Green is in his final year, too, at $10.5 million, and if recent history is any indicator, Toronto will make some veteran additions on one-year deals.
Kevin Gausman's deal is up after 2026 and Jose Berrios has an opt-out clause, which could be attractive in this market if he continues to pitch well.
George Springer Alejandro Kirk and Daulton Varsho are pending free agents after '26, too.
There's clearly an off-ramp the Blue Jays can take in a year if they choose to.
The only significant addition Ross Atkins made this off season was in the form of a trade with his old buddies from Cleveland, acquiring three-time gold glover Andres Gimenez for Spencer Horwitz
This will definitely help this club defensively, and in the event Bo Bichette departs in 2026, the Blue Jays are covered at shortstop.
What about the Blue Jays farm system?
As it stands today, the Blue Jays' system does not have the next Guerrero or Bichette.
This can change quickly, particularly with young talents like Orelvis Martinez, No. 5 prospect Arjun Nimmala or whoever Toronto selects with the No. 8 pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, but it's a difficult thing to bet on.
As it stands, the organization's farm system is growing.
The Trade Deadline helped that with an influx of talent, and we've seen names like Davis Schneider, Leo Jimenez, Addison Barger, Will Wagner, Jonatan Clase and Joey Loperfido reach the Major League roster recently.
The next wave turns the spotlight to right-hander Jake Bloss (the Blue Jays' No. 3 prospect), outfielder Alan Roden and infielder Josh Kasevich (No. 9), among others, who will be tasked with raising this team's ceiling, not just its floor.
Remember the name Alan Roden:
Blue Jays fans got a glimpse of Roden last spring. This February and March, I'd bet on Roden being one of the more popular names in camp.
The 25-year-old Roden is an on-base machine, very much in the style of Spencer Howritz.
Roden showed well after his Triple-A promotion mid-season in 2024, too, batting .314 with a .406 on-base percentage in 71 games for the Bisons.
Toronto's outfield has some opportunity for Roden, and while I'd still bet on him starting in Triple-A to open the season, he could be a legitimate piece of this club's plans in 2025.
With that being said, hopefully Toronto can land a big bat or two via free agency, and an elite closer to shore up what may be the last time we see Guerrero and Bichette in a blue Jays uniform.
If Ross Atkins can add some significant pieces to what's left of this core, 2025 may be a better season than most think.
Whatever happens I cant wait till spring training and I'm definitely intrigued to see what the 2025 season holds.
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| POLL | ||
JANVIER 1 | 170 ANSWERS An examination of the Toronto Blue Jays upcoming 2025 season. Are you excited for Blue Jays Spring Training 2025? | ||
| Yes | 51 | 30 % |
| No | 64 | 37.6 % |
| Too early to tell | 55 | 32.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
