The 2025 Blue Jays post-season run sent Canada into a baseball frenzy. But what can fans expect from the reigning American League champs in 2026?
A few short months ago the streets of Toronto were packed on a nightly basis with hopeful baseball fans. The city was abuzz in a way it hadn’t been in a long time as the Blue Jays embarked on a magical run, leading to their first World Series appearance in 32 years.
While that series ended in a heartbreaking game seven loss, that Blue Jays team reignited country’s love for the game, bringing in a new interest in the sport heading into the 2026 season.
But what can Jays fans look forward to this upcoming season? The Sheridan Sun spoke to Sportsnet reporter and analyst Blake Murphy, who shared his insights about Toronto in 2026.
“It will be a really fun year because so many new fans came on board last year and got to know and like these players,” said Murphy to the Sheridan Sun.
With the Jays first spring training game taking place on Feb 21, here are five things you need to know heading into the Jays 2026 season.
1. Most of the team’s core players are back
The Blue Jays’ 2025 postseason run was defined by a number of players.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit the first Blue Jays post-season grand slam en route to defeating the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series.
George Springer hit the go-ahead home run in game seven of the American League Championship series to send the team to the World Series.
Ernie Clement set a record for the most hits in a single postseason.
The good thing about this heading into 2026? All those players are back on the roster.
Most notably among them, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. signed himself into being a Blue Jay for life in April 2025 with a 14-year $500-million contract.
2. Free agent signings are expected to have an impact
Despite majority of their core players returning, the Jays were busy this offseason too.
The team signed pitcher Dylan Cease to a seven-year $210-million contract. The former Cy-Young finalist is set to help lead a starting rotation that has seen the exit of multiple starters this offseason.
Toronto also signed recent KBO (Korean Baseball Organization) starting pitcher Cody Ponce and long-time reliable reliever Tyler Rogers to shore up the bullpen.
“The pitching staff is in a better place today than it was at this point in 2025,” Murphy notes.
On the offensive end the team signed all-star player from Japan’s NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball) league, Kazuma Okamoto. His positional versatility and upside as an offensive threat could provide a boost to an already solid lineup.
According to Murphy, this roster might not be the full picture. “They are probably still one bat and one leverage reliever short of where they’ll want to be in August, but there’s plenty of time for that via trade,” said Murphy.
3. Bo Bichette is a New York Met
One of the biggest changes seen this offseason was the departure of the team’s long-time shortstop Bo Bichette.
In January Bichette signed a three-year $126-million deal with the New York Mets.
The shortstop was one of the faces of the franchise since being drafted in 2016. The absence of the two-time All-Star and multi-time league hits leader will leave an undeniable hole in the team’s lineup in 2026.
“Defensively, you probably have enough to cover for him,” says Murphy. “Offensively, it’s really hard to aggregate your way to 190 hits at the top of the order.”
How the returning players and new free agents replace his production is the most glaring uncertainty for the team heading into this season.
4. Expect them to compete for the division title again
“The Jays are in a great position to compete in the AL East again,” Murphy says. The Blue Jays play in what is widely regarded as one of the toughest divisions in baseball.
With almost the same roster returning plus new additions, they’ll look to be up to par with their division rivals once again.
The Baltimore Orioles made notable additions this winter following a disappointing season, but the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and Tampa Bay Rays have not seen many major roster changes.
This bodes well for the Jays to build off of last season’s successful run to their first division title in a decade.
5. The club is celebrating its 50th anniversary
The 2026 season marks the 50th anniversary of the Toronto Blue Jays franchise.
The team recently announced that the on-field jerseys in 2026 will rep 50th anniversary patches all season to celebrate the milestone.
It was revealed that there will also be the additions of special displays and memorabilia around the lower bowl concourse honouring important moments throughout the club’s history.
The team also stated that there will be numerous retro-themed giveaways at select games throughout the season to celebrate the franchise’s history.
Dates for all of the year’s giveaways are set to be announced in early February and tickets for the Blue Jays celebratory 50th anniversary season are on sale now.
While the Jays’ big five-oh might not necessarily help them on the field, but the buzz around the birthday will surely energize the team and their fans.
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