The Toronto Blue Jays have moved into the 2027 planning phase after finishing the 2026 season outside the playoffs, with several veteran contracts scheduled to expire and important questions surrounding the starting rotation.
Toronto was eliminated from postseason contention on September 23, 2026, before closing the year with a three-game series against Cincinnati at Rogers Centre.
The club finished the regular season 79-83 after a 5-1 win over the Reds on September 27.
Table of Contents
Blue Jays Roster: Which Blue Jays contracts are changing for 2027?
The biggest change to the Blue Jays roster will come from the number of veteran deals scheduled to come off the books after the 2026 season.
George Springer, Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, Daulton Varsho and Max Scherzer were listed as players whose contracts would expire or require a new decision before the 2027 season.
Toronto also faces a choice on Myles Straw, whose contract includes an $8-million club option and a $1.75-million buyout for 2027.
Some of those decisions have already been partly addressed through the season.
Toronto traded Gausman and Varsho before the 2026 trade deadline, while Scherzer’s future remains uncertain as he considers whether to continue his career.
That leaves the front office with both flexibility and risk.
The expiring commitments could create room for new additions, but Toronto would also be losing experience from a roster that entered 2026 with championship expectations.
The core of the 2027 roster is already in place
The Blue Jays are not starting from scratch.
Alejandro Kirk, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Ernie Clement, Andrés Giménez and Kazuma Okamoto are under contract for 2027, giving the club a defined infield foundation.
Guerrero remains the central offensive figure in Toronto, while Okamoto’s first season provides the team with another established middle-of-the-order option.
Kirk and Giménez also give the club continuity at catcher and shortstop.
The question is less about replacing every position than about adding enough production around that group.
Toronto’s 2026 offence struggled to maintain the consistency expected from a team that had reached the World Series the previous year.
Pitching is the largest roster priority
The 2027 Blue Jays roster will be shaped most heavily by the condition of the pitching staff.
José Berríos is expected to miss most or all of 2027 while recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Bowden Francis also underwent elbow surgery and is expected to miss the 2026 season, while Spencer Arrighetti’s knee injury placed him among the pitchers expected to return in 2027.
Toronto will still have controllable arms to build around, including José Soriano, Spencer Arrighetti and Trey Yesavage.
The organization also used the 2026 season to evaluate pitchers such as Spencer Miles, whose development could affect the shape of the next rotation.
However, the club cannot assume every injured starter will return at full strength or provide a full workload immediately.
Adding at least one dependable starter, and possibly more than one, is likely to be among the front office’s most important offseason tasks.
What the Blue Jays need to decide next
Toronto’s first decisions will involve contract options, free-agent planning and the organization’s evaluation of players who finished the season on the fringe of the major-league roster.
- Whether to exercise Myles Straw’s 2027 club option.
- How much veteran pitching to add after the departures and expiring contracts.
- Whether to pursue a reunion with any departing veteran, including Gausman or Scherzer.
- How aggressively to strengthen the outfield and middle of the batting order.
- Which young pitchers and position players are ready for permanent major-league roles.
The Blue Jays also need to decide how much of their roster should be reshaped through free agency and how much should be handed to younger players already in the system.
A retooling rather than a complete rebuild
Based on the players under contract, Toronto’s next roster appears more likely to be a retooling project than a full rebuild.
The infield core remains intact, Guerrero is still the franchise’s offensive anchor and several younger pitchers have a path to larger roles.
At the same time, the 2026 season exposed weaknesses that cannot be solved by simply bringing back the same group.
The Blue Jays need more reliable innings, greater depth behind the rotation and improved offensive balance if they are to return to the American League playoff picture.
The most meaningful roster changes will begin after the World Series, when option decisions and free agency turn the current outlook into concrete moves.
Until then, the confirmed picture is a core under contract, several veteran departures already set in motion and a pitching staff that requires immediate attention.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the Blue Jays make their biggest 2027 roster decisions?
The main decisions are expected after the 2026 season, including club-option choices, free-agent moves and roster additions during the offseason.
Which Blue Jays players are under contract for 2027?
The infield foundation includes Alejandro Kirk, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Ernie Clement, Andrés Giménez and Kazuma Okamoto.
Which Blue Jays contracts are expiring after 2026?
George Springer, Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, Daulton Varsho and Max Scherzer were identified as coming off the books, while Myles Straw has a club-option decision.
What is the Blue Jays’ biggest need for 2027?
Starting-pitching depth is the clearest need because of expiring contracts, injuries and José Berríos’ expected lengthy recovery.
Will the Blue Jays rebuild in 2027?
The current outlook points more toward a retooling effort because Toronto still has a strong infield core and several controllable players, but major pitching and outfield additions may be required.
Fact-Checked: Key roster, contract, injury and season-ending details were checked against current Toronto Blue Jays and MLB information available through September 28, 2026.
Disclaimer: Contract decisions, injury timelines and offseason additions can change as the Blue Jays complete their 2027 roster planning.