The Toronto Blue Jays may have fallen short of a title in 2025, but it was a landmark season for the team, populated with some of the most significant moments in franchise history.
Before the season began, the Blue Jays signed their franchise player to one of the biggest contracts of all time. That player — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. — went on to have one of the best offensive performances in playoff history to help drive Toronto to the World Series. That World Series run included record performances from fan favourite Ernie Clement, one of the best rookie playoff debuts in MLB history from Trey Yesavage, and a post-season home run for the ages from George Springer in Game 7 of the ALCS. You could even count the signing of Dylan Cease to a franchise-record free-agent deal among the cavalcade of dramatic Blue Jays events this year.
Despite all of the splashiness, much of what made 2025 a success was originated in the small and subtle. A Blue Jays’ style of play that emphasized contact and defensive skill wasn’t always flashy, and much of the team’s success came on the back of quiet moves it made around the edges to support big-name players Guerrero, Springer, Bo Bichette and Kevin Gausman.
Below is an account of transactions the team made that helped bring about the Blue Jays’ special 2025 that didn’t seem particularly significant at the time:
Nov. 29, 2021: Nathan Lukes signed to minor-league contract
Reasoning at the time: Lukes was coming off a strong 2021 season at triple-A with a .303/.352/.456 line, Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins were familiar with him, having picked the former Sacramento State Hornet while with Cleveland in 2015, and the Blue Jays outfield at the time skewed right-handed.
Raimel Tapia was slated to be the team’s fourth outfielder for 2022, but Lukes was a fit to provide additional depth.
Fair expectations: Lukes didn’t seem likely to crack the opening-day roster, but his minor-league success, ability to play all outfield positions and left-handed bat gave him a chance to contribute in a bench role or as an injury fill-in at some point.
How it worked out in 2025: Lukes spent most of 2022, 2023 and 2024 in the minors. He got a stretch as a seldom-used end-of-the-bench outfielder at the beginning of 2023 and performed well as a lineup staple in September 2024, but his 2025 exceeded reasonable expectations.
The longtime minor-leaguer gave the Blue Jays 438 plate appearances of above-average offensive production (103 wRC+) paired with a strong defensive effort, for a solid 1.8 fWAR. Solid contact ability and a strong arm helped him compensate for limited power and below-average speed on the way to solid per-game impact.
The lesson with all of these moves is that seemingly minor transactions can have significant effects, and Lukes showed the payoff can sometimes come well after a player is acquired.
March 14, 2023: Ernie Clement signed to minor-league contract
Reasoning at the time: When Clement was signed, his defensive versatility and MLB experience made him an appealing add on a minor-league deal. During 2023 spring training, the Blue Jays had Bichette, Matt Chapman, Whit Merrifield, Santiago Espinal and Cavan Biggio, so there wasn’t a clear route to a roster spot for Clement, but he looked like solid depth.
Fair expectations: Clement didn’t seem likely to contribute unless injuries struck, particularly since his offensive numbers were unimpressive, even at the minor-league level when he was acquired. He’d never topped four home runs in a pro season before 2023, and his career OBP at the triple-A level was below .300 when Toronto got him.
Clement looked like a triple-A contributor who could fill in on an emergency basis at the major-league level due to his defensive abilities. A reasonable 2025 Blue Jays comparable would be Buddy Kennedy.
How it worked out in 2025: Clement turned the corner at triple-A in 2023, hitting .348/.401/.554 and managing double-digit home runs for the first time. He then thrived in a couple of MLB cameos (143 wRC+ in 52 plate appearances).
In 2024, he carved out a role as a glove-first super-utility player whose 2.1 fWAR ranked fourth on the Blue Jays. Last season, he led Toronto in games played (157), became a Gold Glove finalist at third base and set the MLB record for hits in a playoff run (30).
Clement made significant progress in each year with the Blue Jays, adding just enough power to turn his superlative contact ability into a playable offensive profile. That allowed him to earn enough playing time for his glove to sing.
When the Blue Jays got Clement, he wasn’t even a star-level player at triple-A, and now his 5.3 fWAR over the past two seasons ranks 74th among all position players ahead of big names like Xander Bogaerts, Junior Caminero and Oneil Cruz.
Nov. 6, 2023: Brendon Little acquired
Reasoning at the time: As a former first-round pick, Little was probably a cut above the proverbial “left-hander with a pulse” description when the Blue Jays got him, but he was available for cash considerations.
The southpaw was a 26-year-old coming off a full season as a triple-A reliever with a 4.05 ERA and 4.40 FIP. Optionable relief depth always has value, and that’s what Little seemed to be, approximately, two years ago.
Fair expectations: The Blue Jays seemed set for bullpen lefties entering 2024 with Tim Mayza and Génesis Cabrera on the roster, but volatility and attrition seemed likely to call him into action at some point. There was no reason to believe he’d be a standout, though.
How it worked out in 2025: After giving the Blue Jays 45.2 innings of 3.74 ERA ball in 2024 with an unbelievable 70.9 groundball rate, Little took a step forward in 2025.
The former Chicago Cub leaned on his knuckle curve more than ever and became a strikeout artist for the first time, accumulating 91 Ks — the highest total among all left-handed relievers. He also led southpaw relievers in appearances (79) and with a fWAR (1.3) that ranked ninth.
Little was shaky down the stretch, but he conceded just two home runs in 2025 and managed 30 holds and a save with just three blown saves on his ledger. An indisputably ugly playoff run means his 2025 may not be remembered fondly, but his body of work over a regular season when the Blue Jays had no margin for error to win the AL East was excellent.
June 12, 2024: Cavan Biggio traded for Braydon Fisher
Reasoning at the time: Biggio’s time in Toronto had run its course, and after he was designated for assignment, the Blue Jays tried to extract some value from his departure via a minor trade.
Fair expectations: During his time in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ system, Fisher had consistently missed bats, but he was too wild to post strong results. The right-hander had a 6.94 ERA at triple-A when the Blue Jays acquired him, and he’d never posted a BB/9 below 5.0 at a level higher than single-A.
In other words, Fisher was a pure dart throw.
How it worked out in 2025: Fisher’s struggles continued in 2024 in Toronto’s system (6.38 ERA and 6.87 BB/9 with Buffalo), but he came out firing strikes last season, completely changing his career trajectory.
As with Little, his post-season didn’t go particularly well, but his 2.70 ERA in 50 innings was a major contribution to the Blue Jays during the regular season. Fisher’s 11.16 K/9 topped Toronto’s right-handed relievers, and he had a surprisingly high-leverage impact for an unheralded rookie.
Not only did he post a 7-0 record, three of those wins came in extra innings, and two of those extra-inning victories included multiple scoreless frames from Fisher.
Aug. 7, 2024: Tommy Nance purchased from Padres
Reasoning at the time: In the midst of a lost season, the Blue Jays took a shot at a 33-year-old veteran with some MLB experience to fill some bullpen innings.
Fair expectations: The Blue Jays wouldn’t have acquired Nance if they didn’t see something in him, but he was a journeyman who’d been putting up middling numbers in triple-A all season. He seemed more likely to be a part of the plan for the next few days than the following season.
How it worked out in 2025: Nance was respectable down the stretch in 2024, but he turned things up a notch last season, with a 1.99 ERA (and 1.87 FIP) in 31.2 MLB innings. He spent much of the season in triple-A and appeared only twice in the playoffs, but providing elite run suppression in 2.2 per cent of the Blue Jays’ 2025 innings is a noteworthy contribution.
Nance also didn’t concede a home run all year and didn’t allow a single extra-base hit to a right-handed hitter in the regular season.
Sept. 16, 2024: Tyler Heineman claimed off waivers
Reasoning at the time: If you follow the Blue Jays closely, you might be aware of the team’s pattern of acquiring Heineman multiple times, but this was the last one. The team had shipped Danny Jansen away at the trade deadline and wasn’t getting much from Brian Serven in a backup role.
Considering the 2024 Blue Jays were going nowhere, that wasn’t an issue that desperately needed to be addressed. However, the organization had traditionally acquired Heineman when the opportunity arose, and this was no exception.
Fair expectations: At the time of the claim, Heineman looked like an ideal third catcher for an MLB team. His bat didn’t project to be playable over the long term, but his defensive skills were solid enough for him to play a limited role in the majors when the need arose.
Heineman seemed like a fine choice to spell Alejandro Kirk in the final weeks of 2024.
How it worked out in 2025: It was somewhat surprising that the Blue Jays didn’t sign a veteran catcher to back up Kirk before 2025, especially with the concerns that existed about his durability in a full-time role.
Kirk had always had Jansen to share the load, and Heineman’s perceived offensive limitations had him looking underqualified for the task ahead.
Any pre-season concerns were quickly put to rest as Kirk had no issues catching full-time, and Heineman exploded out of the gate offensively when called upon. The backup cooled down as 2025 wore on, but his 2.1 fWAR ranked 17th among all catchers, despite ranking 50th in plate appearances.
Heineman was a star in his role, and if he produced like a more typical backup catcher — a level that seemed like an optimistic projection before 2025 — the Blue Jays wouldn’t have won the AL East.
Dec. 20, 2024: Eric Lauer signed to minor-league deal
Reasoning at the time: Pitchers who can deliver a credible MLB start and be optioned to the minors are tough to come by, and desperately needed with the possibility of pitching injuries lurking around every corner.
Because the Blue Jays didn’t have a wave of young MLB-ready arms knocking on the door as the 2025 season approached, a veteran like Lauer was a necessary alternative.
Fair expectations: Coming off an uninspiring 2024 season in Korea with a 4.93 ERA, Lauer was far from a sure thing, in either a starting or relief role. Given the durability of Toronto’s veteran rotation, it was possible he’d never get a shot — particularly if Jake Bloss started the season strong.
At the same time, as a southpaw with some role versatility, the smart money was on Lauer finding his way to the majors at some point. That didn’t mean it was reasonable to expect he’d excel.
How it worked out in 2025: Lauer was the Blue Jays’ most effective starter at times in 2025 and looked good in a relief role during the playoffs.
Not many players signed to minor-league contracts produce over 100 innings of 3.18 ball, and he was even better in the middle of the season. Between May 1 and Aug. 1, Lauer logged 70.1 frames with a 2.57 ERA.
When you sign a veteran starter to a minor-league deal, you’re normally happy if you get three decent outings. Lauer gave Toronto three stellar months.
Jan. 17, 2025: Myles Straw acquired from Guardians
Reasoning at the time: When the Jays took on Straw’s contract, they did so in order to acquire international bonus pool money in hopes of signing Roki Sasaki.
It’s possible the team was higher on Straw than Cleveland was, but that was the appeal.
Fair expectations: The value the Blue Jays received in the Straw deal was meant to be the bonus money rather than the centre fielder. It was possible he’d spend 2025 in the minor leagues as he’d done in 2024, or even get cut during spring training.
He had a chance to compete for a bench role, but at the time of the deal, he had hit .229/.295/.284 from 2022 to 2024.
How it worked out in 2025: Straw won a roster spot in spring training and never looked back.
He didn’t suddenly become an offensive star, but hit close enough to average (91 wRC+) that his glove and wheels weren’t undermined.
The $11.8 million of Straw’s contract Toronto took on looked onerous at the time, but FanGraphs estimated that the veteran’s 2025 performance was worth $14.4 million. Straw had a quiet playoffs, but Toronto has to be happy with his contributions last season.
April 17 and June 1, 2025: Option and recall of Davis Schneider
This pair of transactions is a little different than the ones above, but their impact on Toronto’s 2025 campaign was significant.
On April 17, the Blue Jays sent down Schneider, with Lukes able to return from the paternity list the next day. It was altogether surprising considering the mustachioed slugger had just one hit in 21 plate appearances at that point, but the decision ensured that Addison Barger would remain on the roster.
Barger had not performed particularly well in the early going at triple-A (95 wRC+), and if Schneider hadn’t been struggling enough to justify a demotion, the left-handed thumper might’ve just filled in for Lukes for a couple of days and returned to Buffalo.
From April 18 on, Barger produced a 110 wRC+, adding 21 home runs and looking like a potent middle-of-the-lineup force at times. During the playoffs, he was Toronto’s second-best offensive weapon behind Guerrero Jr., with a 1.025 OPS.
A couple of months later, Schneider got a chance with the MLB club after Daulton Varsho hit the IL. Bringing him back proved to be an excellent move, considering he managed a 135 wRC+ in 206 plate appearances from the beginning of June to the end of the season.
