Contender blueprint: How Toronto built a World Series roster

The Toronto Blue Jays are returning to the World Series for the first time since winning back-to-back titles in 1992 and 1993.

Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro and general manager Ross Atkins constructed a deep roster through the draft, trade market, and free agency, and that group will take on the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

The team below is based on the active roster for the American League Championship Series. The date in parentheses denotes the time of acquisition.

Homegrown

The Blue Jays found great fortune in international free agency but mixed results in the draft. The only first-rounder on the AL-pennant winning roster that Toronto selected is Trey Yesavage, who looks like a potential ace in the making. The club is also in a good spot moving forward with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. as the crown jewel of the group.

Addison Barger (June 4, 2018): Barger climbed through the minor leagues after being drafted in the sixth round. The 25-year-old hit 21 homers with a .756 OPS in his first full season, showing off his power potential and great arm at third base and in right field.

Bo Bichette (Jun 9, 2016): Bichette developed into one of the cornerstones of the franchise after he was selected with the No. 66 pick in the 2016 draft. The shortstop is a two-time All-Star who led the AL in hits twice. However, the 27-year-old impending free agent hasn't played since early September because of a knee sprain. He's the ultimate World Series wild card.

Mason Fluharty (July 18, 2022): Fluharty was selected in the fifth round. The 24-year-old put together a solid rookie season with a 3.97 FIP, 1.14 WHIP, and 9.6 K/9 before becoming the team's top left-handed reliever in the playoffs.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (July 2, 2015): Guerrero received $3.9 million as a highly touted 16-year-old. He's turned into a five-time All-Star, AL MVP runner-up, Gold Glover, and ALCS MVP at age 26 under the pressure of astronomical expectations as a No. 1 prospect and son of a Hall of Famer. Guerrero's 14-year, $500-million contract is the largest in Canadian sports history.

Alejandro Kirk (Sep. 24, 2016): Kirk has become one of the best catchers in baseball after signing a $30,000 deal as a 17-year-old. The two-time All-Star finished second to only Cal Raleigh in fWAR among backstops this season, posting a 116 wRC+ to go along with the great blocking and framing skills that earned him his second Gold Glove nomination.

Davis Schneider (June 14, 2017): Schneider went from being selected in the 28th round to becoming a useful platoon piece and fan favorite. The 26-year-old owns a .915 OPS over 99 plate appearances versus left-handers in 2025.

Trey Yesavage (Jul 14, 2024): The 22-year-old's meteoric rise has been well-documented after being the No. 20 pick in last year's draft. The right-hander ascended through four minor-league levels before debuting for the Blue Jays in mid-September and then helping them reach the World Series. He will start Game 1.

Trades

The Blue Jays' front office has shown a tendency to focus on run prevention, defense, and pitching in its deals with other teams. All of the players acquired through trades joined the organization over the last four years. The 2025 trade deadline proved especially fruitful, as Shane Bieber, Seranthony Domínguez, and Louis Varland all played a role in getting the club to the Fall Classic.

Shane Bieber (July 31, 2025): Toronto took a big swing by acquiring Bieber, who was in the final stages of his Tommy John comeback and could end up being a rental. The gamble paid off as the 2020 AL Cy Young winner saved the season with a great Game 3 start in the ALCS.

Seranthony Domínguez (July 29, 2025): Domínguez's power arm and big strikeout potential added high-leverage depth to the bullpen. The right-hander has become the club's top setup man behind closer Jeff Hoffman.

Braydon Fisher (June 12, 2024): The Dodgers don't lose trades often, but sending Fisher to the Blue Jays for Cavan Biggio looks like a miss. The former authored a 2.70 ERA with 11.2 K/9 during his rookie campaign.

Ty France (July 31, 2025): The first baseman was added this past deadline in the deal with the Minnesota Twins that also brought high-leverage reliever Louis Varland to Toronto. Spring-training breakout minor-leaguer Alan Roden went to the Twins in the trade along with pitching prospect Kendry Rojas.

Andrés Giménez (Dec 10, 2024): The Blue Jays continued to prioritize run prevention by trading for Giménez in a four-player swap with the Cleveland Guardians. The soon-to-be four-time Gold Glover hit a pair of big homers in the ALCS after posting a career-worst 70 wRC+ in the regular season.

Brendon Little (Nov. 6, 2023): Little was acquired from the Cubs for cash. The left-hander had an impressive year, recording a 3.03 ERA with 12 K/9. However, in the playoffs, he's walked 5.9 batters per nine innings and has looked shaky.

Myles Straw (Jan. 17, 2025): Straw was supposed to be a salary dump by the Guardians in exchange for the Blue Jays gaining an extra $2 million to potentially sign Roki Sasaki (who chose the Dodgers). The glove-first outfielder has become a valuable bench piece as a defensive replacement or pinch runner.

Louis Varland (July 31, 2025): In the postseason, manager John Schneider has leaned heavily on Varland, who arrived via a four-player trade with the Twins at the deadline. The 27-year-old former starter owns a 3.27 ERA with 14 strikeouts and has appeared in 10 out of 11 games this October.

Daulton Varsho (Dec. 23, 2022): Varsho was acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks for Gabriel Moreno and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. in a polarizing trade. However, all three players eventually helped their new teams get to the Fall Classic. The 29-year-old Varsho became a big power threat in 2025 to complement his outstanding defense in center field.

Free agents

Rogers Communications invested a lot of money into the Blue Jays' roster via free agency over the last few offseasons. Toronto's payroll was the fifth highest in the majors this year at over $255 million, which is a team record. Those financial commitments have the club positioned to win a championship in 2025 after going a combined 0-6 in the playoffs between 2020, 2022, and 2023.

Chris Bassitt (December 16, 2022): Bassitt inked a three-year, $63-million deal. He's been a solid mid-rotation starter, authoring a 3.89 ERA while logging 541 1/3 innings as a dependable workhorse.

Ernie Clement (March 14, 2023): Clement is another gem the Jays unearthed via a minors pact. He provides great defensive versatility in the infield, which should net him his first Gold Glove this season. He's also batting an eye-popping .429 in the postseason thanks to six multi-hit games.

Kevin Gausman (Dec. 1, 2021): The Blue Jays found their ace when they inked Gausman to a five-year, $110-million contract. He owns a 3.48 ERA with 9.7 K/9 since joining the team. Only Zack Wheeler, Logan Webb, and Tarik Skubal have accumulated more fWAR than Gausman among pitchers since 2022.

Jeff Hoffman (Jan. 10, 2025): Hoffman became the club's closer after inking a three-year, $33-million pact. He had an up-and-down regular season but has been dynamite in the playoffs, allowing one earned run with 12 strikeouts over six appearances.

Eric Lauer (Dec 13, 2024): The Blue Jays caught lightning in a bottle, getting a 3.18 ERA in 104 2/3 innings (15 starts) out of Lauer on a minor-league deal.

Nathan Lukes (Nov. 10, 2022): Lukes landed with the Jays on a minor-league deal before making his MLB debut at age 28 in 2023. He's turned into one of the team's many unsung heroes, slashing .333/.381/.410 with seven RBIs in October.

Max Scherzer (Feb. 4, 2025): The three-time Cy Young winner and future first-ballot Hall of Famer came to Toronto on a one-year, $15.5-million deal. The 41-year-old had the worst season of his 18-year career but delivered in the biggest moment with an unforgettable start in Game 4 of the ALCS.

George Springer (Jan. 23, 2021): Springer's six-year, $150-million contract is the Jays' biggest splash on the open market in franchise history. The 36-year-old looked like he was in a steep decline before posting the best offensive season of his 12-year career. His home run in Game 7 of the ALCS will be remembered forever in Canada.

Waivers

Tyler Heineman (Sep 16, 2024): Heineman had the best season of his six-year career as the team's backup catcher. He slashed .289/.361/.416 with three homers over 61 games.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa (Aug. 31, 2025): Kiner-Falefa returned to the Blue Jays after being dealt to the Pittsburgh Pirates at last year's trade deadline. He provides defensive versatility off the bench and has come up with some timely hits in the playoffs.