Looking at how the Blue Jays have built the 2025 roster

There’s been a special feeling around this Toronto Blue Jays team since June.

Although they clinched a postseason berth on Sunday, the Jays have bigger aspirations, as they need just four more wins to not only clinch the best record in the American League East, but the best record in the American League. The only two times they’ve had the best record in the American League, they’ve gone on to win the World Series.

The 2025 Blue Jays have an interesting makeup, full of veterans and brimming to the rim with players in their prime or about to hit their prime. Additionally, the Jays have acquired the players who have made up this special team in various ways.

Let’s take a look at how Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins has built this team.

Players acquired International Free Agency

Some key players have come up through the Blue Jays system. That includes Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the final player who was acquired by Alex Anthopoulos, remaining in the organization.

Because of going over the signing bonus pool limit to acquire Guerrero Jr., the Jays couldn’t exceed a bonus higher than $300,000 in the 2016 International Free Agency. That was no problem for Atkins and company, as they managed to sign Alejandro Kirk for a bonus of $30,000, while also signing Otto López and Gabriel Moreno.

Although they currently aren’t on the 28-man roster, Leo Jiménez and Lázaro Estrada have also played games for the Jays in 2025 and remain on their 40-man roster.

Players acquired through drafting

Up until recently, the Blue Jays’ drafting hasn’t been particularly great. Of their first-round picks dating back to 2016, only Alek Manoah has made any type of impact for the Blue Jays. The 2022 American League Cy Young nominee missed most of the season recovering from Tommy John Surgery.

Bo Bichette has been their best pick in the draft, as the shortstop has been the team’s best hitter this season. Drafted in the second round of the 2016 draft, there is a legitimate argument that he is the greatest draft selection by the Blue Jays in the Atkins/Mark Shapiro era.

He could be surpassed by Trey Yesavage, the first Blue Jays’ rookie to pitch in a clinching game. Time will tell how well he does in the big leagues, but the sky is truly the limit for the 22-year-old.

Although the Jays haven’t drafted particularly well in the early rounds, they’ve found some hits in the late rounds. Two key players are Davis Schneider and Addison Barger. The former was selected in the 28th round of the 2017 draft, while Barger was selected in the sixth round of the 2018 draft.

One reliever drafted by the Blue Jays that could play a role in the future is Mason Fluharty, who has shown that he has ice in his veins this season.

Players acquired through trades

Many players on the Blue Jays’ 28-man roster were acquired through trade. Remember the 2016 International Free Agency? Well, the Blue Jays sent Gabriel Moreno and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (who was also signed in 2016) to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2022 to land Daulton Varsho. Not only is he the best defensive outfielder in the league, but he’s hit 19 home runs in just 248 plate appearances, one home run shy of matching his best total with the Jays.

Another great defensive outfielder the Blue Jays acquired through trade is Myles Straw from the Cleveland Guardians. At the time, no one was a fan of this move, but Straw has become an important piece to the Blue Jays as he’s the best fifth outfielder in the game.

The Straw trade was the second of two trades the Blue Jays made with the Guardians, because earlier in the off-season, they sent Spencer Horwitz and Nick Mitchell to the American League Central team for Andrés Giménez and Nick Sandlin. Sadly, Sandlin has been injured for most of the season, but Giménez is the best infielder defender in the league.

Atkins and Shaprio each worked for the Guardians in the past, so it makes sense they’ve made a lot of trades with them. Before the deadline, they sent breakout prospect Khal Stephen to the Guardians for 2020 American League Cy Young winner, Shane Bieber.

Four years before the Bieber acquisition, the Jays made a big splash before the 2021 trade deadline, sending two top 100 prospects (Austin Martin, Simeon Woods Richardson) to the Twins in exchange for José Berríos.

Sticking with trade deadline moves, the Blue Jays acquired Ty France and Louis Varland from the Minnesota Twins. They also added Seranthony Domínguez from the Baltimore Orioles. Last season, when the Blue Jays sold, they traded Yusei Kikuchi for Will Wagner, Jake Bloss, and Joey Loperfido. The latter has played great in a small sample size.

Additionally, the Jays added Braydon Fisher and Tommy Nance through trade, two relievers who have a sub-2 ERA coming out of the bullpen. Brendon Little was also acquired through trade, and even though he’s struggled over the first few months, he is an important piece of the bullpen.

Other players on the 60-day Injured List or on the 40-man roster acquired through trade are Bowden Francis, Ryan Burr, Jonatan Clase, Bloss, Adam Macko, Robinson Piña, and Paxton Schultz.

Players acquired through free agency

Over the years, the Jays have been active on the free agent market. It doesn’t always work out, look at the Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto, or Rōki Sasaki situations. This era’s first big free agent signing came in 2020 when they added Hyun Jin Ryu. While he’s no longer with the team, it was the start of a high-budget team, as they added George Springer the following off-season.

After two seasons of regression, Springer will receive MVP votes this season, a type of season no one saw coming. After the 2021 season, the Jays signed Kevin Gausman to replace Robbie Ray, and the starting pitcher has had a terrific second half.

Before the 2023 season, the Jays signed Chris Bassitt and Ernie Clement. Bassitt has been solid this season, while Clement has become an everyday player, not bad for a minor-league signing. With their sights set on Ohtani during the 2023-24 off-season, the Blue Jays’ biggest free agent acquisition in 2024 was Yariel Rodríguez, an important reliever out of the bullpen.

Thankfully, they got back to their spending ways this past off-season, signing Anthony Santander, Max Scherzer, Yimi García, Eric Lauer, and Jeff Hoffman.

There have been a few other free agent signings that have contributed to the Blue Jays’ winning ways in 2025. Nathan Lukes was a minor-league signing in the 2021-22 off-season. Justin Bruihl is an AAAA pitcher, but when called upon, he’s been solid.

Players acquired through waivers

Simply put, the 2024 Blue Jays were not a good baseball team, even if there was plenty of bad luck when it came to injuries and regression. Because they finished 74-88, they were able to claim a few contributors off waivers.

Tyler Heineman, by far, is the most notable, as he is the best backup catcher in baseball. This season, the 34-year-old is slashing .295/.364/.426 with three home runs in 170 plate appearances for a 123 wRC+. On top of being a solid bat, Heineman is a terrific defensive catcher.

It was a short span early in the season, but Easton Lucas put up two great starts for the Blue Jays when they really needed wins to get on track. Dillon Tate was another waiver claim who has been solid when called upon.

Of their four waiver claims on the 40-man roster, Isiah Kiner-Falefa is the only player claimed in 2025. This is his second stint with the Jays, as he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates before the 2024 trade deadline for Charles McAdoo (a fantastic trade). Before the trade, Kiner-Falefa was having a career year.

This is a special team

The oldest player on the Jays’ roster, Max Scherzer, is 41. Their youngest player on their roster is his fellow starter, Trey Yesavage, who recently turned 22. Despite that, the team has shown great chemistry throughout the season.

They find wins in any way possible, and they’ve put themselves in a good place to go on a deep run this October. Overall, it is a well-built team by Ross Atkins.