Toronto Blue Jays 2025: Five Bold Moves to Save the Franchise—and the Championship Window
The 2024 season was a glaring reminder that the Blue Jays must confront their shortcomings if they ever hope to break out of mediocrity. One area where the team desperately lagged? Stolen bases. The Jays ranked a dismal 26th in the league with just 65 stolen bases, a far cry from teams leading the way with over 180. This isn’t just a stat—this is a reflection of the slow, cautious, and outdated playstyle that has plagued the team for years.
In 2025, speed can’t be an afterthought—it needs to be a priority. Aggression on the basepaths creates pressure on opposing pitchers and defenses, yet the Jays spent much of 2024 standing still, literally. This lack of base-stealing prowess hurt their ability to manufacture runs in tight games, and the need for faster, smarter base running cannot be overstated. If the Blue Jays continue down this path of stolen base mediocrity, they will remain stuck in the middle of the pack while teams around them evolve.
1. Crown Vladimir Guerrero Jr. as the Unquestionable Face of the Franchise—or Watch Him Walk
Let’s not beat around the bush: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is the only reason the Blue Jays are still in the conversation. The man is a beast at the plate, finishing 2024 with a blistering .323 batting average, 30 home runs, 103 RBIs, and 44 doubles. If that’s not MVP-level performance, what is? The issue here isn’t Guerrero’s production; it’s the fact that the Blue Jays haven’t secured him with a long-term deal. Every passing day without an extension is a day closer to disaster.
Meanwhile, Bo Bichette—once thought to be on Guerrero’s level—has become a question mark. Injuries and an uncharacteristic drop in performance led to a 2024 season that raised serious doubts about his long-term future with the team. With Bichette surrounded by trade rumors, this offseason could be the perfect moment to capitalize on his value. The Blue Jays could land a player that better fits their new, aggressive DNA.
Bottom line? If the Jays don’t lock down Guerrero soon, they’re gambling away their championship window. Without him, what are they? A mediocre team praying for a wild card spot. If Guerrero walks after 2025, we may as well start planning for 2035. Seriously.
2. Fire John Schneider: The Jays Need Leadership That Understands Aggression Wins Championships
It’s time to rip the Band-Aid off. John Schneider has had ample opportunity to prove himself, and yet the Blue Jays have floundered under his leadership. Schneider’s conservative, analytical approach is holding this team back. Baseball isn’t a chess match—it’s a war. And in 2024, the Jays played like they were afraid of losing instead of trying to win.
What’s worse, the team was painfully slow on the bases, lacked urgency, and often looked lost in tight situations. The Blue Jays need a manager who will demand speed, aggression, and accountability. Schneider’s style simply doesn’t fit the new blueprint for success. The 2025 Jays need someone willing to take risks, shake up the lineup, and push this team to be faster, smarter, and hungrier. Enough is enough—Toronto needs fresh blood in the dugout, and it needs it now.
3. Say Goodbye to George Springer and Open the Door for a New Era
It’s time to move on from George Springer. The 2024 season proved what many feared—Springer is no longer the electric leadoff hitter he once was. His .214 batting average, 12 home runs, and 33 RBIs tell the story of a player in decline. At 35, Springer’s production is only going to continue deteriorating, and the Blue Jays can’t afford to hold onto dead weight. Get rid of a player a season too soon rather than a season too late.
By attaching a high-value prospect like Ricky Tiedemann, the Jays can offload Springer’s burdensome contract, which frees up space for younger, faster talent that can actually make an impact in 2025. With Springer gone, Toronto can finally find a leadoff hitter who can steal bases, get on base consistently, and spark the offense from the start.
This move isn’t just about improving the top of the order—it’s about sending a message that Toronto is serious about winning, not clinging to the past. And while we’re at it, Bo Bichette’s future needs to be discussed. With his performance slipping and his name already circulating in trade rumors, perhaps it’s time to cash in on Bichette before his value plummets. The Jays can’t afford to be sentimental in 2025.
4. Rebuild the Bullpen: Strengthen from the Ground Up
The Blue Jays’ bullpen in 2024 was nothing short of a disaster, ranking 28th in ERA (4.75) and dead last in FIP (4.92), indicating that the unit’s underperformance went beyond bad luck—it was fundamentally flawed. Injuries, inconsistency, and an overreliance on a few arms like Jordan Romano left the Jays with no reliable late-inning options. The bullpen was bleeding runs, and it cost the team too many close games.
If the Jays want to be contenders in 2025, they need to overhaul their bullpen, and quickly. To turn things around, the Jays should focus on adding proven relievers in free agency—guys like Tanner Scott and Chris Martin. These pitchers excel in high-leverage situations, with Scott posting a 2.31 ERA in 2024 and Martin maintaining a remarkable 0.99 WHIP. Scott’s strikeout rate of 13.3 K/9 would add the much-needed ability to miss bats, while Martin’s control, reflected in his 2.1 BB/9, would stabilize the bullpen in late-game scenarios.
For a unit that ranked 30th in reliever WAR (-2.1), the Blue Jays can’t afford to be passive. A revamped bullpen is essential to ensuring that their starting rotation, led by Gausman, Berríos, and Bassitt, doesn’t go to waste. Relievers with strong FIP and K/9 rates should be prioritized to ensure that the bullpen can consistently close out games, rather than give them away.
5. Dream Big: Bring in Alex Bregman and Anthony Santander—Or Watch the AL East Laugh at Us Again
If the Blue Jays were close to signing Shohei Ohtani last offseason, they can’t afford to be conservative in 2025. Landing Alex Bregman and Anthony Santander would add depth, firepower, and leadership that this lineup desperately needs.
Bregman, a two-time World Series champion, brings not only his clutch hitting but also a wealth of postseason experience. In 2024, Bregman hit 26 home runs, posted 90 RBIs, and maintained a solid .816 OPS. His wRC+ (Weighted Runs Created Plus), which measures his offensive production compared to the league average, was 129—meaning he was 29% better than the average hitter. These stats showcase his consistency and value at the plate, particularly in high-pressure moments.
Santander, meanwhile, hit 32 home runs with 90 RBIs in 2024, making him the kind of power bat Toronto needs. His ISO (Isolated Power), which measures raw power by focusing only on extra-base hits, was .223—an excellent number that highlights his ability to change games with just one swing. Furthermore, his wOBA (Weighted On-Base Average), a stat that balances the value of getting on base with the quality of hits, was .350—placing him among the better hitters in the league.
With both Bregman and Santander in the lineup, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will no longer have to carry the entire offensive burden. Opposing pitchers won’t be able to focus solely on him, giving Guerrero better pitches and more opportunities to showcase his power. Guerrero’s .940 OPS and 30 home runs in 2024 already make him one of the most feared hitters in the league, but with this kind of lineup protection, he could reach even greater heights.
Rogers Media and the Blind Faith of Toronto Fans
Let’s not ignore the Rogers factor. This team’s ownership also controls most of the sports media landscape in Canada. Blue Jays fans are spoon-fed the Rogers narrative as if it’s gospel. If Rogers says the team is just a couple of moves away from contending, the fans believe it—despite years of disappointment. Sound familiar? Just look at the Toronto Maple Leafs: they’ve won one playoff series in 20 years, yet fans continue to cling to the hope that this year will be different. Rogers has mastered the art of controlling the narrative, ensuring that fans stay loyal, even if the results on the field don’t match the lofty promises.
Much like the Leafs’ decades-long slump, the Jays’ inability to build a truly competitive team has been glossed over. Every year, it’s the same story: some aging veterans are added to the roster, there’s excitement, and then reality hits. As long as Rogers owns the team and the message, they don’t face the backlash most ownership groups would encounter. Why change if the fans aren’t demanding it?
The Real Reason the Blue Jays Struggle—And It’s Not Just on the Field
The 2024 season exposed the cracks in the Blue Jays’ foundation. But perhaps the biggest obstacle isn’t just the roster—it’s the narrative controlled by Rogers Communications. Owning the team and the media that covers it creates a bubble where accountability is often absent. As long as Rogers can spin the story, they avoid the backlash they might otherwise face from a frustrated fanbase. After all, Leafs fans have been stuck in a decades-long loop of hope and heartbreak, but they keep buying in. Why? Because they’re told things are moving in the right direction—year after year.
If the Blue Jays don’t extend Vladimir Guerrero Jr. long-term and make the necessary moves—new leadership, aggressive trades, and star signings—they may have already missed their championship window. If Toronto lets Guerrero walk after 2025, we may as well start preparing for the next “rebuild.” Or, should we say, the next “damage control narrative.” Welcome to the 2035 plan, everyone.
