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4 pitchers the Blue Jays should avoid this offseason

Originally posted on Bluejaysnation | By Ben Wrixon | Last updated Nov 26, 2025 9:00 AM ET

The Toronto Blue Jays’ desire to bolster their pitching staff this offseason is well-known — who they will sign to accomplish that goal is yet to be determined. As is with recent offseasons, the Jays are being very thorough in their efforts and have already been tied to the likes of Bichette and Kyle Tucker.

While it’s impossible to predict how any player will perform next season, the writing is on the wall for some more than others.

Here are four pitchers the Blue Jays would be wise to avoid during their free agent shopping this winter.

Ranger Suárez

Suárez is a solid starting pitcher who will be overpaid like an ace.

The former Philadelphia Phillies left-hander has recorded an ERA below 3.50 in each of the past two seasons despite giving up a ton of hits and baserunners. He owns a 1.270 WHIP and 8.3 K/9 across his eight-year career. These are numbers you’d expect from a back-of-the-rotation arm, not someone you intend to pay $25 million annually.

The Blue Jays would be better off spending big money on a starting pitcher with higher upside, ideally someone capable of taking the ball in game one of a playoff series.

Ranger Suárez, Nasty 82mph Slider. pic.twitter.com/7xD2Y8f9qr

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 9, 2025

Ryan Helsley

Helsley authored the worst season of his career in 2025. He wasn’t quite himself with the St. Louis Cardinals in the first half of the season, then gave up a whopping 20 runs in 20 innings pitched after being traded to the New York Mets.

The right-hander was too hittable despite averaging 99.3 mph on his fastball. He coughed up eight home runs and got worked for the highest hits-per-nine-innings (9.8) of his career by a wide margin. He also walked 11 batters in those 20 innings in New York.

Helsely’s days of being an elite reliever may be in the rearview mirror — the Blue Jays would be wise to let him sort out his issues somewhere else, especially since the free agent market this winter holds a ton of potent backend arms.

Zac Gallen

Gallen hasn’t looked quite right since finishing third place in the National League Cy Young voting with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2023.

He missed some time in 2024, then struggled to a 4.83 ERA (89 ERA+) and 4.50 FIP across 192 innings pitched. He struck out less than a batter per inning for the first time in his career while giving up a staggering 31 home runs.

Gallen’s command, strikeout potential, and ability to limit hard contact are all trending in the wrong direction. The Blue Jays should steer clear.

Max Scherzer

Scherzer endeared himself to his teammates and Blue Jays fans last year with his fiery personality, but that doesn’t mean a reunion makes sense.

The 41-year-old pitched just 85 innings in 2025 while battling various injuries and was a shell of himself when he took the mound. He gave up 19 home runs in that small sample and posted the worst ERA (5.19) and FIP (4.99) marks of his storied career.

Max Scherzer’s wife, Erica, took to social media to share her family’s appreciation for Toronto and Canada following the Blue Jays’ World Series loss.

(H/T @emaysway / IG) pic.twitter.com/IZTWMMOqqr

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) November 4, 2025

Scherzer’s gutty playoff performances will live forever in Blue Jays lore — keeping them as his final moments with the team is in everyone’s best interest.

This article first appeared on Bluejaysnation and was syndicated with permission.

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