2025 MLB Winter Meetings Takeaways
The 2025 MLB Winter Meetings wrapped up in Orlando, Fla., with a flurry of transactions within its four-day window, along with new rumours among top contenders and new decisions setting the groundwork for a chaotic second half of the offseason. While the Toronto Blue Jays didn’t deliver a headline-stealing signing or trade, they left Orlando positioned as one of the most intriguing free agent destinations in baseball, as they continue to define themselves as a top dog of the offseason.
Winter Meeting Headliners
Across the league, a trio of headline moves defined talks in Orlando:
Kyle Schwarber returned to the Philadelphia Phillies on a five-year, $150 million deal per various sources, anchoring Philly as one of the top offences in the league heading into 2026, retaining the 32-year-old designated hitter at the top of the order, and more importantly, the potential 50+ home runs his return comes with.
Edwin Díaz, following his opt-out with the New York Mets, promptly signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers on a three-year, $69 million deal, per Jeff Passan, adding yet another superstar to one of the greatest dynasties in MLB history. The move solidifies a bullpen with a now three-headed monster with Tanner Scott, and Alex Viesa to close out games behind their lethal starting rotation, as they look to win their third straight World Series title in 2026.
Lastly, Pete Alonso, after opting out of his contract with the Mets is headed to Birdland, as he signed a five-year, $155 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles. This shifts the former NL East slugger to the AL East, joining the likes of infielders Gunnar Henderson, Jordan Westburg, and catcher Adley Rutschman, creating one of the American League’s best lineups, as they now switch their focus towards acquiring pitching help.
Between these signings, plus the Atlanta Braves’ aggressiveness at the meetings, which included the acquisition of All-Star closer Robert Suarez and outfielder Mike Yastrzemski, the Winter Meetings have altered the league’s power balance looking ahead to 2026.
Yet, beyond this week’s headlines, much of the action among the other 26 teams has been in strategically positioning themselves for the rest of the way, heading into February’s kickoff of Spring Training, especially the reigning 2025 American League Champion, the Toronto Blue Jays.
Blue Jays’ Early Moves
The Blue Jays landed in Orlando riding the wave of what has already been a hectic and aggressive offseason for GM Ross Atkins. The highlight to this point is catching arguably the biggest fish of the starting pitching market in a blockbuster move that sends Dylan Cease north of the border with a seven-year, $210 million deal, marking the biggest free agent signing in team history.
Just eight days after signing Cease, the Blue Jays went out and grabbed the 2025 KBO League MVP and Triple Crown-winning starting pitcher Cody Ponce on a three-year, $30 million deal, which will be his first taste of significant major league action since 2021 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Cease and Ponce collectively fortify the Blue Jays’ rotation, an area the team was looking to build on this offseason, as they now arguably have the strongest rotation in the American League.
These early moves may be an indicator of what’s to come for the World Series-hungry Blue Jays, sending a clear message to the rest of MLB that they are ready to spend, despite already boasting a top-four payroll. While the Blue Jays didn’t finalize any deals in Orlando, their presence was felt, and through interviews with MLB.com, manager John Schneider and Ross Atkins emphasized a broad desire to continue improving this offseason, while still being engaged in talks with the superstars of this free agent class.
Bichette vs. Tucker
No conversation surrounding the Blue Jays’ offseason will avoid the Bo Bichette and Kyle Tucker free-agency debate that has been dominating the league’s rumours in recent weeks. Is it possible that they actually have a shot at both? According to Jeff Passan, it is possible, but who should be the focal point of the offseason?
Two-time All-Star infielder Bo Bichette has been a cornerstone of the Blue Jays lineup since 2019 and has been playing alongside Vladimir Guerrero Jr. since 2017 in A-ball. The Toronto fan favorite posted a .311/.357/.483 slash line in 2025 with 18 homers and 94 RBI, while having the second-most hits in MLB, despite a knee sprain which ended his regular season in early September.
Bichette’s offensive ability and World Series Game 7 home run will live on in Blue Jays history forever, yet his defensive metrics have been a sticking point. In 2025, Bichette ranked in the first percentile in outs-above-average for shortstops, and following several lower-body injuries in his seven-year career, he may require a permanent move to second base in 2026 to retain any defensive value for the future.
Enter perennial All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker, widely regarded as the top free agent still on the board. Last season, Tucker posted a .266/.377.464 slash with 22 homers and 25 steals in 82 fewer ABs than Bichette. With five straight seasons of 4.0+ fWAR, Tucker is among the league’s most impactful players on both sides of the ball and would first extremely well within the Blue Jays’ playstyle..
Reports coming out of Florida even confirmed a visit to the Blue Jays’ upper-echelon player development complex in Dunedin Fla. early this month, indicating serious interest from both parties. Though the Blue Jays remain very much in the market for both Tucker and Bichette, the tension between choosing one of the other is palpable. Bichette preserves the Guerrero Jr.-Bichette era with his elite contact ability, while landing Tucker could elevate the Blue Jays’ power profile and further bolster their outstanding defence.
Now, to dampen expectations, players and teams are expected to wait out their respective markets, as no signing is likely imminent given the current market circumstances. These two superstars’ free agency tenures could extend deep into the offseason. In such cases, players and teams will do their diligence to ensure they’re making the right move, and for the right price.
Bullpen Priorities
Beyond bats, the bullpen remains a top priority for the Blue Jays. With elite arms like Edwin Díaz and Robert Suárez now off the board, the Blue Jays have explored options such as closer Pete Fairbanks and Luke Weaver in free agency, and St. Louis Cardinals reliever JoJo Romero via the trade market. The relief market has been moving quickly, as seen at the Winter Meetings, and this may be an area where the Blue Jays move sooner rather than later.
On the last day of the Winter Meetings, the Blue Jays acquired right-handed pitcher Spencer Miles from the San Francisco Giants in the 2025 Rule 5 Draft. Last season, Miles was the Giants’ #28-ranked prospect. The 25-year-old features a high-90s fastball, a plus curveball, and a strong command profile. Miles, since returning from various injuries, including Tommy John surgery, returned to play at the Arizona Fall League this past October, where he put up an impressive showing, striking out 12 and only walking one in 8.2 IP, catching the attention of Blue Jays scouts, eventually resulting in a low-risk, high-reward selection.
Looking Ahead
Beyond the Blue Jays, the 2025 Winter Meetings changed the projection of this offseason. The Orioles’ signing of Alonso gives the AL East another slugger, while the Phillies solidified their lineup with Schwarber’s return. The Dodgers’ addition of Díaz further bolsters the reigning World Series Champions. Meanwhile, the Mets underwent dramatic changes, leaving fans questioning the direction of the team and its ownership, as they lost multiple fan favourites and potentially entered rebuild mode.
As these winter meetings fade into memory, the offseason narrative is only beginning. The Blue Jays’ front office has seemingly been given the green light to spend, ready to strike on a premium bat or bullpen arm when market conditions align with their goals.
Whether the Blue Jays ultimately bring back Bo Bichette and/or Kyle Tucker or find value elsewhere, the meetings indicated that the Blue Jays remain a top contender in 2026, with blockbuster signings already setting new projections for 2026 as Opening Day inches closer, now 105 days away.
