Blue Jays roster projection 1.0: Position battles in the bullpen and an infield decision

Kazuma Okamoto is one of the few unknown quantities on a loaded roster that leaves players such as Leo Jiménez on the bubble.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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The Toronto Blue Jays have a fairly full roster heading into the 2026 season, with the lineup and rotation appearing set. However, there will be position battles on the bench and in the bullpen, particularly surrounding the infield and the bullpen depth.

Why it matters

The Blue Jays are a talented team with high expectations for the 2026 season, and the decisions they make regarding their roster and position battles could have a significant impact on their performance and chances of making the playoffs.

The details

The Blue Jays' catching tandem of Alejandro Kirk and Tyler Heineman is expected to return, while the infield will feature Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Ernie Clement, Andrés Giménez, and Kazuma Okamoto. The outfield is deep, with seven players vying for spots, including George Springer, Addison Barger, Daulton Varsho, Jesús Sánchez, Nathan Lukes, Davis Schneider, and Myles Straw. The rotation depth is a concern, with Shane Bieber set to start the season on the injured list and Eric Lauer expected to begin the year in the bullpen. The bullpen is another area of competition, with several relievers vying for spots, including Yimi García, Mason Fluharty, Yariel Rodríguez, Chase Lee, Angel Bastardo, and Rule 5 draft choices Spencer Miles and Angel Bastardo.

  • The Blue Jays announced the unexpected injuries and made a trade to restock depth.
  • Toronto's first full-squad workout is coming up.

The players

Alejandro Kirk

One half of the Blue Jays' catching tandem that produced the second-most FanGraphs WAR (6.8) last year.

Tyler Heineman

The other half of the Blue Jays' catching tandem that produced the second-most FanGraphs WAR (6.8) last year.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

The Blue Jays' star first baseman and one of the key members of their infield.

Kazuma Okamoto

A Japanese player who is one of the unknown quantities on the Blue Jays' roster, with the team seeing him as a potential starting third baseman.

Leo Jiménez

A 24-year-old infielder who is likely the first player off the roster as things stand, as he is out of minor-league options and the Blue Jays will have to place him on the Opening Day roster or expose him to waivers.

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What they’re saying

“Kazuma Okamoto is one of the few unknown quantities on a loaded roster that leaves players such as Leo Jiménez on the bubble.”

— Mitch Bannon, Author (nytimes.com)

What’s next

The Blue Jays will have to make decisions on their infield and bullpen depth as they finalize their roster for Opening Day.

The takeaway

The Blue Jays have a talented roster, but they will need to navigate some difficult decisions regarding their infield and bullpen depth in order to field the best team possible for the 2026 season.