Blue Jays still shopping for elite pitching even with Shane Bieber locked in for 2026

The Toronto Blue Jays are still just two weeks removed from the crushing World Series finale, but Major League Baseball's offseason machine doesn't stop for anyone. With the offseason firmly underway now that the General Managers Meetings are over, the Blue Jays have been in plenty of early rumors and rumblings.

Just because Toronto made the World Series doesn't mean they don't have holes to fill this winter. Despite the surprising Shane Bieber opt-in for 2026, one area the front office will still be prioritizing this winter is starting pitching, according to Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith.

Where does the starting five stand at the moment? They have veterans José Berríos, Kevin Gausman and Bieber, along with rookie Trey Yesavage. Chris Bassitt and Max Scherzer are now free agents.

Blue Jays reportedly shopping for another elite starting pitcher this offseason

Appearing on Sportsnet Central from the GM Meetings in Las Vegas, Nicholson-Smith discussed the Blue Jays' pursuit of elite starting pitching this offseason.

"The Blue Jays have to explore options. That's going to start with starting pitching," Nicholson-Smith told host Evanka Osmak. "They really need to find someone to join the rotation including Berríos, Trey Yesavage, Kevin Gausman, and now Shane Bieber. So they do need to find one more starting pitcher, and that might be where things begin."

The baseball adage that you can never have too much pitching is certainly true. Remember when it looked like the Blue Jays had a logjam in the rotation this season? It first forced Eric Lauer and then later Berríos to the bullpen. It was a great problem to have, but injuries down the stretch reminded us that even the deepest of starting staffs can quickly look thin.

"I think pitching is the priority, it starts in the rotation," Nicholson-Smith later added. "The one area where the Blue Jays will definitively add is the starting rotation. They will add a starting pitcher this year ... They'll also ideally add a second starting pitching option, someone who can go between the rotation and the bullpen, along the lines of a second Eric Lauer type ... Pitching really is a huge priority for them."

Which top starters will the Blue Jays pursue in free agency?

Nicholson-Smith mentioned that general manager Ross Atkins has confirmed the team's interest in Tatsuya Imai from Japan. The right-hander posted a 1.92 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in 163.2 innings in the NPB this season. However, that should be taken with a grain of salt as the Japanese league is notoriously in the midst of a pitcher-friendly dead-ball era.

Two of the top free agent arms, left-hander Ranger Suárez and right-hander Dylan Cease, also came up in Nicholson-Smith's conversation with Osmak.

Suárez, a command pitcher, is 24-16 with a 3.33 ERA in 53 starts over the past two seasons for the Philadelphia Phillies. While never pitching more than 157 1/3 innings (which he did this season), the 30-year-old has a career 3.38 ERA since debuting in 2018.

Cease, 30 on Opening Day, is coming off a down year but will still be one of the most coveted starters on the market and makes sense for the Blue Jays. He went 8-12 in 32 starts for the San Diego Padres, with a 4.55 ERA and 215 strikeouts in just 168 innings. Cease had a 3.47 ERA in 2024, with 224 strikeouts in 189.2 innings.

One name that Nicholson-Smith didn't mention was Framber Valdez, the top starter on the market, according to Kiley McDaniel of ESPN. If the Blue Jays are in on Imai, Suárez and Cease, they'll likely also kick the tires on the dependable lefty. Valdez is 28-18 with a 3.30 ERA in 59 starts over the last two years for Houston.

He'll be 32 on Opening Day, so a long-term contract might scare off Atkins. However, Valdez does have experience that will entice the Blue Jays, as he boasts the most postseason starts and innings since 2020.

It remains to be seen where the Blue Jays' search for elite starting pitching takes them this offseason. At least from early reports, it sure sounds like fans should buckle up for a fun one.