Toronto Blue Jays

Catcher Danny Jansen agreed to a one-year, $8.5 million contract with the Tampa Bay Rays, multiple media outlets reported on Friday. ESPN reported the deal includes a mutual option for a second season. Jansen will be playing for his third team in the American League East. He suited up for both the Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox last season. In fact, Jansen made major league history as the first player to appear for both teams in the same game. Jansen was facing an 0-1 count on June 26 when the game was suspended by rain with one out in the top of the second inning. He then was traded to the Red Sox on July 27 for three prospects. On Aug. 26, Toronto's Daulton Varsho pinch-hit for Jansen

The Toronto Blue Jays missed the postseason in 2024. The Blue Jays are in the mix to land Juan Soto, but if they cannot land him they will likely be aggressive in pursuing other free agents. While listing free agency fits for every team, The Athletic's Jim Bowden noted that the Blue Jays could be a fit for Nathan Eovaldi on a three-year, $70 million deal.

Left-hander Yusei Kikuchi agreed to a three-year, $63 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels, according to multiple reports Monday. Kikuchi, 33, started 32 games with a record of 9-10 last season between the Toronto Blue Jays and Houston Astros. Houston acquired the southpaw prior to the trade deadline and he finished the season with a 2.70 ERA in 10 starts (76 strikeouts, 14 walks) with the Astros. He totaled 206 strikeouts in 175 2/3 innings Kikuchi joins a parade of veterans signed by the 99-loss Angels since the start of free agency. Their roster remake already includes right-hander Kyle Hendricks (Cubs), catcher Travis d'Arnaud (Braves) and infielder Kevin Newman (Diamondbacks) and trade

Editor's note: Each year, the Star sports department contributes to the Toronto Star Santa Claus Fund via Proudfoot Corner. The drive allows children from financially disadvantaged families across the GTA to enjoy a gift box Christmas morning. Proudfoot Corner is our long-standing tradition of recognizing donors. Sitting in a seat down the left-field line on a Friday night in May, Liz McGuire had no idea she was about to become a minor celebrity among Blue Jays fans, but her life changed when a foul ball off the bat of Bo Bichette, travelling at 110 miles per hour, struck her in the forehead.

If the Los Angeles Dodgers aren't careful, they could lose one of the players that was most directly responsible for winning them the 2024 World Series. It's always the superstars who get the credit for a title, and Freddie Freeman, Shohei Ohtani, and Mookie Betts all shined at some point during the playoffs. Hernández was fantastic in his one season with the Dodgers, belting a career-high 33 home runs, and he's expressed his desire to return to Chavez Ravine.

Baltimore Orioles ace Corbin Burnes is arguably the best starting pitcher left on the market with MLB experience following Blake Snell's agreement to a deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Orioles, who acquired him in a trade from the Milwaukee Brewers last offseason, are going to face a lot of competition on the market to retain him. One of the teams they have to pay close attention to is the Toronto Blue Jays.

The honour is awarded annually by the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum to the Canadian player judged to excel on the field while “adhering to baseball's highest ideals.” Guerrero, who was born in Montreal while his father, Vladimir Guerrero Sr., was a star player with the Expos, led Canadian-born major leaguers in several offensive categories last season including batting average (. The 25-year-old also had 30 home runs and 103 runs batted in. Cleveland slugger Josh Naylor, who won the award last year, Guardians right-hander Cade Smith and Boston outfielder Tyler O'Neill were also in the running.

The Toronto Blue Jays, looking to solidify their infield and provide some pop to the lineup, are predicted to seize a starter away from the American League East frontrunner. Toronto fell well off the pace in the division last season, as the team's 74-88 record was good for dead last — 20 games behind the Yankees. While the Blue Jays have been linked with a number of top free agents such as Willy Adames and Alex Bregman, Caleb Moody of Just Baseball has a plan should they fail to acquire either: sign Gleyber Torres.

Toronto Blue Jays fans may need to start preparing themselves for a future without first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The 25-year-old is set to become a free agent following the 2025 season. It's now gotten to the point that Ken Rosenthal, one of the top MLB insiders, doesn't believe the Jays will re-sign the four-time All-Star. In his most recent article, Rosenthal mentions that he is “baffled” by the Blue Jays front office, who could have received big returns for both Guerrero and Bo Bichette at last season's trade deadline, but instead elected to hold onto both.

The Atlanta Braves were decimated by injuries last season. While making contract predictions for the top remaining free agents, Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter predicted that Max Fried would leave the Braves to sign a seven-year, $175 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. "Aaron Nola signed a seven-year, $172 million extension with the Philadelphia Phillies at the same age last winter, and while Nola has been more consistent and durable throughout his career, Fried is the second-best arm on the market right now and is capable of ace-caliber production," wrote Reuter.

The MLB Players Association's leadership has been decided for the 2025 and 2026 seasons, and the Toronto Blue Jays will have some representation at the very top. Blue Jays starting pitcher Chris Bassitt was named one of the two Association Player Representatives alongside Texas Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien, a former Blue Jay himself. Semien retained his position from the last two-year cycle, while Bassitt replaced New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor in the other post.

According to Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins, outfielder Daulton Varsho could miss the start of the 2025 season with injury. Varsho was shut down at the end of the 2024 season because of a right rotator cuff injury that required surgery. Asked about the rehab work of Bo Bichette, Will Wagner & Daulton Varsho, Atkins said “no one's behind schedule.”

The Mets added a potential left-handed bullpen option on Wednesday, signing 28-year-old Genesis Cabrera to a minor-league deal.

He played in Cleveland from 1974-77.

Weeks away from MLB's winter meetings, GMs are expecting a flurry of hot stove activity.

Matt Hague replaces Andy Haines, who was fired after Pittsburgh finished in the bottom 10 in the majors in every significant statistical category last season.

CHICAGO — For a franchise needing a superstar, a missing piece to help get it to the next level, this offseason presents an ideal situation for the Chicago Cubs. The lineup is missing a dominant slugger who is a constant threat to get on base and change the game with one swing. Juan Soto checks every box for the type of hitter the Cubs lack, and the left-handed-hitting outfielder turned 26 ...

The deal includes an invitation to Major League Spring Training.

Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman talk about teams trying to impress Juan Soto with their meetings, which players are worth watching as trade season arrive and the Orioles changing the dimensions of Camden Yards again.

Bell will oversee the player development and physical and mental performance departments, while also contributing to strategic planning and player evaluations and acquisitions.

WILSON, N.C. (WNCT) — The annual Wilson Hot Stove banquet took place Tuesday night with several baseball coaches and players in attendance as speakers and guests. ECU Head Baseball Coach Cliff Godwin was a guest as was Pirate ace pitcher Trey Yesavage who is set to begin his professional career after being drafted by the […]