Grading the Blue Jays' offseason moves

Jays sign Anthony Santander

After whiffing on some of the stars in free agency, the Blue Jays finally added a power bat to their lineup by reeling in former Baltimore Orioles slugger Anthony Santander. Santander is coming off a career year where he 44 home runs and drove in 102 runs in 155 games played with the Orioles.

The Jays have been missing an outfielder with that pop ever since Teoscar Hernández left town two years ago, but Santander should be able to pick up the slack.

Most pundits deemed the Jays’ offseason a disaster prior to the Santander signing, so he nearly single-handily helped Toronto salvage their winter. Add in the fact that he's open to playing whatever position helps the team win and this trade looks like a win overall.

Grade: A

Jays sign Max Scherzer 

The Jays capped off their offseason for now by solidifying their starting rotation with the addition of a former Cy Young winner in Max Scherzer. Although he's not the same pitcher he once was, signing him could end up being a franchise-altering move. He's an eight-time All-Star, a three-time Cy Young winner and has won two World Series.

If he can manage to post an ERA below 4.00 while share his breadth of knowledge with the Jays, his signing should be considered a success. But a lot will depend on whether or not his body and health will hold up over the course of the season.

Grade: B-

Overall grade

Early on, the offseason looks like an unmitigated disaster for the Blue Jays. But the additions of Hoffman, Santander and Scherzer in 2025 have given the fanbase a bit of hope after a disappointing 2024 season.

But that also doesn't change the fact that the Jays striking out on the big free agents for the second year in a row has left a sour taste in everyone's mouths.

Overall Grade: B+