ORLANDO, Fla. — The Blue Jays were the talk of the MLB Winter Meetings without making a move, still riding their wave of momentum from the World Series.
Much of their heavy lifting has been done already, after they jumped the market with a . Their (three years, $30 million) came soon after, giving the Blue Jays one of the deepest and most talented rotations in baseball, but they’re still one or two big moves away.
Fans want to see moves right here, right now, but the entire industry is moving slowly. These Winter Meetings saw Kyle Schwarber return to the Phillies and Edwin Díaz join the Dodgers as the rich only get richer, but beyond those moves, these have been quiet days. No big splashes, no blockbuster trades, only rumors.
Here’s where the Blue Jays stand as they head back north:
BIGGEST REMAINING NEEDS
1) Back-end reliever
This likely won’t be the Blue Jays’ biggest remaining move in terms of money (that’s likelier reserved for a bat), but it still feels like their closest thing to a true “need.” Both GM Ross Atkins and manager John Schneider spoke about the Blue Jays’ desire to bolster the back end of their bullpen, and whether that means a new closer or direct competition for Jeff Hoffman, they’ll need to aim high. Robert Suarez and Pete Fairbanks are two names the Blue Jays were connected to throughout the Meetings.
2) One more big bat
Yes, this is the “Bo Bichette or Kyle Tucker” conversation. As much as Blue Jays fans would love this to land on “both,” that feels extremely unlikely, but it’s fun to dream. Tucker stands atop the market for good reason and fits Toronto’s lineup almost perfectly, but the Blue Jays know Bichette as well as anyone, and his market is particularly important. The Blue Jays are in a good spot here, able to wait as those markets unfold. If Bichette’s market dips, which feels more possible now, that could be awfully attractive and still leave room for more business.
3) Infield depth
This is far from a “need,” but Toronto is deeper in the outfield, so we should (eventually) see some tinkering with the infield. The Blue Jays have always liked to have a veteran behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at first base, whether that be Brandon Belt, Justin Turner, Daniel Vogelbach or Ty France. Backup catcher is a possibility, as well, but Tyler Heineman is coming off a fine year and Brandon Valenzuela is not getting enough attention as a factor in 2026.
The Blue Jays selected 25-year-old right-hander Spencer Miles from the Giants in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft on Wednesday. Miles has missed significant time in his career with a back surgery and Tommy John surgery, but the Blue Jays love his upside and ability to control the zone. Does he have a chance to stick, though?
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