Tough news for Team Canada: #Dodgers 1B Freddie Freeman has pulled out of the World Baseball Classic for personal reasons. He was going to DH for Canada. Jordan Romano also out. Good news: SP Jameson Taillon, C Liam Hicks, IF Tyler Black are in. Baseball Canada’s Awards Banquet is tonight!

Nationals claimed Paxton Schultz off waivers per Blue Jays

Important context for Lauer’s case: he had worked his way up to $5.075 million in arbitration before going to Korea Historically, players who work their way up in arb, exit the arb system then come back get paid above their previous high water mark Ultimately up to an arb panel

Eric Lauer filed at $5.75 million per source, Blue Jays filed at $4.4 million They’re expected to go to a hearing

Blue Jays have also avoided arbitration with Daulton Varsho on a one-year, $10.75 million deal per source Joel Sherman was on this one

Blue Jays, Ernie Clement avoid arb with a $4.6 million contract for 2026 per source

Blue Jays have avoided arbitration with Tyler Heineman per industry source He'll earn $1,237,500 in 2026

Deadline for teams & players to exchange arbitration filing numbers is tomorrow Lots of work goes into this on both sides & we'll see many agreements by Thurs evening. Not earth-shattering, but a necessary step. Many teams are file & trial meaning it's agree now or hearing later

Door open on Tucker & Bo. Interesting q now: what form does that dialogue take? Speculatively, would seem less likely that Jays lead charge on either player w/ massive bid soon. Maybe more likely: Jays ask players to frame value. Regardless, may take time www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/...

Kazuma Okamoto says his nicknames include "big oak" and "big baby"

Asked about his defensive skillset, Kazuma Okamoto says he's flexible & open to different positions. Ross Atkins says Okamoto could contribute “in several ways, so we’ll continue to have that dialogue with him.” Jays announced Okamoto as an infielder. He can play 1B, 3B, some OF

Kazuma Okamoto says discussions are ongoing, but he hopes to play for Japan in the WBC

Re. potential of more moves, Ross Atkins says Jays feel good about team as-is but will "always be open" to making org better & have great ownership support “The one thing I’ll add is additions… will start to cut away playing time from players that are very good MLB players”

Kazuma Okamoto says he put all 30 MLB logos in front of his daughter and she pointed to the Blue Jays.

Kazuma Okamoto, in English: “I’m very happy to join the Blue Jays. I’ll work hard every day and do my best for the team … go Blue Jays”

talked Okamoto & Blue Jays with JD this morning www.sportsnet.ca/590/the-jd-b...

Don Mattingly joins Phillies as bench coach. Phillies manager Rob Thomson: “Having known Don for years and having worked closely with him in New York, I know that his knowledge of the game and his character make him a great addition.”

Blue Jays announce their four-year, $60 million deal with Kazuma Okamoto (they list him as an infielder). Paxton Schultz DFA.

Some relatively recent contracts in the same area as Kazuma Okamoto's Blue Jays deal: Tyler O'Neill ($49.5/3) Avisail Garcia ($53/4) Jose Abreu ($58.5/3) Christian Walker ($60/3) Chris Taylor ($60/4) Nick Castellanos ($64/4) Mike Moustakas ($64/4) Marcell Ozuna ($65/4)

Per sources, the Blue Jays’ deal with Kazuma Okamoto is for $60 million over four years with no opt outs. First on the terms was @jonheyman.bsky.social

reading & hearing about Kazuma Okamoto, this RH hitting 1B/3B/OF with power, a good idea of the strike zone & great bat to ball skills, my mind goes to a less jacked Yandy Diaz ... maybe that's a bit aggressive as Yandy is really, really good but yeah, this should be a good hitter

MLB teams believe Okamoto has a higher floor than Munetaka Murakami, who offers tons of upside but has questions about glove and K%. Okamoto’s contact ability appealing & he has power. Defensively, have heard Okamoto is an above-avg defensive 1B. Can play some third, too, & OF.

Source: Blue Jays are in agreement with Kazuma Okamoto on a free agent deal Passan was first on this

i would love to sit here & say it *is* a lock that the Blue Jays are 100% getting Kyle Tucker or Bo Bichette a) that would be a great scoop b) it would make Jays fans really happy… the reality is, it is not a *lock* they add a bat… i'll leave it there… thanks to the many, many ppl who get it!!!

To be clear: Jays are in contact with reps for Bo Bichette, Kyle Tucker, Alex Bregman & others. Their best case scenario includes adding a bat & that's absolutely in play. But in free agency, things don't always go the way you hope, as Jays know from experience. So: not a lock 😅

A few ppl asked about Kazuma Okamoto. Teams expect higher floor than Murakami. Low K% with power. PIT in but said to be outside looking in now. Jays have big Pac Rim presence & learn about all FA from Japan & Korea, incl. Okamoto. TOR interest level unclear to me tho. Not a lock Jays add a bat.

Ballot #79 from a first-time voter. Congratulations Ben and thanks for sharing it!

A privilege to vote for the Hall of Fame. Here’s my ballot. (And btw! Not trying to persuade anyone they should agree with me. This is just where I landed after lots of thought & discussion) @notmrtibbs.com

The Blue Jays made a big bet that Tyler Rogers has staying power deep into his 30s. What we've seen from MLB submariners in recent decades suggests they may be onto something: www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/...

Mark Shapiro has signed a five-year extension to continue as Blue Jays president and CEO per Rogers announcement

Nationals signed Orelvis Martinez to a minor-league deal per team

Blue Jays are telling people they’re motivated in the relief market & expect to be able to add there. Lots of talented pitchers still out there after the Edwin Diaz & Robert Suarez deals, so the Jays still seem well-positioned to land someone good.

Heard Blue Jays and Mets were checking in regularly on Robert Suarez, but didn’t make formal offers because Atlanta moved quickly, landing one of the top relievers available for $45 million over three years.

Latest from Winter Meetings & a look at what's next alongside Hazel & Shi from Orlando @thehazelmae.bsky.social www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/video/wh...

Blue Jays announce three additions to their coaching staff: •Cody Atkinson as Assistant Hitting Coach • Eric Duncan as Major League Field Coordinator •Drew Butera as Major League Coach

AGM Mike Murov on where the Blue Jays are at as they leave the Winter Meetings:

Yesterday Ross Atkins shouted out Blue Jays AGM Mike Murov for his work on the Dylan Cease signing. Asked about his role, Murov said "I don't think it takes a genius to uncover" that Cease is very good.

Blue Jays reunions with Bassitt & Scherzer less likely now (but not impossible) More with Shi www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/...

Yohendrick Pinango, a 23-year-old outfielder who came over in the Nate Pearson trade, is a candidate to be taken in the Rule 5 draft according to people who know the Blue Jays' system. Pinango hit .258/.361/.430 with 15 home runs in the upper minors this year.

Ideal world, Blue Jays land a big bat while also adding relief help. But they're also willing to be flexible. On a busy day at the Winter Meetings, Jays are considering a few different paths forward: www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/...

John Schneider on his future in Toronto beyond 2026:

Dylan Cease instructed Scott Boras to try to reach a deal with the Blue Jays per Boras.

Scott Boras says the Blue Jays should be a top-five type market in MLB and that "they are now reaching that pinnacle."

Dylan Cease took note of what the Blue Jays did in October. “There’s not much more that needs to be said”

Dylan Cease joins the Blue Jays …

some people believe the Tucker & Bo sweepstakes could continue into the new year fwiw one phone call changes everything, but possible this takes a bit www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/...

Blue Jays are working to bolster their bullpen while also ideally adding a bat per John Schneider

Blue Jays have finalized their coaching staff with two external additions and one internal promotion set to be announced soon per John Schneider.

John Schneider on Yoshinobu Yamamoto “I hope he’s still tired”

John Schneider, reflecting on the 2025 World Series, says he’s very proud of his team but adds: “I’ll think about it until the day I leave this earth” “Every time I go down a rabbit hole, I end up in a new rabbit hole”