Blue Jays face arbitration decisions on eight players
The team must decide whether to tender contracts to eight arbitration-eligible players, including José Soriano and Louis Varland.
The Toronto Blue Jays have eight players eligible for salary arbitration this offseason, with decisions due on whether to tender them contracts for the 2027 season.
The players are Ernie Clement, José Soriano, Josh Smith, Bowden Francis, Spencer Arrighetti, Louis Varland, Nathan Lukes, and Davis Schneider.
MLB Trade Rumors projects the Blue Jays will have around $27 million committed if all eight players go through the arbitration process.
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Soriano, Varland and Lukes are guaranteed to get their contracts tendered, according to the analysis.
Soriano, a pitcher acquired from the Angels at the trade deadline, is projected to make $5.6 million. The analysis said there is still a lot to be excited about with the 28-year-old.
Varland, who recorded a 1.27 ERA and 1.00 WHIP while registering 35 saves as the closer, is projected to earn $3.8 million. The analysis stated Varland is worth every penny.
Lukes is projected to earn $2.1 million. The 32-year-old hit 10 home runs, with a .715 OPS and 102 wRC+ with a 2.2 fWAR.
Arrighetti is projected to make $1.9 million and will serve as rotational depth. Francis, who missed all of 2026 after Tommy John surgery, is projected to make $1.3 million.
The team faces decisions on Smith, Clement and Schneider.
Smith, acquired from the Texas Rangers, hit .184/.276/.408 with a 90 wRC+ in 35 games with the Blue Jays. He is projected to earn $3.7 million.
Clement is projected to earn $7.6 million in 2027. The analysis said it would not be a major surprise if Clement is non-tendered, especially if the Blue Jays land an upgrade at second base.
Schneider is projected to earn $1.3 million and has one option remaining. The analysis noted strikeouts and swing and miss have been big issues for him in the Majors.
If the Blue Jays were to tender contracts to all their players, they would be committing roughly $27.3 million in arbitration contracts.
Garbutt Disposal reported in September that the team's front office must strategically address offensive gaps after a disappointing 2026 campaign.
The deadline for teams to tender contracts to arbitration-eligible players is typically in early December.
With files from Jays Journal