Up next in our series previewing the American League East’s 2025 landscape, we have our friends up North in the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Jays kicked the tires with just about every free agent of note this offseason, and while they missed out on a lot of the top targets, Toronto still made out with a respectable haul.
Key Additions: OF Anthony Santander, RHP Jeff Hoffman, RHP Max Scherzer, INF Andrés Giménez, RHP Yimi García, RHP Nick Sandlin, OF Myles Straw
Key Subtractions: RHP Jordan Romano, UTIL Spencer Horwitz
As I was saying, Toronto was busy this offseason trying to maximize their window with franchise cornerstones Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette.
The 2024 campaign was rough for the Jays, winning just 74 games. However, I do think this team’s ceiling is much higher than that, as from 2020-2023, Toronto won 32 (60-game season), 91, 92 and 89 games, respectively, with three postseason appearances in four seasons.
While the Jays’ roster isn’t what it was during that stretch, adding a 40+-home-run bat in Anthony Santander to a lineup with Vladdy is a nightmare for opposing starters. Bichette, George Springer and Alejandro Kirk, who just agreed to a five-year, $58 million extension, will all be X-factors in their lineup as well.
If Toronto can get the best version of those guys, Joey Loperfido can take a step forward and new addition Andrés Giménez can find a way to be average at the plate, the Jays could have a sneaky potent offense.
On the pitching side, Toronto boasts an experienced staff led by José Berríos, who the O’s are slated to face on Opening Day. Former Oriole Kevin Gausman and Chris Bassitt should be reliable arms in the middle of the rotation.
Also, future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer, whether he pitches well or not, will be a very valuable voice in their clubhouse. Perhaps the biggest beneficiary to Scherzer’s presence is young right-hander Bowden Francis. If he can sustain his 2024 second-half success all year, the Jays’ rotation could turn heads.
I don’t want to spend too much time on bullpens, as relief pitching is mostly a crap shoot. However, Toronto’s bullpen should be serviceable. They were 29th in bullpen ERA in 2024, which is alarming, but the additions of Jeff Hoffman, Yimi García and Nick Sandlin should help the group rebound in 2025.
STRENGTHS
Of course, the most obvious strength of the Blue Jays is their phenom Vlad Guerrero Jr., who bounced back big time in 2024, reminding us that he’s still one of the best players in baseball.
However, what I think really plays well for the Blue Jays is the veteran presence they’ve established. Vladdy and Bichette are entering year seven now. Santander and Springer have also been around for some time, seeing both the lows of tanking and the highs of contending.
Scherzer and Gausman should also help steady the rotation, with Garcia, Hoffman, and the returning Chad Green bringing experience to the pen.
I’m not saying having a surplus of aging players is the greatest roster-building strategy, but I certainly think Toronto’s experience, complimented with both their old and young talent, should make for a ball club that knows how to win and finds ways to do so all year.
WEAKNESSES
Toronto doesn’t have a glaring hole. I think they are solid all the way around, but there is a situation brewing that I think could have serious negative effects on the club.
That situation would be the Vladdy contract dispute. From what I’ve seen, Guerrero Jr.’s asking price has been somewhere in the $500-$600 million range, with the Blue Jays coming in around $50 million less than he would be willing to take.
The issue here is that this could lead to an identity crisis at some point in the season. If Toronto is around the .500 mark and not making a serious bid for a postseason spot, that will put the Jays’ front office in a tough position. Losing Vlad for nothing would be a true disaster, and I’m sure a struggling Toronto team would entertain calls on the superstar.
Not having all your eggs in one basket is never a recipe for success, so unless Toronto comes out guns blazing or reaches an extension with their franchise player, they’ll have a looming dilemma all season long. Not to mention that Bichette will also be a free agent at year’s end.
PROJECTED RECORD: 82-80 / DIVISION FINISH – 4th PLACE
I do like what the Blue Jays have done this offseason, and they should be a respectable club in 2025. However, with such a difficult division and just too many question marks, I can’t get my hopes too high on them.
With all of this being said, The Baltimore Battery’s final projection is for the Toronto Blue Jays to finish fourth in the AL East with a win/loss record of 82-80.
What are your expectations for the Toronto Blue Jays this season? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, X, Bluesky and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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