Can the Blue Jays run it back?

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With a trip to the World Series last season, there’s some real buzz about the Toronto Blue Jays to start the season.  

Despite ending in a heartbreaking game 7, the Jays gave Canada a thrilling ride. The playoff atmosphere was electric, with fans creating a “deep blue sea” of energy. Nothing better than a stadium hot dog with a crowd roaring so loud you can feel it in your chest during a playoff game. 

But that’s all in the past, what about this year? 

The finish to last season raised expectations fast. The Jays have been pegged as strong contenders to make a return to the World Series. But is that actually plausible?  

The team has a high payroll and a stacked roster, with management and fans expecting a deep playoff run. The Blue Jays have 20-1 odds to win the 2026 World Series, placing them among the top contenders. But don’t let the betting odds fool you. 

What fans seem to often forget success is not always linear. And some teams never reach the top. For example, look at the Edmonton Oilers of the last 2 years, back-to-back Stanley Cup finals appearances, the best player in the history of the game taking a discount to stay with you. Surely, they win a Cup this year, right? The reality was the team was not as good as the year before, their stars were injured, and they were out in the first round to a younger faster team.  

This goes to show that just because you made it to the finals last year does not guarantee that you will make them this year.  

However, it’s not like the Jays have been stagnant in the off season. Recent additions like Dylan Cease, Kazuma Okamoto, Tyler Rogers, and Cody Ponce are expected to improve the team. and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is expected to build on his elite 2025 postseason performance after giving the fans a major sigh of relief after signing a long-term deal. 

The major subtraction to the World Series squad is Bo Bichette, who signed a three-year deal with New York in the offseason. After playing 7 solid seasons with the Jays, his presence will be missed on the field, and the locker room.  

It is a physical and mental war to go through 162 regular season games and go through the anguish of playoffs on top of that. Only one team can win the World Series at the end of day, this is no cakewalk.  

Fans might need to lower their expectations of a long playoff run, but if anytime would rise at the right time, it’s going to be the Jays.