The Toronto Blue Jays appear to be on the verge of reestablishing themselves as one of the top teams in the majors. Aside from their two championship seasons in 1992 and 1993, the franchise hasn’t experienced a ton of success. Despite that, they have had some of the best players in the league play for them during their time in the majors.
So who are the greatest players in Blue Jays history? That’s the question we have set out to answer today, so let’s take a look at the Top 10 Blue Jays players of all time and see why they have found their way on to this list.
Position: First Base
Years with Blue Jays: 2019-2025
Notable Accolades: Four-time All-Star, Two-time Silver Slugger, 2021 HR Champ, 2022 Gold Glove
As the son of a Hall of Famer, expectations have always been sky high for Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. However, he’s lived up to much of them as a four-time All-Star in six seasons and the runner-up in voting for the 2021 AL MVP after leading the league in home runs and OPS.
Now the pressure is on even more after Guerrero signed a 14-year, $500 million contract extension in April 2025 that included a massive $325 million signing bonus. The Jays clearly believe that Guerrero will be climbing up this list as one of the franchise’s all-time best players. He’s already eighth all time in home runs for the Jays.
Position: Right Field
Years with Blue Jays: 1981-1989
Notable Accolades: 1986 AL All-Star, 1986 Silver Slugger, Two-time Gold Glove winner
Jesse Barfield followed the path that several other players have taken who have made this list. He didn’t have a super long peak, but when he was at the top of his game, he was dominant. Barfield managed to win a starting role in 1982 but really broke out in 1985, when he finished seventh in the AL MVP race.
Barfield one-up that by putting together easily the best season of his career in 1986 (.289 BA, 40 HR, 108 RBI, .927 OPS), and he seemed set for superstardom afterwards.
That was the top of the mountain for Barfield, though, as he struggled to hit for a high average afterwards, and he ended up getting traded to the New York Yankees early in the 1989 season. But Barfield had already made a name for himself in Toronto, and remains one of their greatest Blue Jays of all time.
Position: Starting Pitcher
Years with Blue Jays: 1984-1992
Notable Accolades: Two-time AL All-Star, 1992 World Series champion
Jimmy Key spent his entire career in the American League East with three different teams, but he spent most of his time with the Blue Jays. Key actually broke in as a reliever in 1984 and picked up 10 saves as a rookie. But Key found his way into the rotation the next season and quickly earned his first All-Star selection.
Key would quickly top that in 1987, which was his best season with Toronto (17-8, 2.76 ERA, 161 K, 1.06 WHIP) and saw him finish second in the AL Cy Young race. He would make it to the All-Star Game in 1991 before winning a title in 1992 and departing in free agency, but by then, his legacy was set in stone.
Key was extremely consistent during his time with Toronto, and while he was never the greatest pitcher ever, it will be a long time before Blue Jays fans forget about him.
Position: Right Field
Years with Blue Jays: 1991-1997
Notable Accolades: Five-time All-Star, Two-time Silver Slugger, Two-time World Series Champion
Joe Carter was a key contributor for the Jays during their glory days of the 1990s. Carter was the epitome of a run producer, driving in more than 100 runs in six of his seven seasons in Toronto. Carter is still fifth all time in Jays history in RBIs and home runs, eighth in doubles and hits and ninth in runs scored.
However, what he’ll forever be known for in Canada is one of the most famous home runs in baseball history in Game 6 of the 1993 World Series. With the Jays trailing by a run in the ninth inning, Carter hit a three-run walk-off homer off Philadelphia Phillies closer Mitch Williams to win the World Series.
Position: First Base
Years with Blue Jays: 1993-2004
Notable Accolades: Two-time AL All-Star, Three-time Silver Slugger
Carlos Delgado broke in with the Blue Jays right after they won their second championship, but it wouldn’t be until 1996 that he consistently found his way into the lineup. Once he did, though, Delgado quickly became one of the best sluggers in the MLB. He hit at least 24 home runs in every full season of his career but somehow only was an All-Star twice.
Delgado had some truly dominant seasons, with his two best coming in 2000 (.344 BA, 41 RBI, 137 RBI, 1.134 OPS) and 2003 (.302 BA, 42 HR, 145 RBI, 1.019 OPS), the second of which nearly saw him win the AL MVP award, as he finished in second place.
Delgado was a pillar of consistency during his time with the Blue Jays, and his accomplishments at the plate helped him earn a spot in the top five on this greatest Blue Jays of all time list.
Position: Shortstop, Third Base, and Second Base
Years with Blue Jays: 1983-1990, 1993, 1998-1999, 2001
Notable Accolades: Four-time AL All-Star, Four-time Gold Glove winner, 1993 World Series champion
Tony Fernandez might have one of the weirdest careers in MLB history, as he had four separate stints with Toronto. He came up with the team in 1983 and earned his first All-Star appearance in 1986. At his peak, Fernandez was one of the best contact hitters in the game who played phenomenal defense, primarily at shortstop.
Fernandez was his best in 1987 (.322 BA, 5 HR, 67 RBI, 32 SB, .805 OPS), which earned him an eighth place finish in the AL MVP race. Fernandez left after the 1990 season, but was traded back to Toronto midway through the 1993 season to help the Blue Jays win their second straight World Series.
He returned again in 1998 and was even an All-Star in 1999 when he was 37 before finishing his career with Toronto in 2001. But by then, Fernandez’s legacy with the Blue Jays was already secured.
Position: Right Field and Third Base
Years with Blue Jays: 2008-2017
Notable Accolades: Six-time AL All-Star, Three-time Silver Slugger
Jose Bautista wasn’t able to find his way in the MLB until he landed with the Blue Jays in 2008. Bautista was a starter in 2009, but he posted relatively unspectacular numbers during the season. No one could have expected what was about to come in 2010 (.260 BA, 54 HR, 124 RBI, .995 OPS) when Bautista emerged from out of nowhere to lead the majors in home runs.
He was arguably even better in 2011 (.302 BA, 43 HR, 103 RBI, 1.056 OPS) when he led the majors in homers again, but he never managed to win an MVP award. Bautista was an All-Star for six straight seasons from 2010-2015, and he became one of the best sluggers in the game from practically out of nowhere.
Bautista regressed significantly in 2016, but that six-season stretch has cemented Bautista’s place as one of the greatest Blue Jays of all time.
Position Second Base
Years with Blue Jays: 1991-1995
Notable Accolades: Five-time All-Star, Five-time Gold Glove, Two-time World Series Champion, Hall of Famer
Roberto Alomar was one of the greatest all-around second baseman, and the Jays had him at his peak with him winning five Gold Gloves, stealing more than 200 bases in his five seasons and hitting an OPS of better than .800 each season. No wonder he was an All-Star every season with Toronto.
He was even better in the postseason as the Jays won the AL East three straight years. In 29 postseason games with the Jays, Alomar had a .918 OPS.
He had a 1.157 OPS, including two home runs, to win MVP for the 1992 ALCS in the Jays’ victory over the Oakland Athletics. His biggest hit was a game-tying two-run home run in the ninth inning of Game 4 off Hall of Fame closer Dennis Eckersley. The Jays went on to win the game in the 11th inning.
Position: Starting Pitcher
Years with Blue Jays: 1979-1992, 1998
Notable Accolades: Seven-time AL All-Star
The Blue Jays were founded in 1977, and you can make a case that Dave Stieb was their first superstar. Stieb was quickly an All-Star in his second season with Toronto in 1980, and never looked back. He was as consistent as they come, as he won at least 11 games in each year of the 80s except for 1986, and he almost never had an ERA come in above four runs.
Stieb had several great seasons, but his two best were in 1982 (17-14, 3.25 ERA, 141 K, 1.20 WHIP) and 1985 (14-13, 2.48 ERA, 167 K, 1.14 WHIP), the latter of which saw him lead the league in ERA. He found himself on the Chicago White Sox in 1993 and took a five-year hiatus before returning in 1998 to Toronto. Stieb wasn’t great at 40 years old, but his legacy was already intact.
Position: Starting Pitcher
Years with Blue Jays: 1998-2009
Notable Accolades: 2003 AL Cy Young, Six-time AL All-Star, Hall of Famer
Roy Halladay is an absolute legend in Toronto, and for good reason, but it’s easy to forget his MLB career nearly fell apart in 2000, when he posted a hideous 10.64 ERA over 67.2 innings of work. Halladay eventually worked his way back to the majors in 2001, and from there on out, he was a star.
Halladay was an All-Star in 2002 and won his first Cy Young award in 2003 (22-7, 3.25 ERA, 204 K, 1.07 WHIP). He struggled to stay on the mound in 2004, but from 2005 to 2009, he was arguably the most consistent pitcher in the game.
Halladay finished in the top five of the Cy Young vote in each season during the stretch and pitched at least four complete games in each season as well. He tragically passed away in 2017, but Halladay’s impact with the Blue Jays will never be forgotten as the greatest Blue Jays player of all time.
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The lead up to the MLB trade deadline is off and running, with the Seattle Mariners striking a move with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday. Some might have expected Eugenio Suarez, a former Mariner, to be heading back to his old team. Instead, it was first baseman Josh Naylor who was shipped off to Seattle. However, that doesn't mean these two teams are done dealing. MLB.com's Daniel Kramer reported on X that "Eugenio Suarez is still Seattle’s top priority and being aggressively pursued by the Mariners." Suarez, on the back of an All-Star selection, is one of the hottest names on the market. With an eye-catching 36 home runs, good for second place in the National League, and 87 RBI, a bountiful number of MLB contenders are fighting for his services. Before his stint with Arizona, Suarez compiled two seasons' worth of monstrous home runs with the Mariners. A fan favorite, Mariners fans have been raving about the possibility of bringing him back. Despite their haste in acquiring Naylor, the chances of importing his teammate alongside him remain high. At 34 years old, Suarez is at his peak and would greatly improve the slugging of the playoff-hopeful Mariners. The third baseman would take the place of rookie Ben Williamson at the position. Williamson has performed valiantly, but his contact bat doesn't bring the same run-producing stature as Suarez. For a club that loves to hit home runs, Suarez would be the cherry on top. With the team currently ranked sixth in the MLB in home runs (144), the power-hitter would upgrade the Mariners into one of the best slugging lineups in the league. Coming at a high cost, the risk would be worth it. Pairing up Suarez with a lineup featuring multiple All-Stars in catcher Cal Raleigh, center fielder Julio Rodriguez and left fielder Randy Arozarena would be frightening. The high-octane lineup would give the Mariners something to rely on as they push for the playoffs. The Mariners are currently in vigorous pursuit of the injury-riddled Houston Astros, trailing the AL West leader by five games. Consistent offense has been difficult to come by for the Mariners, leading to some troubling losses. With a locked-and-loaded pitching rotation, the Mariners have no time to wait to bolster the offense. Adding Suarez may be the piece they need to unlock a giant-slaying squad. As we inch closer to the trade deadline, which takes place July 31 at 6 p.m. ET, be on the lookout for the Mariners to punch another deal with the Diamondbacks.
There is not a bigger sporting event in North America than the Super Bowl, and tickets are only getting more expensive every year. There is also a ridiculous secondary market for tickets where seats sell for well above the original face value. It is usually fans or ticket resellers going for a quick profit. But as was reported on Friday, sometimes it can be players in the NFL looking to make a profit. According to multiple reports, including the Associated Press and ESPN, more than 100 players are facing fines and potential suspensions for selling their allotment of tickets to this year's Super Bowl between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs for above face value. Players are reportedly facing fines of one-and-a-half times the face value they originally paid for the tickets, while they are also prevented from purchasing tickets to the Super Bowl for the next seasons. The Associated Press obtained a memo from the NFL detailing the violation and investigation. That memo was as follows: “Our initial investigation has determined that a number of NFL players and coaches, employed by several NFL Clubs, sold Super Bowl tickets for more than the ticket’s face value in violation of the Policy. This long-standing League Policy, which is specifically incorporated into the Collective Bargaining Agreement, prohibits League or Club employees, including players, from selling NFL game tickets acquired from their employer for more than the ticket’s face value or for an amount greater than the employee originally paid for the ticket, whichever is less. We are in the process of completing our investigation into this matter, but the investigation has revealed that club employees and players sold their tickets to a small number of ‘bundlers’ who were working with a ticket reseller to sell the Super Bowl tickets above face value.” If players are not willing to pay the fine, they could be facing suspension from the league. It seems unlikely that any of the players — none of whom have been named, or their teams — would refuse to pay such a fine. It's also one of those moments where you can say, professional athletes — they're still normal people trying to make a quick buck. The most logical answer here is perhaps some of the players caught up in this are younger players who have not yet struck it rich on a big contract or perhaps even practice squad players who are not making top dollar.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have gotten training camp underway, and it’s a very exciting time for all football fans. The 2025 season is getting closer by the day, and with players finally back on the field, the energy around the team is building fast. In Pittsburgh, that buzz is especially strong this year, largely because of new quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers brings experience, leadership, and championship expectations to a Steelers team that believes it can compete at the highest level. As he arrived at training camp, one moment quickly gained attention. According to ESPN Steelers insider Brooke Pryor, Rodgers had one special request for his teammates that he believes is critical to their success this season. To put it simply, it sounds as if Rodgers reportedly asked his teammates to fully commit to one another. He stressed the importance of trust, communication, and total buy-in from every player in the locker room. For Rodgers, it’s not just about talent or scheme. It’s about building a team that believes in the same mission and is willing to fight for each other every step of the way. "Aaron Rodgers had one request of his new Pittsburgh teammates: keep an open mind," Pryor said in her latest article for ESPN. "Rodgers asked his teammates to get to know him without any preconceived notions before making any judgments." When it was revealed that the Steelers were pursuing Rodgers, many fans quickly labeled him a diva or an attention seeker. Those types of criticisms have followed him for years, and while some of it might be fair to discuss, it doesn’t tell the full story. What Rodgers has shown in Pittsburgh so far has been quite the opposite. Since arriving at training camp, Rodgers has carried himself with leadership, professionalism, and humility. He didn’t come in expecting everyone to bow down to him because he’s a four-time league MVP. Instead, he made it clear that he wants to earn the right to lead this team. Rodgers has focused on building relationships and gaining the trust of his teammates. He understands that leadership is not something you demand, but something you prove through action and consistency. That attitude has already made a strong impression inside the Steelers’ locker room. For Steelers fans, this should be an encouraging sign. Rodgers’ mindset and approach could be a huge factor in helping this team reach its full potential in the 2025 season. His leadership may end up being just as valuable as his talent on the field. Mike Tomlin hasn't won a playoff game since the 2016 season. He feels that pressure and gladly totes those bags. He knows the pressure is on him to get a playoff win and make a deep run in 2025 now that he got Rodgers. Steelers' Will Howard Expected To Be The Biggest Winner From Aaron Rodgers Joining Pittsburgh One of the biggest winners from Rodgers joining the Steelers is clearly rookie quarterback Will Howard. Despite falling to the sixth round in the 2025 NFL Draft, Howard enters the NFL with an impressive resume, having led Ohio State to a National Championship victory in the 2024 college football season. He consistently elevated the talent around him and carries a strong belief in his ability to grow at the next level. Now, Howard finds himself in an ideal situation. Not only does he get to learn behind one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, but he also gets a version of Rodgers who is motivated, focused, and eager to mentor. Rodgers has already made it clear that he plans to take Howard under his wing. For a rookie in Howard’s position, this is like hitting the jackpot. The opportunity to develop behind a future Hall of Famer who is willing to invest in your growth is rare. If Howard takes full advantage, this could be the perfect start to a long and successful NFL career.
The Chicago White Sox are one of this year’s sellers for the Trade Deadline, and should have a good chance at landing a deal that can make them more competitive next season. The White Sox have two names who will surely be on the move at this deadline: Adrian Houser and Luis Robert Jr. With the deadline less than a week away, the White Sox appear to have begun trading some players away, with the first domino falling. Chicago White Sox traded quad-A outfielder to the Rays The first domino of what should be a fire sale fell for the White Sox, with Baseball Insider Robert Murray reporting that the Tampa Bay Rays acquired 29-year-old outfielder Tristan Gray in exchange for cash considerations. The White Sox signed Gray to a minor league contract before the season, with him spending most of the season down with their Triple-A affiliate. “Sources: The Rays are acquiring infielder Tristan Gray from the White Sox for cash.” Gray, in 72 games with the Charlotte Knights, did well, hitting .270/.333/.472 for an OPS of .805. The White Sox did call Gray up to their big league roster for a day, but he was optioned the following day upon Luis Robert Jr. coming off the IL. Nailing this deadline The White Sox and general manager Chris Getz need to nail their trades at this deadline to put the team in a more competitive position next year. The White Sox have found their core and need to add players who can help round out the roster. With guys like Colson Montgomery and Kyle Teel showing promise in the big leagues, and Noah Schultz, Hagen Smith, and Braden Montgomery still waiting in the wings, the White Sox are proving not to be reckoned with for the future.