Blue Jays Return to World series After Decade-Long Rebuild
Table of Contents
- Blue Jays Return to World series After Decade-Long Rebuild
- Step 1 – Acquire Young Talent
- Step 2 - Extend Core Players
- Step 3 – Add Complementary Pieces
- Step 4 – Address Weaknesses
- Step 5 - Develop Internal Options
- Step 6 – Prioritize Bullpen Depth
- Step 7 – Don’t Be Afraid to Pivot
- Step 8 - The Constant Search for Starting Pitching
- Step 9 – Be Opportunistic
- Step 10 – bring the kid to The Show
TORONTO – For the first time in 32 years,the Toronto Blue jays are heading to the World Series,culminating a meticulous,decade-long rebuild orchestrated by a front office focused on strategic roster construction and player development. The journey, detailed in a review of the team’s recent moves, wasn’t marked by blockbuster splashes but by a consistent, 10-step plan that prioritized foundational pieces, pitching depth, and ultimately, the rapid ascent of homegrown talent.
The Blue Jays’ resurgence isn’t a story of overnight success,but a testament to sustained effort. From acquiring foundational players like vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette to consistently addressing the team’s most pressing need – starting pitching - the front office has systematically built a contender. This approach,coupled with a willingness to promote young players like Trey Yesavage,has propelled the franchise back to baseball’s biggest stage.
Step 1 – Acquire Young Talent
- Traded for Vladimir Guerrero jr. in 2015
- Drafted Bo Bichette in 2018
Step 2 - Extend Core Players
Step 3 – Add Complementary Pieces
Step 4 – Address Weaknesses
Step 5 - Develop Internal Options
Step 6 – Prioritize Bullpen Depth
Step 7 – Don’t Be Afraid to Pivot
Step 8 - The Constant Search for Starting Pitching
- Signed Chris Bassitt in December of 2023
- Traded for Alek Manoah in December of 2023
- Acquired José Berríos in July of 2021
- Signed Yariel Rodríguez in February of 2024
- Traded for Jordan Lauer in August of 2024
- Acquired Max Scherzer in July of 2025
- traded for Shane Bieber in August of 2025
- Claimed Isiah Kiner-Falefa off waivers in August of 2025
These are only some of the moves the Blue Jays made in the past 12 months. Notice that three of them – Lauer, Scherzer and Bieber - are continuations of this constant search for starting pitching.
Although the blue Jays have had some high-profile misses in free agency (most notably Shohei Ohtani in 2023), and some of this year’s moves are off to questionable starts (Santander hit just six homers), the team clearly has been trying to build a winner around the current core. Bichette becomes a free agent this offseason, and Springer and Gausman depart after next year, but the front office has been busy building around them.
According to Cot’s Contracts, the Blue Jays jumped from the 10th-largest payroll in 2024 to the fifth-largest this season.
Step 9 – Be Opportunistic
Step 10 – bring the kid to The Show
