Blue Jays could have a Canadian fall into their laps at 2026 MLB draft due to CBT penalty

"General manager Ross Atkins and the Toronto Blue Jays scouting staff will have to work a little bit harder to make sure they get the most out of the upcoming 2026 MLB Draft. They don't have a first round pick and they also are shut out of the competitive balance round A selection process as well. Thanks to the money the team has spent, the Blue Jays have received a 10-pick penalty going into this year's draft. Since they exceeded the second surcharge threshold of the Competitive Balance Tax they won't draft until 39th overall."

"That's a ton of highly skilled prospects they could be missing out on, but that is the nature of the game the Blue Jays have to contend with if they want to spend money with the likes of the New York Yankees, LA Dodgers and New York Mets. But that doesn't mean they can't find quality at that part of the process and MLB.com's first mock draft of 2026 reveals the Blue Jays could be eyeing a Canadian player with their first pick."

"MLB.com's mock draft has the Blue Jays selecting a Canadian left-handed pitcher. Sean Duncan may be a name Blue Jays fans want to keep an eye on. The left-handed pitcher is currently playing for Terry Fox SS in Port Coquitlam, B.C. The 6-foot-3, 180 pound 18-year-old is currently committed to Vanderbilt and features a true three-pitch mix with strong command for a teenager."

"Duncan has been a part of the Canadian junior national team scene since he was 14-years-old. At that point he was sitting 88-89 mph with his fastball and has now taken a leap forward. He can hit up to 95 mph, typically sitting 93 while his secondary stuff is graded "above average.""

The Toronto Blue Jays enter the 2026 MLB Draft without a first-round pick and without a competitive balance round A selection. A 10-pick penalty applies due to spending that exceeded the second Competitive Balance Tax surcharge threshold, pushing their first selection to 39th overall. Despite the reduced draft position, the team can still target high-quality prospects. A mock draft projects the Blue Jays selecting Canadian left-handed pitcher Sean Duncan with their first pick. Duncan is an 18-year-old left-hander from Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, committed to Vanderbilt. He is listed at 6-foot-3 and 180 pounds and uses a true three-pitch mix with strong command. His fastball has improved from 88-89 mph to up to 95 mph, typically sitting around 93, with secondary pitches graded above average. He has also been involved with Canada’s junior national team since age 14.

Read at Jays Journal