Blue Jays free agent target: Tyler Mahle

While the Toronto Blue Jays’ rotation appears to be mostly set heading into the 2027 season, the 2026 campaign showed just how unpredictable the sport really is. 

The Blue Jays’ rotation was ravaged by injuries this past season, and as they try to put their disappointing 79-83 record behind them, they will surely look to free agency to further strengthen a group that currently consists of Dylan Cease, José Soriano, Trey Yesavage, and Cody Ponce. 

An arm the Blue Jays could look to add is right-hander Tyler Mahle. Mahle is set to be a free agent for the second consecutive winter, and could be looking to secure a longer-term deal after only getting a one-year pact from the San Francisco Giants on January 5. 

For the season, Mahle made 27 starts and went 7-10 with a 3.99 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. The 32-year-old struck out 137 batters across 149 innings and was hit at a .248 clip. While these numbers don’t jump off the page, following a midseason trade to the Atlanta Braves on August 2, Mahle became one of the most dominant arms in the major leagues. 

At the time of the trade, Mahle had made 18 starts and was 3-9 with a 5.13 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. Mahle joined the Braves as they hunted down the National League East title, and across nine starts, he went 4-1 with a 1.99 ERA and 0.96 WHIP. Mahle dropped his opponents’ average from .265 to .216, in what was the best stretch of his 10-year career. 

In the postseason, Mahle continued his late-season dominance. Mahle was tasked with Game 2 of the Wild Card series against the Philadelphia Phillies and turned in a pitching line of 7.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, picking up a no-decision. 

Mahle’s second start came in Game 4 of the NLDS, and even though he was charged with the loss, the righty once again impressed. Mahle limited the Los Angeles Dodgers to two runs (one earned) on three hits and two walks, while also striking out four to give him a 1.35 ERA across his two playoff outings. 

Upon joining the Braves, Mahle went from being a five-pitch pitcher to mostly using just two. Mahle used his four-seam and splitter a combined 78 per cent of the time, an approach similar to what former Blue Jay Kevin Gausman displayed during his four-and-a-half seasons in Toronto. 

After earning $10 million on his most recent contract, Mahle could be looking for a deal similar to the one Ponce signed in Toronto. Ponce was given a three-year, $30-million deal, and while Mahle’s annual average value could surpass that, a two-year deal could be of interest to both parties.