Toronto Blue Jays options to replenish 2026 starting rotation

While the Blue Jays have an immediate need for starting pitching, they may be looking to sign or trade for a starter or two for 2026 and beyond.

With the departure of Chris Bassitt and Max Scherzer, the Blue Jays are left with a rotation of RHP Kevin Gausman (free agent after 2026), RHP Shane Bieber (free agent after 2026), RHP Jose Berrios (player opt-out after 2026), LHP Eric Lauer (free agent after 2026) RHP Trey Yesavage (rookie).

There are plenty of starting rotation options available this winter either by trade or via free agency in 2026. Here is a look at who the Blue Jays may target this winter.

Cease, 29, has been one of the game's most durable arms in recent years, and his peripherals have remained far more consistent than his actual results.

He's struck out at least 200 batters in five consecutive seasons with at least 32 starts and a 165 innings in each of those seasons.

While his ERA has fluctuated between 2.20 and 4.58 across those five seasons, his FIP (between 3.10 and 3.72) and SIERA (between 3.46 and 4.10) have been far more stable.

While Cease's 3.72 ERA ranks 29th among starters with at least 500 innings of work since 2021, his FIP (12th), SIERA (22nd), and xERA (11th) all rank more favorably.

Peralta, 29, may not be on the same level of star power as someone like Tarik Skubal, but he's still an exciting pitcher in his own right.

Since joining Milwaukee's rotation full time in 2021, Peralta has been among the game's most reliable starters with a 3.30 ERA and 3.65 FIP across 738 1/3 innings of work.

He's struck out an impressive 29.6% of his opponents in that time while walking 9.0%, and he actually enjoyed a career year this season as he posted a 2.70 ERA in 176 2/3 frames and finished fifth in NL Cy Young award voting.

It goes without saying that Peralta is the sort of pitcher that literally any rotation in baseball could benefit from adding.

King, 31 next May, has had an atypical arc over the past few seasons. A swingman and multi-inning reliever for several years in the Bronx, he moved into the Yankees' rotation late in the 2023 season and posted brilliant results in nine starts down the stretch.

New York shipped him to San Diego as part of the Juan Soto blockbuster of the 2023-24 offseason, and King subsequently broke out as one of the top starters in MLB, starting 30 games for the Friars and turning in a 2.95 ERA with a hearty 27.7% strikeout rate against a solid 8.7% walk rate.

It was more of the same early in 2025. King sprinted out of the gates with a 2.59 ERA and even better rate stats (28.4 K%, 7.6 BB%) in his first 10 starts.

A nine-figure free agent deal seems all but certain - provided King can stay healthy.

Gallen, 30, is one of the more intriguing pitchers on the free agent market this winter, as interested clubs will have to balance the right-hander's solid track record up against his shaky 2025 season.

Gallen posted a 4.83 ERA, 21.5% strikeout rate, and 8.1% walk rate over 192 innings in 2025, with the ERA and K% both standing out as career worsts.

Pretty much all of Gallen's Statcast numbers were below the league average, and he was continually plagued by the home run ball.

Gallen's 31 homers allowed were the third-most of any pitcher in baseball.

The inflated number is related in part to the number of innings Gallen tossed, though his barrel rate and hard-hit ball rates didn't surpass the 26th percentile of all pitchers.

The good news for Gallen is that he seemed to get on track over the season's final two months.

After posting a 5.60 ERA over his first 127 innings, he improved to a 3.32 ERA over his last 65 frames and 11 starts.

Valdez, 32, became a full-time member of Houston's rotation in 2020, and the southpaw has since become a key part of the team's success.

He has a 3.12 ERA, 23.9% strikeout rate, 7.9% walk rate, and a whopping 62.2% grounder rate over 781 innings over the 2020-24 seasons.

That grounder rate is the best of any qualified pitcher in baseball over the last five seasons, and Valdez's 781 innings are the seventh-most of any pitcher.

A broken finger cost Valdez about two months of the 2021 campaign and he had a minimal IL stint last season due to elbow soreness, but he has otherwise been the picture of health.

The big regular-season workload has been augmented by 85 innings of postseason ball, with Valdez posting a 4.34 ERA over five of Houston's playoff runs.

While his production has been a little more inconsistent, his best work came in the Astros' 2022 World Series championship year, when Valdez delivered a 2.07 ERA over 25 innings to help Houston capture a ring.

Suarez, 30, has been a rock in the Philly rotation, averaging 26 starts per season across the past four years and pitching to a 3.59 ERA in that time.

He's been even better in the playoffs, with a sub-2.00 ERA in his postseason career.

Suarez doesn't throw especially hard, sitting 91-92 mph with his sinker, but he still consistently posts better-than-average strikeout, walk and ground-ball rates.

Imai, 27, has officially been posted by the Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball. He should garner lots of interest based on his results and also his age.

His earned run average in Japan has been 2.34 or lower in three straight seasons now, including a 1.92 mark in 2025.

His strikeout rate has ticked up from 24.4% in 2023 to 26.3% last year and 27.8% this year. Meanwhile, his walk rate has dropped from 11.4% to 9.8% to 7% in those years.

The signing team will also owe the Lions a posting fee, on top of the guarantee they give Imai.

The Lions will get 20% of the contract's first $25MM, 17.5% of the contract's next $25MM, and 15% of any money above the $50MM mark.