Blue Jays Lose Another Player in MLB Free Agency

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Jan 27, 2026 4:37 PM ET

The Toronto Blue Jays were viewed as one of the early winners of this year’s offseason after securing multiple pieces in MLB free agency. But as the winter has unfolded, the picture has become less favorable.

Several high-profile targets slipped away, and the club ultimately lost a major homegrown player: All-Star infielder Bo Bichette, who signed a three-year, $126 million deal with the New York Mets.

With the 40-man roster close to finalized, Toronto still has a group capable of making another push toward the World Series.

Even so, it is difficult to envision the lineup maintaining the same level of production without Bichette’s bat anchoring the order. His departure leaves a significant gap that the front office has yet to fully replace.

Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider (14) © Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Bichette may not be the only familiar face from the 2025 roster who will not be returning. Earlier this week, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reported that right-handed reliever Nick Sandlin has joined the Los Angeles Angels on a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to spring training.

Sandlin has spent five seasons in MLB, most of it with the Cleveland Guardians before he was moved to Toronto in the Andres Gimenez trade last offseason.

The Angels have signed RH reliever Nick Sandlin to a minor league deal with a spring training invite.

Sandlin, 29, pitched in 19 games with TOR last season, with a 2.20 ERA. Career 3.19 ERA in parts of five MLB seasons.
— Jeff Fletcher (@JeffFletcherOCR) January 26, 2026

His time with the Blue Jays never fully materialized, as injuries derailed his year. A lat issue and later elbow inflammation limited him to just 16 1/3 innings, keeping him on the injured list for most of the season.

Once the year ended, Toronto removed him from the 40-man roster and chose not to tender him a contract rather than take on his projected $2 million arbitration salary.

The 29-year-old did post a 2.20 ERA along with 16 strikeouts, giving the Angels a low-risk, high-upside arm if he remains healthy in 2026.

The departure also highlights how thin Toronto’s pitching depth has become compared to the start of the offseason.

The front office has added pieces, but losing Sandlin without seeing a full season of what he could provide underscores the challenge of rebuilding a bullpen that struggled with injuries and inconsistency in 2025.

Even with the setbacks, the Blue Jays still have enough talent and organizational depth to stay competitive, and a strong spring could help clarify the pieces capable of stepping up in 2026.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: