7 Veterans the Blue Jays Could Sign This Offseason

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What a disappointing season it’s been for the Toronto Blue Jays. The Miami Marlins defeated them in their last game of the season on September 29, 2024, 3-1. The Jays were out of contention for the postseason for the first time since 2019 and just the third time since 2012, and their 24 losses can’t be ignored. The worst in the AL East — a shame for a team that once aspired to be the best in the division. What went wrong?

Kevin Gausman Blue Jays

n one of the interviews, Bassitt said that Toronto’s problems were caused by their failure to sign a top player. They spend $700 million on Shohei Ohtani and they don’t get him. Another version is that the Blue Jays pitching struggled during the 2024 season, particularly with starters like Chris Bassitt and José Berríos, whose inconsistency on the mound contributed to the team’s early playoff exit.

The Blue Jays players in 2024 have been poor. Their hitters are below average. Ohtani has 39, while Blue Jays DHs have combined for a 717 OPS and 11 home runs.

Despite the defeats, fans are still on board with the popular Blue Jays 50/50 raffle during games. The raffle proceeds often go toward local charities.

Who is Kevin Gausman: His Best Game, Results

Kevin Gausman (33), the Toronto Blue Jays right-handed pitcher, is renowned for his outstanding control and splitter. After his debut for the Baltimore Orioles, Gausman made his way to the Atlanta Braves and then the San Francisco Giants. With his fastball 52.7% of the time, Gausman had easily his best season with a 2.81 ERA in 33 starts over 192 innings.

In 2021, he signed a contract with the Canadian professional baseball team, the Toronto Blue Jays. He had career highs in 5.1 wins above replacement and 227 strikeouts.

Toronto Blue Jays right-handed pitcher

At 33, Kevin Gausman knows his prime years won’t last forever. The Blue Jays need to make the most of his abilities while he’s at his best. Gausman wants to make the team enter into more experienced players, mainly veterans, who can mentor the young clubhouse. They’ve got some young guys who can really play, but they need some veterans to teach them.

Toronto traded Justin Turner at the deadline, and they need more of him. Turner is a multiple All-Star, has a ton of playoff experience, and is very well-respected in the league.

For now, however, pitcher Blue Jays hopes the organization can get the most out of its talent while he is on the team. Let’s remind you that the 33-year-old righty still has two years left on his five-year, $110 million deal.

Gausman Desires to Sign Some Veterans This Off-Season

Blue Jays rumors are swirling around some serious changes this off-season after an abysmal year continuing to spread. What would it be?

They talk about signing some veterans this off-season. The veteran players are being thought of for the stats they bring and the experience and know-how. They have been into the postseason; they’ve been the best competition, and now they know how to win.

Then there are veterans like Craig Kimbrel and Daniel Hudson, who have closed out World Series games, and Elias Díaz and David Robertson have been able to step up in clutch situations. Even a solid vet can likewise mentor new players to stay concentrated when things are hard.

Christian Walker and Matthew Boyd are two starters who can bring consistency and leadership, which is huge in building a winning clubhouse culture. That mix of youth and experience is exactly what teams trying to make a deep run in the tournament need.

We put together a table with seven vets they are considering, highlighting their strengths, teams they’ve played, and standout moments on the field.

Player	Team(s) Played For (Best Known)	Strengths	Notable Game / Highlights	Speed Snapshot
Matthew Boyd (33)	Detroit Tigers	Strikeout ability, a left-handed starter with an effective slider and change-up.	June 14, 2019: 13 strikeouts against the Minnesota Twins. Dominant left-handed performance.	Fastball: 91-93 mph, Slider: 80 mph
Elias Díaz (33)	Colorado Rockies	Excellent defensive catcher with a strong arm, good pitch framing, and a clutch hitter.	2023 All-Star Game MVP: Hit game-winning 2-run home run. First Rockies player to win ASG MVP.	Solid arm strength behind the plate, quick release, good bat speed for a catcher
Daniel Hudson (37)	Los Angeles Dodgers	Versatile reliever, reliable in high-pressure situations,	2019 World Series Game 7: Closed out the final inning, securing the Nationals’ first-ever World Series.	Fastball: 94-96 mph, Slider: 85 mph
Craig Kimbrel (36)	Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox (Best Known)	Dominant is an intimidating fastball, a devastating curveball, and is a consistent strikeout machine.	May 26, 2023: 400th career save, joining the elite closer group in MLB history.	Fastball: 96-98 mph, Curveball: 85 mph
David Robertson (39)	New York Yankees, Miami Marlins	High-leverage reliever, great cutter, and curveball excel in pressure situations.	2022 Wild Card Series: Crucial strikeouts to help the Phillies advance to the NLDS.	Cutter: 92-94 mph, Curveball: mid-80s mph
Christian Walker (33)	Arizona Diamondbacks	Powerful hitter, a great defensive first baseman, and clutch power in key moments.	June 15, 2023: Hit two home runs and drove in four runs against the Phillies.	Exit velocity on home runs often exceeds 110 mph, powerful bat speed
Kirby Yates (37)	San Diego Padres (Best Known), Texas Rangers	Dominant closer during prime, an excellent splitter-slider combo for strikeouts.	2019 season: Led the NL with 41 saves, All-Star honors, and an ERA of 1.19 with the Padres.	Fastball: 91-93 mph, Splitter: 85-87 mph

In an interview with the Toronto Sun, Gausman expressed his frustration. Talking about “talent” is something he’s tired of. His team has to start winning games, figure it out, and do it quickly.

He and fellow starter Chris Bassitt are getting older, and if they want to have success with the Blue Jays, they better soon. So what will the next step be?