After crushing World Series defeat, 3 key offseason questions for the Blue Jays

TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays are tasked with recapturing the magic of their 2025 season. After one of the best years in franchise history, returning to the World Series stage for the first time since 1993, the Jays finally enter the offseason. The sting of a gutting Game 7 loss will linger, but they will soon turn attention to 2026.

With key free agents and holes opening across the roster, the Jays will have to find the same formula that nearly lifted them to a title. Here are three offseason questions that will define Toronto’s winter.

Will Bo Bichette return?

Bo Bichette said all the right things, fueling Jays fans’ hopes that he’ll stay in Toronto. All year, the quiet shortstop talked about wanting to win with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for years to come. Hours after Saturday’s Game 7 loss, he repeated it.

“I’ve said I wanted to be here from the beginning,” Bichette said.

But the reality is he’s now days away from free agency. Before Game 6 of the World Series, Bichette admitted at times this year he’s thought about the potential of this being his last season with Toronto. For the first time in Bichette’s big league career, he’ll have options and suitors.

Behind Kyle Tucker, Bichette will be one of the top offensive players in this year’s market. After reasserting his value by hitting over .300 and staying healthy for most of 2025, Bichette enters the market in a tier alongside Alex Bregman, Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso. Even after Bichette missed most of September and all of the postseason until the World Series with a knee sprain, he’ll be the top shortstop option on the open market this winter. He’s a game-changing talent at the plate and only 27. There are questions about Bichette’s longevity at shortstop, with multiple rival executives suggesting he’ll eventually move to second base. However, his age and bat make Bichette a clear draw for many teams, including Toronto.

The Jays have shortstop alternatives. Ernie Clement and Andrés Giménez, both under team control next year, shared the position after Bichette’s knee sprain put him on the sidelines. Slick-fielding prospect Josh Kasevich could push up to the big leagues, too. Giménez graded out, essentially, as a league-average shortstop in the back half of September. It’s not hard to imagine Giménez becoming a plus defender at the position who is given regular reps next year, but he wouldn’t replace the offence Bichette provides.

If Bichette walks, the Jays lose their co-star. He came up in Toronto’s minors alongside Guerrero. They both debuted in 2019 and helped push the team to four postseason appearances in the last seven seasons. Bichette’s homer in Game 7 gave him a signature moment, but he hasn’t won a playoff series as an active player. If he signs elsewhere, it represents the end of an era in Toronto. If Bichette stays, the Vlad and Bo show continues and the Jays will continue to build around their core pair.

Who fills out the 2026 rotation?

After Bichette, the bulk of Toronto’s offseason work will come in the rotation. Chris Bassitt, Max Scherzer and Shane Bieber (assuming he opts out) are set to enter free agency. That’s around $40 million in pitching payroll opening up.

With Kevin Gausman, José Berríos (assuming elbow health) and Trey Yesavage pencilled into starting spots next year, the Jays have at least two holes to fill. They could hand one of those roles to Eric Lauer and fill the other with a minor leaguer or current depth option, like Bowden Francis, Ricky Tiedemann, Gage Stanifer or Adam Macko. But it’s hard to see Toronto leaving camp with those options locked into rotation spots — they’re all better suited as insurance and midseason call-ups. The Jays will likely look to make a pitching splash via a trade or free agency.

The free-agent market, fortunately, suits Toronto’s clear need. Starting pitching is the strength of this market, with Michael King, Dylan Cease, Ranger Suárez and others headlining the class for pitchers. Bassitt clearly stated his desire to return after Game 7. The Jays could extend Bieber as well. With Gausman entering the final year of his contract, there’s room for at least one significant long-term signing for the Jays’ starting staff.

Will unsigned leaders be extended?

The Jays’ first order of business, even before Bichette negotiations and free-agent planning, is to sort out the franchise’s leadership group. While general manager Ross Atkins remains under contract next season, this year was believed to be the final season for both team president Mark Shapiro and manager John Schneider on their current deals. It’s hard to see either leaving now.

Schneider just led the Jays’ most successful season since 1993. He pushed the team to its first division title since 2015 and deepest postseason run since 2016. His team fell one win — one run — short of defeating baseball’s behemoth in the World Series. Schneider is a clear candidate to win the American League manager of the year award, if not the favourite. Before the postseason, Atkins heaped praise on Schneider, who guided the Jays to their first pennant in 32 years.

“His recall,” Atkins said, “his passion for baseball, understanding the very, very small details that are exceptionally important to win over 162 is a clear foundation for him. But I actually think the strengths that allow that foundation to excel are his positivity and the human being.”

Of course, Atkins is going to hype up his manager ahead of October. But it’s hard to see a GM going from that praise to letting Schneider walk in mere days, especially after a World Series run. A contract extension appears likely for Schneider, and it should arrive quickly.

Shapiro’s future isn’t quite as obvious as Schneider’s, though an extension still appears nearly certain for the president. Shapiro already accomplished many of the tasks he was brought to Toronto to oversee, building a new player development complex and renovating Rogers Centre. However, during a midseason media availability, he said there was still work to be done. He also indicated that he and Blue Jays ownership had mutual interest in an extension.

“I want to remain here,” Shapiro said. “And I can also say that both Edward (Rogers) and Tony (Staffieri) have been reciprocal in that desire.”