Blue Jays offseason calendar: Key dates and decisions before the lockout

Withe Milwaukee Brewers now crowned World Series champions, it’s time for the Toronto Blue Jays to get to work and retool for 2027. With the collective bargaining agreement set to expire on December 1st, the window to get work done could be very short, so here’s a date-by-date look at the decisions facing the Blue Jays as we enter the winter.

Blue Jays offseason timeline: What happens when

October 29th: Trade market has reopened; Exclusive negotiation period starts

Free agency opens on November 2nd. Until then eligible players can only negotiate and re-sign with their former club. But trades can, and have, been made. The Blue Jays have eight free agents this winter, headlined by a franchise cornerstone, a future Hall of Famer, and a former Cy Young Award winner.

George Springer

Six years after signing a 6-year, $150 million contract, Springer’s deal has officially come to an end. The 37-year-old hit .249/.321/.405 with 15 home runs and 54 RBIs in 126 games. While Springer hasn’t officially announced whether he’ll play in 2027, his emotional send-off in the season finale felt like a goodbye.

Max Scherzer

Future Hall of Famer Scherzer posted a 5.74 ERA around a handful of IL stints in his second season in Toronto, but went out on a high note. Like Springer, Scherzer has yet to decide on next season.

Shane Bieber

The most intriguing name of the group is right-hander Bieber. The 31-year-old posted a 4.37 ERA over 11 starts after injuries cost him both the first half of the season and ended it early. He’s been open about wanting to return, but a career-low 18.2 percent strikeout rate means the price will have to be right.

Patrick Corbin

Signed to a 1-year, $1 million deal on April 3rd after Cody Ponce’s season-ending knee injury, left-hander Corbin steadied a battered rotation early, carrying a 3.60 ERA through the end of May. It didn't last though, and the 37-year-old finished with a 5.51 ERA in 19 games (15 starts) before a season ending injury.

Yimi García

García never threw a pitch for the Blue Jays in 2026. While recovering from elbow surgery the 36-year-old underwent thoracic outlet surgery in August, bringing his 2-year, $15 million contract to a frustrating close.

Paul Sewald

Claimed off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks on August 12th, veteran right-hander Sewald allowed just one earned run over 8.2 innings in September. The 36-year-old finished with 24 saves (all with Arizona) and a 4.73 ERA.

Jameson Taillon

Acquired after being designated for assignment by the Chicago Cubs, Taillon made just three appearances for Toronto while dealing with several arm issues. The Canadian right-hander finished with a 5.65 ERA and 1.36 WHIP.

Luis Urías

Urías hit .250 with three home runs and an .803 OPS in 26 games after the Blue Jays acquired him from the Diamondbacks. A calf injury limited his time in Toronto but the 29-year-old is playing Winter Ball in Mexico to rebuild his stock.

November 2nd: Contract Option and Qualifying Offer Deadline (5 pm ET); Free Agency Opens

The Blue Jays have two contract decisions to sort out before the deadline.

Right-hander José Berríos can opt out of the remaining two years and $48 million on his deal, but after undergoing Tommy John surgery on May 20th, there’s virtually no chance he walks away from that guarantee. He could return late in 2027.

Anoth interesting call is the $8 million club option on outfielder Myles Straw. The 31-year-old hit .241 in 330 plate appearances and remains a strong defender and a right-handed bat in a lefty-heavy outfield, but $8 million is a steep price for a fourth outfielder.

They could also give Bieber a $23.15 million qualifying offer, but those injuries could make that a tough sell. With Springer and Scherzer not realistic candidates either, the Blue Jays are unlikely to extend a qualifying offer to anyone this winter.

November 9th - 12th: General Manager Meetings (Las Vegas, NV)

Front offices will gather in Las Vegas, where trade talks and free agent conversations should pick up steam with the CBA expiring in just a few weeks.

November 12th: Deadline for Players to Accept Qualifying Offers (4 pm ET)

The Blue Jays are not expected to offer any players a QO, but they could be going after players who are offered QO's by their former teams.

November 17th: Rule 5 Draft Protection Deadline (6 pm ET)

The Blue Jays must add eligible prospects to the 40-man roster by the deadline to protect them from the December 9th Rule 5 Draft. However, with a potential lockout looming, the Blue Jays could take some risks and leave guys unprotected i the hopes there ends up being no Rule 5 Draft.

Right-hander Nolan Perry, (2.50 ERA and a 36 percent strikeout rate over 82.2 innings) and Buffalo Bisons MVP Josh Kasevich (.282/.364/.363) are considered locks to be added. First baseman Peyton Williams, right-handers Gage Stanifer and Daniel Guerra are also on the bubble.

November 20th: Non-Tender Deadline for Players Under Club Control

The Blue Jays have eight arbitration-eligible players this offseason, projected to cost roughly $27.3 million combined if all are tendered. The two sides will have until January 8th, 2027, to exchange arbitration figures; however, they can agree to a new contract during this period, voiding the arbitration process. Those players (with projected figures courtesy of MLB Trade Rumors):

Ernie Clement (4.168): $7.6MM
José Soriano (4.121): $5.6MM
Josh Smith (4.116): $3.7MM
Bowden Francis (3.098): $1.3MM
Spencer Arrighetti (2.166): $1.9MM
Louis Varland (2.163): $3.8MM
Nathan Lukes (2.145): $2.1MM
Davis Schneider (2.142): $1.3MM

Soriano, Varland and Lukes are locks to be tendered, while Arrighetti and Francis are likely to be kept as pitching depth. But there could be some difficult decisions being made about Clement, Smith and Schnider.

Clement had a down year at the plate andthe Blue Jays have made it clear he’ll have to earn an everyday role again. Smith hit just .184/.276/.408 with a 90 wRC+ in 35 games with Toronto. Schneider is the cheapest of the three and still has one minor league option remaining, but strikeouts and swing-and-miss have been an issue in the majors.

December 1st: MLB and MLBPA CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) Expires

If the two sides can’t reach a new agreement before the current deal expires, a lockout would freeze transactions involving players on 40-man rosters, putting the rest of the Blue Jays’ offseason on hold.

Everything After Dec. 1st Is Subject to Change Due to the MLB Lockout

*December 7th - 9th: Winter Meetings (San Diego, CA)
*December 9th: Rule 5 Draft
*December 15th: 2026 International Amateur signing period ends
*January 8th: Deadline for players and teams to exchange arbitration figures
*January 15th: 2027 International Amateur signing period starts
*Late January - Early February: Arbitration hearings begin
*February 19th: Spring Training starts

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