Former Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Richard Butler and his wife were charged with defrauding families out of $60,000 in a youth baseball scheme, according to multiple reports.

Butler was running the Ontario Devil Rays youth program and had players enrolled for 2025-26, however the baseball services that were supposed to be supplied evidently didn't happen, or didn't happen in full. 

Butler was charged with fraud over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 and uttering a forged document. His wife was charged with the same crimes. 

Unfortunately, unsuspecting parents will do lots of things to help their kids progress, and in this case, they evidently trusted the wrong person.

Butler spent parts of three seasons in the big leagues with the Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Devil Rays from 1997-99. He played just seven games with the Blue Jays and he played 86 big league games total. He hit .223 with seven homers and 22 career RBIs. He's an Ontario native.

His brother Rob Butler played parts of four seasons in the big leagues with the Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies. He was part of the 1993 World Series title team, which is the last Jays team to win the World Series. 

Of course, Toronto got there in 2025, losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Rob Butler hit .243 lifetime with 21 RBIs, one fewer than his brother.

--The New York Yankees, division rivals of the Blue Jays, are bringing back manager Aaron Boone for the 2027 season. In nine years at the helm of New York, Boone has never won the World Series, though he did get there in 2024. However, his teams have been to the playoffs eight times, which causes an issue for Toronto.

The Blue Jays have won only one division title (2025) since Boone first started managing the Yankees. Toronto eliminated New York from the playoffs that year as well.

--The start of the new league year is coming and with that, there will be roster decisions to make. The Blue Jays have many players coming off the 60-day injured list that need to be reinstated to the 40-man roster. We took a lot at the situation a little more in the link above.

The 40-man roster needs to be set within five days of the World Series ending. The World Series begins on Friday between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Milwaukee Brewers.