Analyzing Blue Jays’ extension candidates for 2026

The Toronto Blue Jays have been energetic in free company in the course of the first months of the low season, however the membership has been quiet on different fronts, with Opening Day 83 days away.

As the Blue Jays look to set them up for fulfillment in 2026 and past, the free-agent market received’t be their solely port of name, although. That means exploring upgrades through commerce, but additionally trying internally. Contract extensions — exterior of mega offers just like the one Vladimir Guerrero Jr. obtained in 2025 — have a tendency to not generate as a lot pleasure as discovering big-name assist from elsewhere, however they are often simply as essential for a staff’s success.

When the Blue Jays prolonged Alejandro Kirk final 12 months, for example, that transfer didn’t exhilarate a fanbase ready on a decision with Vladdy, however the staff must be delighted to have Kirk behind the plate by way of 2030.

There hasn’t been a lot speak of extensions in Blue Jays land but this low season, with the staff within the operating for affect gamers like Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette, however there are some intriguing candidates to stay round in Toronto for the lengthy haul.

Trey Yesavage: Sizeable contracts for gamers of their early 20s hardly ever go to pitchers with groups eager to see a flair for carrying a full starter’s workload earlier than making a large funding. That could also be very true for a Blue Jays franchise that has put a transparent premium on starters who take the ball each 5 days.

If Yesavage has a stellar 2026 that features a stable innings whole, possibly the gears begin turning on an extension, however the younger starter nonetheless has lots to show on the MLB stage. He might earn a much bigger deal by including some heft to his resume, and there’s not a lot incentivizing the Blue Jays to leap early.

The means Toronto is working now, it is going to be capable of afford a Yesavage extension if he turns into a star participant. Figuring out the best way to match that into their funds is an issue they’d be delighted to have, and it’s value risking that risk to get extra certainty.

Addison Barger: From his glorious bat velocity to his rocket arm to his stellar playoff manufacturing, there are a number of causes to wish to be within the Barger enterprise.

At the identical time, Barger received’t even attain arbitration till 2028, and he doesn’t have the identical prospect pedigree as lots of the gamers who get large early-career extensions. In most instances, those that money in are blue-chip prospects who tore up the minors at a younger age and excelled in small samples on the big-league stage.

Barger has a 95 wRC+ in 727 MLB plate appearances and was seen as extra of an intriguing prospect than a positive factor on the way in which up. His glorious 2025 ought to give the Blue Jays confidence that he’ll be a big a part of the staff’s lineup within the years to return, however there isn’t a lot urgency to speak extension but.

Just like with Yesavage, the membership can afford to see extra and get a clearer inner analysis earlier than making the leap.

Unlikely candidates on expiring contracts

Shane Bieber: Bieber might wind up with the Blue Jays past 2026, however there are some questions on how wholesome he’s proper now, which makes for a foul negotiating setting.

He additionally didn’t pitch a lot in 2025, and he’ll be a troublesome pitcher to undertaking till his Tommy John surgical procedure is additional behind him.

Eric Lauer: Lauer exceeded all affordable expectations by a big margin in 2025, however some skepticism is warranted contemplating it was his first robust MLB marketing campaign since 2022.

Buying excessive on a participant who’s slated for an extended aid position looks like a dicey little bit of enterprise. Lauer is also immune to signing with a staff that’s proven reluctance to make use of him as a starter when different choices come up, and might want an opportunity to place himself as a back-of-the-rotation candidate in free company following the 2026 season.

Myles Straw: Veteran bench gamers like Straw are hardly ever seen as extension candidates, and the Blue Jays have an $8-million choice on him for 2027 if they’re determined to maintain him round. That choice is unlikely to get picked up, however a reunion is feasible relying on how 2026 goes.

However issues play out, the staff received’t be in a rush to lock Straw up earlier than the season begins.

Yimi García: As good as García has been for the Blue Jays at instances, he’s handled accidents in every of the previous two seasons, and 2027 can be his age-36 marketing campaign. Getting a powerful 2026 out of the right-hander is Toronto’s precedence.

Late-career stars on expiring contracts

George Springer: Evaluating the case for a Springer extension requires dabbling in some unknowns.

How lengthy does Springer wish to play?

How clunky is the match with Springer and Anthony Santander collectively over a full season? Does Santander bounce again sufficient for that to be an essential consideration?

How shut is Springer’s 2026 to his 2025?

Does Springer have a imaginative and prescient of eager to retire with a selected staff or in a selected space?

Extending Springer deep into his 30s isn’t a daft concept contemplating his elite 2025 manufacturing, nevertheless it in all probability is smart for all events to see how 2026 performs out.

Kevin Gausman: Gausman’s first contract has been an unequivocal success, and doubling down is value considering for the Blue Jays.

The veteran starter’s bounce-back 2025 didn’t take him to his 2022-23 ranges, nevertheless it indicated that he hadn’t entered a full decline section simply but. The Blue Jays have some medium-term rotation uncertainty, and Gausman might simply have some good years left.

It’s doable the staff might have reservations a couple of pitcher getting into his age-35 season after throwing 223.2 whole innings, together with the playoffs. It may pay to see him trying wholesome and powerful early in 2026 earlier than beginning any negotiations.

Teams have been prepared to pay pitchers who’re a bit lengthy within the tooth just lately, and a comparable to observe for Gausman is perhaps Yu Darvish, who signed an extension overlaying his age 36-40 seasons earlier than 2023.

Gausman’s final two seasons look awfully just like the 2 Darvish produced earlier than his six-year, $108-million deal started:

The arbitration years candidate

Ernie Clement: Clement is the candy spot for a contract extension by way of proximity to free company as a result of he’s arbitration-eligible for 3 extra seasons.

A contract with the infielder might be a win-win that permits him to get monetary safety and a big improve on his near-term earnings whereas the staff buys out a few years of free company.

Clement would hit free company getting into his age-33 season, minimizing his potential to land an enormous payday and presumably taking the sting out of forgoing the open market.

That all sounds intuitive, however the kind of participant Clement is complicates the scenario.

Impressive playoff run apart, the infielder tends to supply barely below-average offensive outcomes whereas excelling with the glove. That’s a nice profile for an on a regular basis participant, however the defensive growing older curve tends to be fairly steep past 30, and nearly all of Clement’s worth comes from his fielding. The Blue Jays have already got him below staff management by way of his age-32 season, and will not see a lot must lock in seasons the place his glove might decline and undermine his general affect.

The most fascinating candidate

Daulton Varsho: Of the entire gamers on this listing, Varsho makes probably the most sense for an extension.

He performs a premium place extraordinarily nicely, received’t flip 30 till halfway by way of 2026 and brings a left-handed energy component that’s uncommon within the Blue Jays group. There isn’t an inner inheritor obvious in centre discipline, and Varsho is important to the staff’s defensive id.

Since the start of the 2023 season, the Blue Jays rank first within the majors with 227 runs saved, and 23.1 per cent of that quantity supplied by Varsho. Statcast’s Fielding Run Value has Toronto second (+109), with Varsho delivering 29.4 per cent of that whole.

The 29-year-old’s bat can also be simpler to consider in than ever. In simply 71 video games final season, he hit as many residence runs (20) as he had in two seasons with the Blue Jays the place he performed at the very least 136 video games every. Despite enjoying lower than half of 2025, he had almost as many whole barrels (28) as he managed in his 158-game 2023 marketing campaign (29).

Varsho noticed his common bat velocity rise to 75.6 mph — considerably increased than it was in 2024 (73.7 mph) or 2024 (74.6 mph), had a better proportion of his plate appearances lead to extra-base hits (12.9 per cent) than Aaron Judge (12.5 per cent), and produced the hardest-hit ball of his profession (113.9 mph):

All that info feels like a great argument for Varsho to get to free company and money in. He has a uncommon talent set, and if he can present his 2025 offensive strides are the actual deal, he’s only one season away from an enormous payday.

That risk is tantalizing and almost inside attain, nevertheless it’s removed from a positive factor. If Varsho doesn’t keep wholesome in 2026, he’ll enter free company with a big sturdiness crimson flag. If his offensive manufacturing falls again to earth, the 2025 energy surge might be labelled a small-sample-size blip.

Any slippage in dash velocity might have groups questioning how lengthy he’ll stay a game-changer in centre discipline. He already ranked fortieth on the place by that metric in 2025. His jumps, instincts, and catching potential made him shine, nevertheless it’s one thing for groups to chew on as he will get into his 30s. The identical broad worries about shopping for the again half of a defensive star’s profession that apply to Clement are additionally related to Varsho to a point.

There are fairly good arguments for the Blue Jays to lock Varsho up as quickly as doable, or let one other staff be the one to pay him handsomely into his 30s. Varsho might additionally wish to capitalize on his offensive progress and keep away from 2026’s doable pitfalls, or wager on himself.

At this second, either side might make the case that it is a good time to get a deal carried out, and each can be risking a big misstep by placing pen to paper.