Toronto found plenty of wild cards that ultimately helped the team shine in some of its biggest moments during the regular season and playoffs. Of these players, these three players will receive even greater attention in the coming season.
Shane Bieber
WELCOME BACK, BIEBS! OFFICIAL: RHP Shane Bieber has exercised his player option for the 2026 season.
The California native will obviously be the team’s second or third starter, and his performance over the year should bring stability to a rotation that has seen a whirlwind of volatility over the past year. Bieber’s consistency will be one of the key factors determining the Blue Jays’ fortunes in 2026, and this time the Jays have him on the roster for a full season.
Anthony Santander
To prove his worth, Santander will have to find a way to maximize his power while significantly lowering his strikeout rate. The Blue Jays signed Santander to a big free-agent contract, aware that the Venezuelan was more suited for power than his skills on base. Even if the 31-year-old can’t match his record-setting 2024 season with 44 home runs, replicating his 2022 and 2023 records (33 home runs and 28 home runs, respectively) would already help the Blue Jays increase their power level in 2026.
Santander’s real goal heading into the 2026 season is to lengthen and diversify the Blue Jays’ lineup. His ability to change the game on the fly is what Toronto is counting on, especially to compete against powerhouse teams like the New York Yankees. Whether Santander consistently delivers that or not could determine the team’s attacking trajectory next season.
Trey Yesavage
Trey Yesavage has been nothing but sensational for the Blue Jays after his late-season debut in 2025. He dominated the league and the playoffs with the enigma of his high release point, and that bet paid off for the Blue Jays, even if the team ultimately fell short of their goal in November.
In 14 innings during the 2025 season, the Pennsylvania native posted a 3.21 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 25.8 K%, which was an impressive debut despite his limited appearances. This track record also translated to the postseason, where he posted a 3.58 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 35.8 K%, which led to the Blue Jays winning three games as Yesavage entered the playoff stage.
But this former first-round pick will have more responsibility in the starting rotation for 2026 and will have to adapt and develop over the course of a 162-game season. The rookie sensation is ready to face more challenges. His staying power will be tested and he will have to prove that he still deserves to be in the starting lineup for the Blue Jays’ rotation.
The competition will definitely sort out Yesavage next year. The question the 22-year-old must now answer is whether he can learn from his outings, adapt and continue to push himself. Baseball is a game of failure; Responding to that failure will determine how much of a role Yesavage will play in Toronto’s starting rotation.
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