"However, once the calendar officially flips to 2026 and the front office begins to intensify negotiations with arbitration-eligible players ahead of the Jan. 8 salary-exchange deadline, many of those conversations will also likely include discussions beyond one-year arbitration-avoiding deals, particularly for those entering pending free agent status. For the Blue Jays, of their four arbitration cases, two will enter free agency next off-season - outfielder Daulton Varsho and left-hander Eric Lauer."
"In addition, four other players are set to reach the open market following the '26 season: Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, George Springer and Yimi García. Chances are, the franchise won't be able to retain all six of those pending free agents. But perhaps at least a few of them will return in 2027. We've seen management conduct early business in this regard before, locking up cornerstone first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to his historic 14-year, $500 million extension last spring."
The Blue Jays are focused on this off-season's roster business, targeting an impact hitter and remaining open to further pitching additions. Arbitration negotiations will ramp up after the calendar flips to 2026 ahead of the Jan. 8 salary-exchange deadline, with talks likely to include options beyond one-year arbitration-avoiding deals for players nearing free agency. Two arbitration cases — Daulton Varsho and Eric Lauer — will enter free agency next off-season. Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, George Springer and Yimi García are set to reach free agency after 2026. Varsho and Bieber are highlighted as the most likely 2026 extension candidates.
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