Blue Jays linked to intriguing AL East arm as offseason rotation questions loom

The Toronto Blue Jays made a big addition to their rotation ahead of the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline, as they acquired star pitcher José Soriano from the Los Angeles Angels.

However, even with Soriano added at the deadline, the Blue Jays should still look to strengthen their rotation this offseason. They not only traded Kevin Gausman to the Chicago Cubs but also have pending free agents in Shane Bieber and Max Scherzer.

As a result, the Blue Jays are already being connected to one notable pending free-agent starter.

In a recent article for Bleacher Report, Kerry Miller predicted that the Blue Jays will sign Baltimore Orioles pitcher Trevor Rogers to a four-year, $114 million contract this offseason.

"And if your last name was Rogers, wouldn't you want to make home starts at the Rogers Centre? Toronto does have Dylan Cease, Trey Yesavage and José Soriano as staples for next year's rotation, but it does have holes to fill. Prediction: 4 years, $114M (fourth year is a $30M club option) with Toronto Blue Jays," Miller wrote.

The idea of the Blue Jays bringing in Rogers is certainly an interesting one. He has the potential to be a strong addition to Toronto's starting rotation, and it would also make for a great storyline if the Blue Jays added him from one of their division rivals.

Rogers has had his up-and-down moments in 2026, as he has a 7-8 record and a 4.21 ERA in 22 appearances this season with the Orioles. However, he was also dominant just this past season, posting a 9-3 record, a 1.81 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 18 games. With recent numbers like those, it would make plenty of sense for the Blue Jays to try to lure the former All-Star to Toronto.

If the Blue Jays landed Rogers, he could be a strong fit in the middle of their rotation. Because of that, he could be a pitcher worth taking a chance on if he hits the market this winter. However, the 6-foot-5 lefty has also dealt with injury trouble for much of his career, so there would be some risk in signing him to a long-term deal.

Blue Jays will have pitching options besides Rogers to consider this offseason

While Rogers looks like he could be a potential fit on the Blue Jays' roster, there are several other notable pending free-agent pitchers who could make sense for Toronto. Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Tarik Skubal would be the dream target for the Blue Jays, but the bidding war would likely be intense to land the two-time Cy Young Award winner.

Other starting pitchers who could hit the market this winter include Michael King, Casey Mize, Freddy Peralta, Sonny Gray, Clay Holmes, Shota Imanaga and Michael Soroka. With that, the Blue Jays should have multiple potential targets to consider when free agency begins.

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