Blue Jays perceived as the top threat to the Dodgers in 2026

After winning back-to-back World Series championships, the Los Angeles Dodgers have done nothing this offseason to other wise suggests they couldn't reach the summit once again in 2026. In fact, going into 2026, they may have put together a better roster for the upcoming year than the one they had to begin both the 2024 and '25 campaigns, after adding two of the top free agents on the market; closer Edwin Diaz and outfielder Kyle Tucker.

So with the Dodgers as the perceived "team to beat" as we sit just over two weeks away from Spring Training, MLB Network asked the question, "Who could be a threat to dethrone said top team?"

According to "The Mayor" the Toronto Blue Jays should be viewed as the number one threat.

Blue Jays perceived as the top threat to the Dodgers in 2026

Sean Casey ranked the top five teams in order of who he thinks are the likeliest to be a threat to the Dodgers and in reverse order he says those teams are; the Seattle Mariners, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets, New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays.

"I think it's the Blue Jays, with what they have done (this offseason) bringing in (Kazuma) Okamoto was great, but they matched up incredibly well against the Dodgers," says Casey. "You look at them in the World Series and statistically they were the better team, even though they couldn't pull it off in Game 7."

Casey says he likes a number of the moves Toronto has made, "Bringing in Dylan Cease and Okamoto, they got Cody Ponce from (South) Korea and Tyler Rogers is a really nice piece for that bullpen. And don't forget about (Anthony) Santander, we'll see how he contributes, he was pretty much a non-factor for them in 2025."

That seems to be a growing sentiment among insiders who believe if Santander can stay healthy, he brings the Blue Jays a huge boost to their lineup. And similar to Casey's examination, there hasn't been a move the Blue Jays have made this offseason that many industry experts don't like, let alone love.

Sure, getting close, but ultimately not signing Kyle Tucker is another tough luck situation for them for the third season in a row. There's also the fact that they lost home grown star shortstop Bo Bichette to the New York Mets. But based on the depth they built, and the acquisitions they made, the Blue Jays could absorb that loss and not feel like it's going to cripple their chances.

A lot of projections also like the Blue Jays roster going into this year a lot more than the team that began 2025. Of course that team got a major facelift and overhaul mid-way through the year and by the time they got to the World Series it was almost unrecognizable from the team that headed north from Dunedin.

Alan Roden made the team out of Spring Training and got the Opening Day nod in right field while Will Wagner was the DH. This year, barring any injuries, there likely won't be as many position battles as the main cogs of the 26-man roster can almost be penciled in now. What will be interesting to watch is who gets the assignments based on the matchups of that days opponent.

The Blue Jays showed in that World Series, and throughout the playoffs, how deep their bench is and that only appears to be even more of a strength at the outset of the new campaign.

The pitching staff has also significantly improved from the five-man group that began the year in 2025, and just like with the lineup, the issue is they almost have "too many" starters. Kevin Gausman, Dylan Cease, Shane Bieber, Trey Yesavage, José Berrios, Cody Ponce, and Eric Lauer could all be relied upon as starters, while Bowden Francis works his way back from injury.

The Blue Jays felt like underdogs going into that World Series against the Dodgers, but now, on paper it doesn't seem like the gap is as wide as it once was.