Penton: Jays having championship-style off-season
By Bruce Penton
Mid-January is not normally the time of year for baseball-related sports columns, but what the Toronto Blue Jays are doing this off-season can’t wait for spring.
The Jays, owned by Rogers, made truckloads of money in 2025 when the team went all the way to the World Series, falling one game short against Los Angeles Dodgers. Rather than stuffing all that loot in a storage room at company headquarters on Bloor Street, the owners have authorized the use of that excess dough to make manager John Schneider’s team even more powerful in 2026.
Expectations will be high when the 162-game regular season begins in late March, and why not? The Jays have bolstered their starting pitching corps, added a major slugger to their lineup and signed a relief pitcher who might just be a real closer. (Memories of Jeff Hoffman, he of the seven blown saves in 2025, second-most in the American League, won’t be long forgotten.)
With a solid starting pitching staff already established with Kevin Gausman, breakout star Trey Yesavage, Shane Bieber and Jose Berrios, the Jays have added one of the best free agents available, Dylan Cease, to a seven-year, $210 million pact. A seven-year veteran, Cease played five seasons with the hapless Chicago White Sox before being traded to San Diego, where he played the last two seasons. His stat numbers aren’t overwhelming, but he’s a 1A starter, as is Gausman. Added to the starting pitching staff is right-hander Cody Ponce, who was 17-1 last season in the Korean Major League, where he was voted Most Valuable Player. The Jays gave Ponce a three-year deal worth $30 million.
Strengthening the bullpen is right-hander Tyler Rogers, who compiled a 1.98 earned-run average in 2025 while playing for the Mets and Giants. Rogers, who throws the ball submarine-style, has the lowest release point of any MLB pitcher. He throws low, but comes with high hopes for the Jays to develop a shutdown bullpen for late innings of 2026 games.
And while the Jays led the majors in team batting average (.265) in 2025, their power numbers were middle of the pack. Toronto’s 191 home runs trailed leading New York Yankees by 83, and nine teams hit more than 200. So, the Jays went out and signed Japanese slugger Kazuma Okamoto to a four-year contract worth $60 million. Okamoto, who is likely to play third base, played 11 years in the Japanese major league and belted 248 homers in that span. Will that power translate smoothly to MLB? It worked pretty well for the Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani.
Reports indicate Toronto is still hoping to resign long-time Jay Bo Bichette, currently pondering free-agent opportunities, and pursuing another slugger, outfielder Kyle Tucker, 29, who hit 22 homers last year with the Chicago Cubs.
On the acquisition of Cease, Schneider was effusive in his praise: “We’ve been in love with his stuff for a while and there’s a real opportunity for him to continue to get better with what we have to offer.”
It’s official, Blue Jays’ fans: Canada has a baseball power.
Headline at fark.com: “Texas Tech’s gamble on a high school coach has paid off As did the Brinks trucks of west Texas oil money they amassed for paying players.”
Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua, on the popularity of football coach Marcus Freeman: “Everybody has eyes on Marcus. College has eyes on Marcus. NFL has eyes on Marcus. I bet Hollywood has eyes on Marcus. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s in the next Leo DiCaprio movies with Martin Scorsese.”
Steve Hofstetter on Facebook: “First Venezuela misses qualifying for the World Cup by one game, then gets bombed by the winner of the FIFA peace prize.”
Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel: “The Orlando Magic used to play defence like the '85 Bears. Now they play defence like the Venezuelan Air Force.”
Another one from Bianchi: “Did you see where Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young wants to be traded to the hapless Washington Wizards? In a league where most stars chase championships, Trae Young just asked to be placed in a witness protection program.”
Comedy guy Torben Rolfsen of Vancouver: “If the Canucks draft Gavin McKenna, will the arena name go back to being GM Place?”
Rolfsen again: “Las Vegas Raiders have the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft. It will be fascinating to see which young quarterback’s career they will destroy.”
Jack Finarelli on his sportscurmudgeon.com site, on the NFL coaching opening in Las Vegas: “Bad roster; bad owner; the specter of Tom Brady hovering around the team; playing in a tough division. Other than those factors, this is a great job.”
Finarelli again, on Tennessee Titans looking for a new head coach: “The Front Office has no clue what it needs or wants and will – at some point – tire of trying to sort among the 13 candidates and draw a name out of a hat.”
Headline at the onion.com: “Steph Curry finally finishes eating mouthguard.”
Care to comment? Email brucepenton2003@yahoo.ca