AL East competition remains the biggest hurdle for the Blue Jays

In arguably the most competitive division in baseball, the Toronto Blue Jays were crowned AL East champions last season. They parlayed that with a World Series trip, leaving them hungry for more. 

The front office was busy all winter long, adding pieces that should help the club this season. Dylan Cease, Cody Ponce, Kazuma Okamoto, and Tyler Rogers should prove to be huge for the team in 2026. 

However, they were not the only team in the division to bring in some intriguing names. The Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox had a busy winter, and you can never count out the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays. 

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AL East competition remains biggest hurdle for the Blue Jays

It could very well be a season where the AL East is not decided until the final game of the year. That would mean all these teams would be beating up on each other all season long, which would be quite grueling. 

Bleacher Report's Tim Kelly suggests that this will be the club's biggest hurdle this season, and has a recommendation for them to pull ahead of others.

"The hardest challenge for the Blue Jays might be fending off the other teams in a loaded AL East, although if they add another bat and/or shutdown closer this summer, Toronto will be set up well to make a deep playoff run if they get to the postseason in any form." 

Kelly suggests that another bat and/or a shutdown closer would really set them up for a deep postseason run if they can make it there. 

Someone like JoJo Romero could be made available ahead of the deadline. He could be a great option for Toronto in the bullpen. 

Hitting-wise, it could be on how some of these other clubs start the season. Maybe the Rays will make someone like Yandy Diaz available if they get in a hole early.

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