The Toronto Blue Jays are not done going after starting pitchers after latest update
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Victor William
Feb 5, 2026 (10:40 PM)
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Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
The Toronto Blue Jays swinging and missing on Framber Valdez stings, but it also sends a crystal clear message: this front office is still aggressively hunting for a major rotation upgrade.
News broke late Wednesday that Valdez signed a three-year, $115 million deal with the Detroit Tigers, officially taking the top remaining arm off the board.
For Blue Jays fans, this feels like a punch to the gut after reports confirmed the team had genuine interest in the lefty ace.
Framber Valdez (Signed as International Free Agent, 2015 by Houston) would have been a dream fit, bringing his elite ground-ball rate and postseason pedigree to the Rogers Centre.
But here is the silver lining we cannot ignore: the fact that Ross Atkins was even at the table for a nine-figure pitcher this late in the winter speaks volumes.
It proves the Blue Jays are not content with their current depth and are actively looking to add another hammer to the rotation before pitchers and catchers report.
They already have a formidable group with Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios, and Chris Bassitt, but in the AL East, there is no such thing as too much pitching.
The market is thinning out, but there are still impact arms available who could move the needle.
The pursuit of pitching dominance is still very much alive
Missing on "Plan A" does not mean you pack up and go home; it means you pivot to "Plan B" with the same intensity.
We know this team has money to spend and a glaring desire to prevent the bullpen from being overworked like in years past.
Rumors are already swirling about potential pivots to other veteran starters who can eat innings and provide quality starts.
Zac Gallen remains a fascinating name on the market, though he comes with a qualifying offer attached, which complicates things.
There are also experienced arms like Justin Verlander or Max Scherzer who, despite their age, could offer that short-term, high-impact ceiling for a contender.
Even a reunion with a familiar face or a trade for a controllable starter isn't out of the question now that we know they have the budget.
The "disappointment" of losing Valdez should actually be viewed as "ambition" for what is coming next.
Buckle up, because the Blue Jays are clearly not done building this roster for a championship run.
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FEVRIER 5|305 ANSWERS The Toronto Blue Jays are not done going after starting pitchers after latest update Should the Blue Jays pivot to signing Zac Gallen after missing on Valdez? | ||
| Yes | 196 | 64.3 % |
| No | 109 | 35.7 % |
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