4 players the Blue Jays are glad they didn’t sign this past offseason

The Toronto Blue Jays showed that they were willing to invest in talent this past offseason when they made some massive offseason moves. From pitching stud Dylan Cease, the model of consistency in Tyler Rogers, or even Japanese sensation Kazuma Okamoto, they have all paid big dividends for the Blue Jays this season.

However, there were also many top free agents that Toronto was linked to, who they ended up missing out on. But looking back now after almost two months into the 2026 MLB season, perhaps it was a blessing in disguise that the Jays didn’t end up recruiting those candidates.

Some top free agents that the Blue Jays missed out on are having a forgettable 2026 season.

Alex Bregman

The Blue Jays had expressed interest in signing Alex Bregman this past winter before the star third baseman inked a huge five-year, $175 million deal with the Chicago Cubs. In effect, the Blue Jays ultimately settled with another intriguing candidate in Okamoto on a value four-year, $60 million contract.

In 2026 Bregman has posted just a .254 average, .700 OPS with four home runs and 16 RBIs in 47 total games played. With that, he is on pace for just 14 home runs and 55 RBIs for the year, which would be his worst offensive output since 2021 back when he was with the Houston Astros.

As for Okamoto, he is fitting in just fine with the Blue Jays, compiling a .760 OPS with 10 home runs and 27 RBIs in 45 games played while playing surprisingly solid defense at the hot corner. For over $115 million in savings for an electric player hitting in the heart of their lineup, let’s just say Toronto made a wise choice with this one.

Pete Fairbanks

With the Blue Jays looking to bolster their bullpen core, Pete Fairbanks was a prime candidate that could have filled a big need for the team. Not only had Fairbanks been one of the most consistent relievers in the league since 2020, he could have been considered a strong insurance policy for Toronto's closer's role.

However, after signing a one-year, $13 contract with the Miami Marlins, Fairbanks has been a shell of his former self since moving to the National League. Despite registering five saves in 11 relief appearances with the Marlins, the 32-year-old veteran reliever has compiled an abysmal 9.00 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, along with two blown saves, doing his best Jeff Hoffman impression in the process. Fairbanks is also coming off the 15-day Injured List, after being sidelined with nerve irritation in his right hand.

In terms of bullpen upgrades, the Jays ended up making Rogers their key offseason acquisition in that regard and he has delivered in a big way. With an annual salary of just $12.33 million AAV, which is slightly less than Fairbanks, he has amassed a tidy 1.69 ERA and 1.13 WHIP while being deployed by the Blue Jays in high leverage situations.

Bo Bichette

Many Blue Jays fans once feared what would happen if Bo Bichette left the organization. That question has been answered to some degree and the Blue Jays aren't coming out on the wrong end of that equation.

After signing with the New York Mets this offseason, Bichette has struggled mightily thus far. In 47 games with the Mets, Bichette has posted a miserable .219 average, .570 OPS, with just six doubles, three home runs and 21 RBIs. More worrisome is the fact that there hasn’t been much improvement over the course of the past few weeks.

As for his so-called replacement in Toronto, Andrés Giménez has definitely stepped up and surprised everyone with his offensive output this year. Despite hitting near the bottom of the Jays lineup, Giménez has registered a .237 average, .658 OPS, with seven doubles, five home runs and 25 RBIs in 44 games played. Not to mention that Toronto no longer needs to worry about Bichette’s errant throws to first base as well.

Kyle Tucker

For someone that was suppose to be the unanimous top free agent from the past offseason and got paid like a top-3 player in the league, Kyle Tucker has truly disappointed so far after signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers on a four-year, $240 million deal.

To date, Tucker has amassed a .254 average, .756 OPS, along with just four home runs, 23 RBIs and four stolen bases in 46 games with the Dodgers. So over a full season, that would translate into just 14 home runs, 81 RBIs and 14 stolen bases, which is quite far off from the projected 30+ home runs, 100+ RBIs and 25+ stolen bases per season that many had expected of him.

In fact, with those current numbers, both Okamoto and Giménez from have been outperforming the 29-year-old outfielder. Considering the fact that Tucker is surrounded by massive talent in Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, he should be flourishing in such an environment. But to be still producing at a rate that is currently below his career averages is certainly raising some red flags. Let’s just say the Jays may have dodged a huge bullet with this one..

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