One game, one win is how close the Toronto Blue Jays were to breaking their 33-year championship drought after losing one of the most exciting and stressful Game 7s in history to the juggernaut Los Angeles Dodgers. The loss ended the season, but with raised expectations in 2026, the Blue Jays will contend again.
The Jays broke an eight-year winless playoff drought, and after going worst to first, they won their first division title in a decade in a stacked American League East.
The Jays believe they can win it all this season, as evidenced by the front office’s contract extensions for President Mark Shapiro, GM Ross Atkins, and Manager John Schneider.
Around the same time last year, fans were unsure if star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. would stay after the team had a hard time re-signing him. They ended up securing him with a 14-year, $500 million contract, and he proved his worth in the postseason. He hit an impressive eight home runs, .397 average, .494 on-base percentage (OBP), and provided elite defence on first base. For Toronto to contend, the Jays need him playing at the same elite level.
After a long off-season full of roster moves, the 2026 season is very encouraging. The front office made pitching depth a much-needed priority and brought in potential ace Dylan Cease from San Diego on a seven-year $210 million deal, Cody Ponce, Tyler Rodgers, Eric Lauer, and Max Scherzer. These additions make the team much stronger on paper.
The moves didn’t end there; they also brought in Japanese infielder Kazuma Okamoto on a $60-million four-year deal after batting a solid .327 with the Yomiuri Giants. Although overseas success doesn’t always translate to immediate success, he will be a big part of the Jays' return.
But the off-season also came with big losses. Star shortstop Bo Bichette headed to New York to join the Mets, and pitcher Chris Bassitt left for the Baltimore Orioles. Bichette’s leadership and consistency will be hard to replace, and both traits are pivotal in a tough AL East where every error can matter in the long run.
Toronto will also be short of some major firepower in the pitching rotation due to injuries to start the season. Young star Trey Yesavage, who was a big part of the postseason run after sitting in the minors, will miss time with a shoulder injury. Shane Bieber will be out for a while with an elbow issue, as will Jose Berrios. The Jays' rotation will start thin and will look to its new depth to hold things together.
One more major injury is Anthony Santander, who is making his contract look worse every day. He will miss five months with a torn labrum. He is coming off a mediocre season for his five-year $92.5 million contract, and the front office will be hoping for a strong bounce-back season when he returns.
The Toronto Blue Jays are a World Series contender, and they have the talent to bring the trophy back. The lineup is deeper, the pitching is stronger, and the team has the October experience. They are no longer the surprise team; they have become a threat.
In a long 162-game season, they will need the middle of the lineup to maintain the hot bats, which will be on the shoulders of Addison Barger and Ernie Clement, who broke the postseason hit record. The pitching will need to hit a new level this year with the new additions, and most importantly, the team needs to stay healthy. Anything less can lead to a step backwards in a season where expectations are higher than ever.
