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6 starting pitchers Toronto Blue Jays should target in free agency

Colton Pankiw
Colton Pankiw
|
Nov 3 2025, 7:06 pm
6 starting pitchers Toronto Blue Jays should target in free agency
David Frerker/Imagn Images

The Toronto Blue Jays are going to need to start making some big decisions in the coming days.

Despite suffering a devastating loss only days ago, management now needs to shift its focus toward the future of this organization. That will begin very shortly if it hasn’t already, as free agency is set to kick off on Thursday.

Chris Bassitt, Max Scherzer, Bo Bichette, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Seranthony Dominguez, Eric Lauer, and Ty France are all set to become free agents this offseason. Shane Bieber, meanwhile, is expected to opt out of his $16 million player option in 2026.

While re-signing Bichette is a huge priority, it’s also clear from reading this list that the Blue Jays are going to need to address their starting pitching. They could potentially be losing three arms they relied on in a starting role this past season in Bassitt, Scherzer, and Bieber. Lauer, of course, also made 15 starts for the Jays in ’25.

As of now, the Jays have three guaranteed starting options next season in Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios, and Trey Yesavage. Bowden Francis is also an option, though far from a lock, as his 2025 season was hampered by disappointing play and injury.

Should the Jays look externally for starting rotation options, here are a few of the best arms set to hit the free-agent market this offseason.

Dylan Cease

  • Age: 29
  • Throws: Right
  • 2025 stats: 32 GS, 4.55 ERA, 215 SO

Though the 2025 season was a frustrating one, there will still be a ton of demand for Dylan Cease this offseason. The hard-throwing right-hander finished fourth in AL Cy Young voting in 2024 and was second in NL Cy Young voting two seasons prior with the Chicago White Sox.

Cease isn’t quite in the elite category when it comes to starting pitchers due to his lack of control (he walked 71 batters this past season), but there is no denying that he has elite stuff in his arsenal.

Framber Valdez

  • Age: 31
  • Throws: Left
  • 2025 stats: 31 GS, 3.66 ERA, 187 SO

Based simply on a talent perspective, every team in the MLB would love to have Framber Valdez in their starting rotation. The 31-year-old is as talented as they come, having finished top 10 in Cy Young voting in the 2022, 2023, and 2024 seasons.

As good a pitcher as he is, there are attitude concerns with Valdez. Those issues garnered plenty of attention partway through the 2025 season when he appeared to intentionally cross up catcher CĂ©sar Salazar. Whether the Jays, who had a very tight clubhouse, would want him to join remains to be seen. From an on-field perspective, though, he’d certainly help.

Ranger Suárez

  • Age: 30
  • Throws: Left
  • 2025 stats: 26 GS, 3.20 ERA, 151 SO

Another intriguing left-handed option who many teams, including the Jays, will be interested in is Ranger Suárez. The 30-year-old is coming off arguably the best season of his career, registering a stellar 3.20 ERA through 157.1 innings.

Suárez doesn’t throw the ball hard, but has some great offspeed pitches which keep batters off balance. While not discussed amongst some of the game’s best pitchers, his stats in recent years suggest he’s close.

Zac Gallen

  • Age: 30
  • Throws: Right
  • 2025 stats: 33 GS, 4.83 ERA, 175 SO

There’s no way to sum up Zac Gallen’s 2025 season other than stating the obvious; it was an utter disaster. The 30-year-old, who had an opportunity to receive a huge contract, wound up having the worst season of his career, registering a shaky 4.83 ERA.

Despite his struggles, the off-year seems to be an outlier for Gallen, who has a 3.58 ERA throughout his seven-year career. He’s also been a top-10 finalist for the NL Cy Young Award on three occasions, including 2023, where he came third in voting.

Michael King

  • Age: 30
  • Throws: Right
  • 2025 stats: 15 GS, 3.44 ERA, 76 SO

Michael King isn’t nearly as established as others on this list, but he is extremely intriguing. Prior to the 2024 season, he’d made just 19 career starts at the MLB level. He’s now made 45 over the past two years and has excelled.

The right-handed King made 30 starts for the San Diego Padres in 2024, registering a 2.95 ERA with 201 strikeouts through 173.2 innings. Injuries limited him to just 15 starts in 2025, but when he was on the mound, he was able to continue being extremely effective.

Merrill Kelly

  • Age: 37
  • Throws: Right
  • 2025 stats: 32 GS, 3.52 ERA, 167 SO

Merrill Kelly was a name linked to the Blue Jays ahead of the 2025 trade deadline. Instead, however, the Jays brass chose to acquire Bieber, while Kelly was traded from the Arizona Diamondbacks to the Texas Rangers.

Though Kelly is getting up there in age, he’s continued to be a reliable arm. He had managed a 3.22 ERA in 22 starts with the Diamondbacks prior to being traded, and has a respectable 3.77 ERA through his seven MLB seasons to date. He’s not flashy, but has proven to be quite effective.

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