Shushkewich: Five free agents the Blue Jays should pursue this offseason
Victoria Eagles and Junior National Team grad Nick Pivetta (Victoria, B.C.), who has pitched well for the San Diego Padres over the past two seasons, is a free agent.
November 2, 2026
By Tyson Shushkewich
Canadian Baseball Network
The Toronto Blue Jays finished in a disappointing fifth place in the AL East in 2026, a significant fall from grace considering the club was just a few outs away from winning the World Series in 2025.
Heading into the offseason, the Blue Jays roster that fans have come to know and love is beginning to take on a different shape. George Springer, Daulton Varsho, and Kevin Gausman are no longer with the club, while Shane Bieber, Max Scherzer, Jameson Taillon and several others are also departing through free agency.
From a financial standpoint, that's a significant amount of money coming off the books. If history repeats itself and ownership gives the front office the green light to spend, the Blue Jays could be in the market for some major names during the upcoming free-agent period.
With several needs to address across the roster, here are five players who make sense for Toronto this offseason.
1. Adrian Morejon – LHP
If the Blue Jays are looking for left-handed relief help, Adrian Morejon could be the right man for the job.
After eight years in the big leagues with the San Diego Padres organization, the Cuban-born left-hander is hitting free agency for the first time in his career. It took a few years for Morejon to find his niche and overcome some injury troubles, but since 2024, he has developed into an absolute weapon out of the Padres' bullpen.
Last season, Morejon posted a 2.83 ERA and a 2.37 FIP across 86 innings with San Diego, both impressive marks considering the 86 innings represented a career high. He also struck out 107 batters while walking just 28, good for an 11.2 K/9 and a 2.9 BB/9, respectively.
His Statcast profile is filled with percentiles above the 90th mark, and he primarily works with a sinker that sits in the upper 90s and can reach triple digits.
The Blue Jays relied primarily on Mason Fluharty as their go-to left-handed reliever last season, while Joe Mantiply landed on the injured list and Brendon Little had to return to Buffalo to work through his struggles.
Morejon will be highly sought after this offseason, but if Toronto is looking to add one or two impactful arms to help reshape its bullpen, committing some money and term to a reliever like Morejon seems like a worthwhile investment.
2. Nick Pivetta – RHP
A Canadian connection could make this one particularly interesting.
Victoria, B.C., native Nick Pivetta is heading to the open market after the San Diego Padres declined their side of a club option for 2027. Pivetta was originally set to earn $14 million before being cut loose.
Elbow inflammation limited him to just eight games this past season. Because of the injury, the Padres gained control of the team option after Pivetta spent more than 130 days on the injured list. Had he remained healthy, the option would have been a player option.
Across those eight starts, Pivetta pitched to a 2.86 ERA, allowing just 11 earned runs over 34 2/3 innings. He followed that up with two postseason starts, allowing three earned runs across 7 2/3 innings.
In 2025, the right-hander pitched a career-high 181 2/3 innings while posting a 2.87 ERA, a 3.49 FIP, and a 0.985 WHIP. His performance earned him a sixth-place finish in NL Cy Young voting.
With Pivetta, there is more injury risk compared to signing a pitcher like Sonny Gray or Freddy Peralta. However, the upside might be worth taking a chance on in free agency if he can stay healthy.
A short-term, option-laden contract makes sense for both sides. Pivetta would get an opportunity to prove he can remain healthy for a season or two and potentially increase his market value, while the Blue Jays would benefit from avoiding a lengthy financial commitment if the injury issues resurface.
3. Seiya Suzuki – RF
If the Blue Jays miss out on Teruaki Sato, there is another viable outfield option in Seiya Suzuki.
The right-handed-hitting right fielder is heading to free agency for the first time in his career after signing with the Chicago Cubs following his posting during the 2021-22 offseason.
Suzuki put himself in an excellent position heading into free agency, posting a 5.1 bWAR season with a .270/.368/.473 slash line, an .841 OPS, and 26 home runs.
The 31-year-old also recorded a 131 OPS+ and proved to be a valuable defensive presence in right field, posting +14 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS), recording eight outfield assists, and committing just two errors last season.
There is plenty to like about Suzuki's overall game, and his ability to consistently hit 20-plus home runs would provide a significant boost to a Blue Jays lineup that finished near the bottom of several offensive statistical categories.
Toronto needs another reliable power bat, and Suzuki could provide exactly that. His combination of offensive production, defensive ability, and experience makes him an intriguing option if the club decides to pursue an established major league outfielder.
4. Sonny Gray – RHP
Veteran right-hander Sonny Gray is heading to free agency after the Boston Red Sox declined their side of a mutual option, with Gray receiving a $10 million buyout in the process.
Gray is an established starting pitcher, having made at least 20 starts in every season since 2018, excluding the shortened 2020 campaign.
Last season with Boston, he posted a 2.72 ERA and a 3.47 FIP while striking out 149 batters across 169 innings.
Turning 37 later this month, Gray is entering the final years of his career and likely shouldn't be looking for a lengthy contract. That could make him a perfect fit for the Blue Jays.
Toronto needs another arm or two in the rotation to provide some stability and a short-term deal with Gray would give the club the type of veteran presence it could use. He can still pitch at a high level while potentially helping mentor younger arms such as Ricky Tiedemann, Nolan Perry and other prospects who could begin making an impact in 2027 and beyond.
Gray will likely command a pretty penny compared to pitchers such as Bieber or Gausman, but his track record speaks for itself. His experience pitching in the American League East is another factor that should make him attractive to Toronto.
If the Blue Jays are looking for a veteran starter who can still deliver quality innings without requiring a long-term commitment, Gray makes plenty of sense.
5. Teruaki Sato – 3B/OF
Turning to Japan, one of the hottest names potentially available in 2026 is being posted for Major League Baseball this offseason.
Teruaki Sato, a third baseman and outfielder with the Hanshin Tigers, was made available through the posting process, giving major-league clubs 45 days to negotiate with him.
Sato is expected to be one of the top players available this winter. The 27-year-old won the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) Triple Crown last season after posting a .306 batting average, a .991 OPS, and 39 home runs. He also finished the campaign with 106 RBIs, a .383 on-base percentage, and a .609 slugging percentage.
For his career, Sato has accumulated a .271/.337/.514 slash line, along with 163 home runs and an .851 OPS.
Defensively, he has spent most of the past few seasons at third base but also has experience playing in the outfield, albeit with more limited results. He also suited up in right field for Japan at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, where he held his own.
For the Blue Jays, Sato seems like an excellent potential fit. Toronto had success with Kazuma Okamoto last winter, and Okamoto could become one of the club's biggest assets when it comes to recruiting his fellow countryman.
Sato would give the Blue Jays another option in the corner outfield spots, particularly if Addison Barger struggles to regain his form after missing most of last season due to injury.
Toronto could also use another power bat in the lineup, and adding Sato's left-handed power would provide an intriguing option for the middle of the order.
There will always be some uncertainty surrounding how a player's production in Japan translates to Major League Baseball. However, considering how many boxes Sato checks for the Blue Jays in terms of power, positional versatility, and age, there is plenty to like about a potential deal.