Trevor Rogers is one of only two elite left-handed starters on the free-agent market this winter. The Blue Jays, whose rotation leans heavily right-handed, should be calling.

Only seven lefty starters with at least 150 innings have topped 7.0 fWAR since 2025. Rogers is one of them, at 7.3.

The other is Tarik Skubal, the two-time AL Cy Young winner who will cost a fortune by comparison.

The 28-year-old's 2025 was outstanding. Despite a right knee injury that delayed his debut until late May, he went 9-3 with a 1.81 ERA.

His 2026 wasn't as flashy, with a 4.03 ERA. But he threw a career-high 169.2 innings and posted 4.0 fWAR, which tells a better story.

The underlying numbers back it up. Over the past two seasons, he's posted a 3.52 xERA and a 3.81 xFIP.

Toronto's lefty starter history makes Trevor Rogers a priority

The Jays have had little luck with left-handed starters lately. Yusei Kikuchi rebounded from a rough 2022 to post 3.9 fWAR over 74 starts, but he's long gone.

Hyun Jin Ryu returned to Korea when his contract ended. Eric Lauer and Patrick Corbin couldn't stay healthy or consistent in 2026.

Who's the lefty in this rotation right now? Nobody.

Toronto's current starting group gets nearly all of its impact from right-handed arms. A quality southpaw would give opposing lineups a different look every time through.

Rogers should be near the top of Ross Atkins' list. He's 28, durable over the last two years and won't cost anything close to Skubal money.

Adding a lefty to a righty-heavy rotation is like adding a bass player to a band of guitarists. The songs suddenly sound different, and the crowd can't predict what's coming.

The risk is that 2026 ERA, even if the peripherals soften the blow.

The Orioles may try to keep him. But Toronto has the money, the need and a rotation that makes a lefty like Rogers worth more to the Jays than to almost anyone.