Non-blockbuster deals that fix Blue Jays’ roster without breaking the budget

As much as we’d love to see Tarik Skubal and every other big name free agent head north this winter, the reality is the Toronto Blue Jays won’t be able to sign all the big names on the free-agent market.

While they may be able to land one or two players who could be considered blockbuster additions, the Blue Jays will also have to be creative. Fortunately, there are tons of options that fit the club’s needs without the front office having to go overboard on payroll.

With just over $100 million coming off the books, these five deals would still leave room to add a $25-$30 million per year player if it’s deemed necessary.

(All contract predictions based off Jim Bowden’s Top 40 free agent fits list from The Athletic)

LHP Sean Newcomb: 1 year, $6.5 million

Bowden writes: Newcomb followed a 2.73 ERA in 2025 with a 3.09 ERA in 60 games for the White Sox this year. He can start, but he’s found more success as a multi-inning reliever.

Why he fits for Toronto: Blue Jays bullpen was one of their strengths, but they’ll need reinforcements, especially another southpaw. The 33-year-old Newcomb’s 1.7 fWAR would have ranked second among Blue Jays’ relief arms in 2026.

INF/OF Mauricio Dubón: 2 years, $16 million

Bowden writes: Dubón is one of the best utility players in the game. This year, he hit .276 with 12 homers and 10 steals while playing 99 games in the outfield, 62 at shortstop and a handful at second and third base.

Why he fits for Toronto: That would seem like a steal fora guy that can play everywhere while being a solid addition to the lineup. Some might even see him as more of an everyday guy than Ernie Clement at this point. The 32-year-old also would have had the second lowest strikeout rate among Blue Jays with at least 150 plate appearances at 11.8%.

OF Taylor Ward: 1 year, $10 million

Bowden writes: Ward hit a career-high 36 homers for the Angels in 2025, but his power vanished after a trade to Baltimore, where he hit .225 with seven homers despite a .383 OBP.

Why he fits for Toronto: That walk rate! Ward posted a 16.3 per cent walk rate in 2026, including a 17.2 per cent mark through 111 games with Baltimore. His power completely disappeared, but just like the Blue Jays are betting that Vladdy won’t hit fewer than ten home runs again in 2027, there are plenty of reasons to believe the 32-year-old Ward could regain some of that power – especially on a one-year, $10 million deal.

Even as a right-side platoon with Nathan Lukes, you’re looking at a guy whose OBP would’ve led the Blue Jays’ qualified hitters.

LHP Robbie Ray: 2 years, $45 million

Bowden writes: Ray posted a 3.08 ERA in 122.2 innings for the Giants this year before struggling after a deadline trade to San Diego (5.02 ERA in nine starts). He isn’t the Cy Young-level starter he was in 2021, but he’s still a solid mid-rotation starter.

Why he fits for the Toronto: Pitching upgrades should be a priority after last season’s injuries, but the Blue Jays are set up rather nicely with guys coming back and prospects making huge strides in 2026.

The current rotation is Dylan Cease, Trey Yesavage, José Soriano and likely Cody Ponce, so what they need right now is a solid back-end guy.

Bowden Francis, Ricky Tiedemann, Jake Bloss, Spencer Miles, Spencer Arrighetti, along with several prospects could also make their case in camp.

Very few of those guys throw left-handed though, and while that’s not a major concern with your starting group, adding the 35-year-old veteran Ray certainly lengthens that starting five.

Second baseman Luis Arraez: 3 years, $60 million

Bowden writes: Arraez, a three-time batting champ with a career .316/.360/.414 slash line, hit .310 with 36 extra-base hits this season. He’s worked hard on his defence at second base, finishing in the 97th percentile in Outs Above Average.

The largest contract out of these predictions, but it’s a very manageable $20 million AAV for a 29-year-old who ranks 22nd in MLB in OBP since 2022. His 942 hits lead the majors over the last five seasons, and yes, 732 of those were singles, but his 156 doubles rank 14th.

Do the Blue Jays need both Arraez and Dubón? Probably not. But would that be a better tandem than having some combination of Luis Urias, Josh Smith, Lenyn Sosa, and Charles McAdoo? Probably.

These signings keep the Blue Jays flexible and don’t break the bank

Add it all up and these five signings would commit $67 million to the 2027 payroll, with $137.5 million committed in total dollars. Only Arraez’s contract would run past 2028.

This doesn’t solve all the Blue Jays’ issues – they still need someone to hit home runs and a blockbuster signing would get that done (Seiya Suzuki or a Teruaki Sato?). What this does is raise the floor of the current group, protect against a myriad of injuries and gives manager John Schneider major league capable hitters to run proper platoons, while not tying up the DH role to one player.

One caveat, Anthony Santander is not a part of this group.

How they could lineup:

vs. RHP
CF Brett Bateman
2B Luis Arraez
1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
LF Seiya Suzuki
3B Kazuma Okamoto
DH Addison Barger
C Alejandro Kirk
RF Nathan Lukes
SS Andrés Giménez
Bench: Mauricio Dubón, Ernie Clement, Brandon Valenzuela, Taylor Ward

vs. left-handers
CF Brett Bateman
LF Seiya Suzuki
1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
3B Kazuma Okamoto
DH Taylor Ward
C Alejandro Kirk
RF Mauricio Dubón
SS Ernie Clement
2B Luis Arraez
Bench: Addison Barger, Nathan Lukes, Brandon Valenzuela, Andrés Giménez

If the Blue Jays can spend roughly $67 million next season on these perceived top 40 free agents and still have some wiggle room, that will be a tremendous bit of business ahead of 2027.

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