2 ex-Blue Jays making the team second-guess their decisions in 2025's first half

When the Toronto Blue Jays began their 2025 MLB season, they believed that they had their starting pitching all set with Kevin Gausman, José Berríos, Chris Bassitt, Bowden Francis and Max Scherzer forming the rotation. If they needed any depth at the position, top prospect Jake Bloss ready to step in if needed.

However, who would have thought that Francis would regress considerably from his breakout performance from last season, while Scherzer would miss all but his lone Jays debut game so far this year due to his lingering thumb issue. To add insult to injury, their so-called backup plan in Bloss would be lost for the season due to UCL surgery on his right elbow.

2 former players who have made the Blue Jays regret their decision in first half of 2025

With the desperate need for starting pitching help now, they actually had two pitchers from last season that would have fit the bill, but the Blue Jays decided to not bring them back and both players have made Toronto regret those decisions with their performances in 2025.

Yusei Kikuchi

The ever-so-popular Yusei Kikuchi was dealt by the Blue Jays to the Houston Astros for three promising prospects at last year’s trade deadline. Kikuchi would enter free agency following the conclusion of the 2024 MLB season, handing the Blue Jays a glorious opportunity to bring the fan favourite back to town. They ended up deciding otherwise as Kikuchi would end up signing with the Los Angeles Angels to a three-year deal.

So far in 2025, the 34-year-old veteran has performed admirably by posting a solid 3.01 ERA while striking out 87 batters in 89 2/3 innings pitched over 16 starts. His current ERA mark is actually his best of his MLB career to date. In addition, had Kikuchi received some much better run support, he wouldn’t be sporting the dismal 2-6 record that he currently has with the Angels.

The Blue Jays certainly could use someone like Kikuchi in the back end of their rotation right about now. With their offense coming back to life to some extent this year, it would have been more than enough to complement the left-hander in churning out wins this season. Now, Toronto is only left scrambling for options, with the latest Spencer Turnbull experiment not passing the initial eye test following Friday’s showing against the lowly Chicago White Sox.

Ryan Yarbrough 

The decision that has hurt even more for the Blue Jays than the Kikuchi one, was the decision they made just prior to the 2025 season regarding pitcher Ryan Yarbrough. The 33-year-old compiled a stellar 2.01 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, along with 26 strikeouts in 31 1/3 innings pitched over his final 12 appearances of 2024 with Toronto, following his trade from the Los Angeles Dodgers. Many had expected Yarbrough to be a key member of the Blue Jays pitching staff going forward. 

Yarbrough further cemented that notion when he posted two wins and a hold, with eight strikeouts in just 6 2/3 innings pitched over four relief appearances during spring training with the Blue Jays. However, Toronto shocked everyone when he was let go, and he would promptly sign with their arch rivals the New York Yankees.

Now, all Yarbrough has done for the Yankees this season so far is step confidently into a starting role and help New York stabilize their rotation in the process. For the year, he has amassed a 3.90 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, along with 49 strikeouts in 55 1/3 innings over 16 games that includes eight starts. More significantly, as a starter, Yarbrough has registered a fine 3-1 record with a 3.83 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, together with 33 strikeouts in 40 innings of work.

With the ability to act as an effective swingman, he would have been a perfect fit for the Jays, who had been hit with injuries and ineffectiveness to both their starting rotation and bullpen for much of 2025. He also would have been the only lefty arm in Toronto's rotation - something they are still searching for. But instead, Yarbrough is now shining with the division-leading Yankees while Toronto is just left with what could have been.