The Toronto Blue Jays have not wasted a single moment this offseason reminding the league they are still very much in a championship window. After capturing the 2025 American League pennant, Toronto moved aggressively, locking up frontline starter Dylan Cease, importing KBO standout Cody Ponce, and adding proven reliever Tyler Rogers to an already formidable pitching staff.
And yet, inside the organization, there’s a clear understanding: this roster is not finished.
The Blue Jays don’t want a repeat of last October’s ending. They want a different one.
While rumors surrounding homegrown star Bo Bichette and superstar outfielder Kyle Tucker have dominated headlines, the quieter — and arguably more urgent — issue sits at the back end of the bullpen. If Toronto plans to return to the World Series and finish the job in 2026, it needs reliable, battle-tested arms capable of thriving when games tighten and pressure peaks.
Here are three remaining free agents who could make a decisive impact.
Seranthony Domínguez (31)
If there is an obvious answer, it starts here.
Domínguez was part of Toronto’s 2025 World Series run, and bringing him back would instantly stabilize the bullpen. At 31, he checks every box for a modern high-leverage reliever: power, swing-and-miss stuff, and the ability to limit damage when contact is made.
His 2025 Statcast profile tells the story. Domínguez posted a 33.3% whiff rate, generated ground balls at a 43.1% clip, and finished the season with a 3.16 ERA. That combination — strikeouts plus soft contact — is gold in October, where one mistake can end a season.
Perhaps more importantly, Domínguez has already proven he can handle the brightest lights. He took the mound in Game 7 of the World Series, pitching extra innings against the Dodgers at Rogers Centre. That kind of experience can’t be manufactured.
For Toronto, a reunion wouldn’t just be about familiarity. It would be about trust — knowing exactly what they’re getting when the margin for error disappears.
Kirby Yates (38)
The second option represents a very different path: experience over youth, volatility balanced by upside.
At 38, Kirby Yates is no longer the dominant closer he once was, but the underlying tools remain intriguing. In 2025, he posted a 35.3% whiff rate, one of the highest among available relievers, reaffirming his long-standing ability to miss bats at an elite level.
Yates’ recent surface numbers raise questions. He appeared in 50 games last season and finished with a 5.23 ERA, a mark that reflects inconsistency more than collapse. But context matters. Yates saved 33 games in 2024, proving he can still close when deployed correctly.
Toronto could offer the ideal reset. With less pressure to be “the guy” every night, Yates could thrive in a defined role — attacking hitters late, missing bats, and shortening games. For a bullpen that already features multiple arms, the risk is manageable. The upside, however, is significant.
In October, a single dominant inning can change everything. Yates still has that inning in him.
Justin Wilson (38)
The most intriguing name on the list may also be the most overlooked.
Justin Wilson is the lone left-hander among these options, and he quietly delivered a strong 2025 campaign. He recorded a 31.9% whiff rate, consistently limited hard contact, and showed he can still neutralize both left- and right-handed hitters in leverage spots.
For a bullpen built heavily around right-handed power arms, Wilson provides balance — something that becomes critical in postseason matchups. His presence would give Toronto flexibility against elite left-handed bats and dangerous switch-hitters late in games.
There’s also a strategic layer. Wilson spent time with the Boston Red Sox, and prying him away from a division rival would weaken an AL East opponent while strengthening Toronto’s own relief corps. Those marginal advantages often separate contenders from champions.
At this stage of his career, Wilson isn’t flashy. He’s efficient. And for a team chasing a title, efficiency matters.
The Bigger Picture
The Blue Jays’ front office knows this window won’t stay open forever. Cease anchors the rotation. The offense remains dangerous. But October baseball is decided in the margins — in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings when starters are gone and nerves are exposed.
Toronto doesn’t need just arms. It needs arms it can trust.
Whether that means a reunion with Domínguez, a calculated gamble on Yates, or the quiet consistency of Wilson, the message is the same: the bullpen is still under construction. And the next signing could determine whether the Blue Jays return to the World Series — or watch it from home.
The offseason isn’t over.
And for Toronto, the most important move may still be waiting.
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