TORONTO -- Right around this time each year, when suitcases are dragged out of storage and weather apps are changed to Dunedin, Fla., the reality of a new baseball season arrives rather suddenly.
The offseason is over, and while the Blue Jays’ additions may not be, it’s time to shift our focus to the team itself and all of the challenges that lie ahead.
This past year was a dream for the Blue Jays, who one year ago rolled into camp projected as a team that wouldn’t do much at all. Their run to the World Series jolted baseball back to life across Canada and will draw more eyeballs to this camp than we’ve seen in decades, but all of those good days are behind us now. It’s a new year, full of things that could amaze us or go terribly wrong.
When camp opens to the media on Feb. 11, some time will be spent talking about how players and coaches reflect on that World Series run. Then it’s on to 2026, with questions for the new year:
1. What is the plan with José Berríos?
This story has sat, stale, since the 2025 season ended. Berríos ended the season with a move to the bullpen and a trip to the IL -- the first IL stint of his 10-year MLB career -- and he was “not happy” with being left off the postseason roster. Now the Blue Jays have five other starters on the roster. This could become an awkward game of musical chairs.
That said, an offseason to exhale could benefit everyone here. There were clearly frustrations for Berríos, but he’d built a reputation and earned a level of respect around the league prior to all of this happening. He was also the Blue Jays’ 2025 nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award. Let’s see how these early days go, but Berríos’ first comments on the matter will be telling.
The boring answer? These things tend to take care of themselves. The Blue Jays do not want to trade prospects to unload salaries, plus the free-agent market still has plenty of starters available for needy teams. Expect this to stretch through camp, one way or the other.
2. Is Shane Bieber 100%, and will he have a normal spring?
Speaking of Berríos and the rotation jam … Bieber reportedly dealt with some forearm fatigue at the end of 2025. That’s not terribly alarming just yet, given that Bieber was coming off a long rehab from Tommy John surgery, but it’s absolutely worth monitoring this spring. If Bieber is throwing his normal bullpens in the early days, exhale and carry on. If anything is delayed or slowed, this gets interesting.
3. How does Vladimir Guerrero Jr. feel about the offseason and 2026 team?
Each spring there’s a different feel to Vladdy, often a different narrative hanging over him. In his early years, his conditioning was often a hot topic on Day 1 of camp. Then came his 2021 season and his famous line that ’21 was only a trailer and that ’22 would be the movie. Last year his contract situation hung over camp until it was finally resolved in early April.
Guerrero proved in the 2025 postseason that he is a superstar, capable of willing himself -- and his team -- to another level when the moment calls for it. He is the face, voice and heartbeat of this organization. Vladdy speaks for the team now.
4. What is the plan for Ricky Tiedemann in Spring Training?
The Blue Jays’ former No. 1 pick missed most of 2024 and all of ‘25 after undergoing Tommy John surgery, but he’s still just 23 and ready to remind people why there was so much hype before the injury. Tiedemann will be brought along slowly, but if the stuff is all the way back, the Blue Jays will quickly be tempted by his talent in a bullpen role, whether that be now or down the road in ’26. His spring appearances will be very important.
5. Have Daulton Varsho and the Blue Jays discussed an extension?
The Blue Jays won’t want to discuss this publicly in any way, but it will be interesting to hear whether Varsho reveals any talks between the club and his reps. Entering his free-agent year, Varsho looked incredible in limited action last season while he dealt with injuries, and while he’s a difficult player to put a value on in the open market, he’s crucial to the Blue Jays’ success. A year ago the Blue Jays nailed the Alejandro Kirk extension. Varsho should be next in line.