#toronto-blue-jays

#toronto-blue-jays

On Thursday morning, Francys Romero reported that the Toronto Blue Jays have signed Cuban right-handed pitcher Alieski Torres for $200,000. Torres, 18, sits in the low 90s with his fastball and tops out at 94 mph. He also features a changeup and slider. The Jays have signed quite a few pitchers out of Cuba in the past few seasons. In May 2022, they signed Rafael Sánchez, who has progressed to the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

The Atlanta Braves made a minor move (literally) on Tuesday morning, signing left-hander Danny Young to a one-year, split deal. The 31-year-old was previously with the New York Mets, who recently outrighted him, giving Atlanta the opportunity to pick him up. He did undergo Tommy John surgery in May, so he won't be on the mound at the beginning of the season.

Francis struggled mightily in 2025. The right-hander recorded a 6.05 ERA and 1.53 WHIP across 14 ineffective starts before landing on the injured list with a right shoulder impingement in June that sidelined him until the end of the year. Much of the damage done against Francis came via the long ball; he allowed a staggering 19 home runs in just 64 innings pitched.

Holiday bargain shoppers alert: right-hander Pete Fairbanks may not be available for much longer. Fairbanks, whose $11 million player option ($1 million buyout) was declined by the Tampa Bay Rays ahead of last month's non-tender deadline, has garnered interest from several post-season contenders this off-season, including the Toronto Blue Jays, as The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Katie Woo report. That should come as no surprise, considering the Blue Jays had been connected to all three of Ryan Helsley, Raisel Iglesias and Phil Maton

Joining Beltre in the Australian Baseball League is Dylan Leach, a prospect whom the Blue Jays signed in the summer of 2025. Through 22 plate appearances with the Sydney Blue Sox, the 23-year-old is slashing .118/.273/.118 with two RBIs and two singles. He's also walked (four) more than he's struck out (three). Leach, from Carthage, Texas, attended Carthage High School.

There's a strong case to extend Bieber, especially if the Blue Jays believe he can get back to his pre-injury form. In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Bieber had a 1.63 ERA and 2.07 FIP in 77.1 innings pitched, winning the American League Cy Young. The following two seasons, Bieber produced a 2.97 ERA and 2.92 FIP in 296.2 innings pitched, with a 27.8 K% and 5.8 BB%.

He exceeded all expectations for that contract, posting a 3.18 ERA (134 ERA+) and 1.108 WHIP across 28 appearances. The lefty stepped into the rotation early in the year when the Blue Jays desperately needed quality innings, then moved to the bullpen following the return of Max Scherzer and the acquisition of Shane Bieber. He remained in that role through the playoffs, where he threw four-and-two-thirds scoreless frames against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 18-inning marathon that was game three of the World Series.

The Toronto Blue Jays have had their eye on Japanese talent for a long time. They are determined and poised to make an impression in that market. Sometimes, the Blue Jays need to be careful about flouting the rules in pursuit of these goals. Maybe this year though, they could land someone who is actually motivated to play on a roster like theirs.

The World Baseball Classic is just around the corner. There will be some Toronto Blue Jays players participating in the tournament that will begin in March. You have the obvious players, such as Vladimir Guerrero Jr., but some minor leaguers could factor onto their respective rosters. Not just that, some of the Blue Jays' free agents and recently released players could find their way onto a national team. Most people reading this article will likely be cheering for Team Canada. They'll be in a pool with Puerto Rico, Panama, Cuba, and Colombia, with games taking place in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Ever since Davis Schneider's spectacular 35-game debut in 2023, he has been a fan favourite that Blue Jays fans have come to appreciate. Sure, it also helps that his trademark mustache and goggles make for a unique look that adds to his likability. Now heading into his fourth season, it remains to be seen where he fits onto a Blue Jays team that looks to run it back to the World Series in 2026.