The Toronto Blue Jays finished the 2026 season at 79-83 overall, ending up last in the American League East.

After getting to the World Series in 2025, it was a major disappointment for Toronto and its fans, and it was extra disappointing considering how weak the American League was a whole.

However, the disappointment can yield some positive results on the other end, and for the Jays, that comes in the form of the MLB Draft.

The Blue Jays finished 13th when it came to the MLB Draft Lottery, and they currently own a 10 percent chance of earning a Top-6 pick in the 2027 Draft. They own a one percent chance of getting the No. 1 pick, according to Tankathon. 

The Blue Jays do not have a particularly well-regarded farm system, as they have more overall depth rather than high-impact talent. The team has two prospects in the Top 100 of the latest MLB Pipeline rankings: Infielder JoJo Parker (No. 24) and pitcher Nolan Perry (No. 90), but they need more high-end players, and earning a high pick in the draft is one of the best ways to do that.

This is especially noteworthy considering the Blue Jays are not afraid to sign top free agents in the offseason, which means they are constantly at risk of forfeiting top picks for free agents who have been given qualifying offers. Giving away a competitive balance pick might not hurt as badly if the team has a high pick on its own.

The draft lottery is typical held in early December at the winter meetings, but it's unclear if it will happen at its scheduled time this year. The Collective Bargaining Agreement runs out on Dec. 1 and at that point, the league is expected to go into a lockout. When there is a lockout, no baseball activities will happen, including the draft lottery.

If a lockout does happen, as we expect, the lottery could have to be pushed until the lockout is over.

There could be changes to the MLB Draft Lottery in the next round of Collective Bargaining Agreement talks, which is another reason why the lottery could be postponed until a new CBA is ratified. If the lottery is changed, the Blue Jays situation moving forward could change as well.