After getting to Game 7 of the World Series and signing Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce this offseason, the Toronto Blue Jays are clearly one of the best teams in baseball heading into 2026.

And they will get even better if they are able to land a big reliever like Edwin Diaz or Robert Suarez, or a big offensive piece like Kyle Tucker or Cody Bellinger. They've been linked to a reunion with Bo Bichette and are reportedly interested in acquiring Ketel Marte in a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

But even as good as the Blue Jays are, it doesn't mean there's not potential drama to come. Let's explain:

Jose Berrios

After the additions of Ponce and Cease, Berrios appears to be one of the odd-men out in the Toronto rotation. Destined for a bullpen role, we've covered the idea of the Jays trading him this winter, but it's understood that his contract structure makes a trade somewhat difficult.

Speaking at the winter meetings on Monday, general manager Ross Atkins said that Berrios was not happy to not be on the World Series roster, and that contributed to his leaving the team during the World Series (he was injured at the end of the regular season and was not on the playoff roster in the ALDS or ALCS because of that injury).

Per the Toronto Sun:

“(It was) his decision (not to be with the team.) I think he was just having a tough time, but you’d have to ask him. He handled (a move to the bullpen late in the season) well, but when it came to roster selection, he wasn’t on it.”

If Berrios is going to remain on the roster, and not be given a starting rotation spot in 2026, it seems like some mending of fences will have to be done.

Yariel Rodriguez

Signed to a five-year deal worth more than $30 million before the 2024 season, Rodriguez played an integral role in the team's bullpen this season, but he was left off the World Series roster, and then outrighted to the minor leagues over the weekend.

There's no public reporting of Rodriguez balking at his situation, but it would be understandable if he was upset by these developments. We discussed the possibility of his being traded as well, and if he's going to remain in the organization, it seems like a conversation needs to happen with him too.

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