Blue Jays pegged as one of the most likely teams to end World Series drought in 2026

The Toronto Blue Jays came very close to winning their first World Series championship in over three decades last season, coming up just short in a grueling seven-game series against the eventual champions in the Los Angeles Dodgers. As a result, the Blue Jays will now have to wait for another chance for a potential title.

However, according to Will Leitch of MLB.com, that wait might not be too long as he has pegged the Blue Jays one of the most likely teams to end their World Series title drought in 2026. Toronto finds themselves among the top teams likely to do so, with the Seattle Mariners and New York Mets ranking just slightly ahead of the Blue Jays in terms of probability.

Blue Jays pegged as one of the most likely teams to end their World Series title drought in 2026

For the Blue Jays, the last time that they successfully raised the championship flag was way back in 1993 when the infamous WAMCO still existed featuring the likes of Devon White, Roberto Alomar, Paul Molitor, Joe Carter and John Olerud leading the way. Nevertheless, Leitch believed that with key additions Dylan Cease, Kazuma Okamoto, Tyler Rogers and Cody Ponce, Toronto could actually be even better this upcoming year. Most importantly, he insisted that the Jays and their fans could forget about their disappointing ending to 2025 by winning it all in 2026.

But potential drought teams that could get in their way include their 2025 ALCS opponents in the Mariners and the Bo Bichette-stealing Mets squad. Seattle definitely came close to knocking out the Blue Jays from contention last year if it wasn’t for some last-minute heroics by George Springer.

As for New York, they have had a drastic overhaul with Bichette, Luis Robert Jr. and Freddy Peralta all incoming after the departures of key players in Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz. The Mariners have never won a World Series title, while the Mets haven’t done so since the infamous Boston Red Sox Bill Buckner error heard and seen all around the baseball world in 1986 that ultimately handed New York the series.

Nevertheless, the Blue Jays will still have their work cut out for them due to the fact that they belong in the daunting American League East division. The Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles have both made massive upgrades this offseason, with Boston adding Sonny Gray, Ranger Suárez and Willson Contreras, while Baltimore beefed up big time with the likes of Alonso, Chris Bassitt, Shane Baz, Zach Eflin, Ryan Helsley and Taylor Ward. And of course, the New York Yankees are still the tough Bronx Bombers even without massive improvements this winter. 

But with Toronto having met with adversity last season and passed through it with flying colours, they will aim to do so once again this 2026 MLB season as they look to finish off some unfinished business once and for all.