#toronto-blue-jays

#toronto-blue-jays

Lantigua, 27, initially signed with the Jays out of the Dominican Republic during the 2016 amateur signing period. The righty-hitting utilityman played his way to Triple-A by the end of the 2022 season. He spent the next two full seasons with their top affiliate in Buffalo before qualifying for minor league free agency. Lantigua signed with the Phillies last winter and again played the majority of the year in the International League.

The Toronto Blue Jays likely have no regrets so far this offseason after being proactive in the free agent market to retool their roster ahead of the 2026 MLB season. With key additions in Dylan Cease, Cody Ponce, Tyler Rogers and Kazuma Okamoto via free agency, the Blue Jays were able to gain valuable assets to help the organization without giving up any in return.

It was so long ago, but Fluharty had a terrific start to his big league career. Over his first 18.1 innings pitched, the lefty had a 1.96 ERA and 2.97 FIP, with a 26.2 K% and 7.7 BB%. After a few outings in June, Fluharty began to struggle on Jun. 8. From that date until Jun. 30, the final game he pitched in before he was optioned, Fluharty gave up 12 earned runs in 7.1 innings pitched.

If the 2026 season started today, the Toronto Blue Jays would be well-positioned to compete for a World Series title - but adding another reliever would certainly help. The 2025 squad came within two outs of winning it all before Jeff Hoffman blew the save in the ninth inning of Game 7. Most of the biggest bumps on the road to that point were also bullpen-related, usually in the form of a costly home run in a big spot.

With the Toronto Blue Jays being one of the more active teams this offseason, they have been able to make various moves to bolster their roster ahead of the 2026 MLB season. So far, the Blue Jays have added notable players in Kazuma Okamoto, Cody Ponce, Tyler Rogers, and of course rotation stalwart Dylan Cease and many believe that they are not done just yet.

The outfielder/designated hitter was the first player the Blue Jays ever signed to a nine-figure contract. Although he was productive in both 2021 and 2022, he spent large parts of the season on the shelf, including playing just 78 games in 2021. By 2023, it looked as if Springer was declining. That season, he slashed .258/.327/.405 with 21 home runs in 683 plate appearances, giving him a 103 wRC+ and 1.9 fWAR, both were the worst of his career.

Let's remember where the Blue Jays were when Lauer made his first start on May 17. They were two game under .500. Max Scherzer had only thrown three innings and wasn't set to rejoin the rotation for at least another month. And Bowden Francis was floundering as the number five starter. But at Rogers Centre, in that game against the Detroit Tigers, Lauer pitched three innings of three hit ball and allowed one run in an eventual 2-1 walk-off win for the Blue Jays.

The past three months have seen the front office make sizeable additions to the roster in Dylan Cease, Cody Ponce, Tyler Rogers, and, most recently, Kazuma Okamoto. While names such as Bo Bichette, Seranthony Dominguez, Yariel Rodriguez, Nick Sandlin, Justin Bruihl, and recently DFA'd Paxton Schultz are no longer with the organization or off the 40-man, it makes you wonder what's next for the team.

The Blue Jays used Nathan Lukes in the two-hole for much of 2025, and that strategy worked well until the World Series, where his OPS sank to .457 against the Dodgers' elite pitching staff. Would that exceptionally tight series have unfolded differently had Guerrero been up instead in a few of those crucial spots? George Springer will presumably bat leadoff again for the Blue Jays in 2026, especially if Bo Bichette doesn't return this winter.