The Toronto Blue Jays have had an interesting offseason, to say the least.
While there have been some big wins with the additions of star pitcher Dylan Cease and talented Japanese star Kazuma Okamoto, there have also been some misses and losses.
Bo Bichette will not be back with the Blue Jays in 2026 after signing a lucrative free agency deal with the New York Mets. Kyle Tucker was Toronto’s clear-cut priority in free agency, but the team came up short to the Los Angeles Dodgers for his services.
That being said, the MLB offseason isn’t over yet. There are still quality free agents available to be signed and the trade market could still offer options as well for teams.
Keeping that in mind, the Blue Jays have been connected to a potential trade for a two-time All-Star pitcher.
Toronto Blue Jays Connected to Intriguing Trade for Bullpen Help
Ethan Miller of Just Baseball suggested on January 28 that Toronto could be a potential trade suitor for Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Carlos Estevez.
“A free agent after 2026, Estevez might be on the move, with the Royals potentially needing to shed salary. Getting rid of their closer would be a huge move, but Kansas City’s outfield is kind of a mishmash at this point, so they seem like an ideal trade partner for Toronto,” Miller wrote. “Estevez would cost a lot, as he’s coming off a season in which he recorded 42 saves with a 2.45 ERA.”
While the move would make sense for the Blue Jays, Miller did offer a word of caution about the fit.
“However, his fastball velocity has dropped 1.6 mph over the past four seasons, and almost every hit he allows is in the air (he was in the bottom one percent in ground-ball percentage last season, not helpful for an elite defensive infield).”
Toronto clearly could use more bullpen help this offseason. Estevez would at least be worth considering and gauging whether or not a trade would make sense depending on the price tag from the Royals.
What Would Carlos Estevez Bring to the Blue Jays?
During the 2025 MLB season, Estevez put up great numbers for Kansas City. His play led to being an All-Star for the Royals.
Throughout the course of the year, Estevez made 67 appearances out of the bullpen. He compiled a 4-5 record to go along with a 2.45 ERA, a 1.06 WHIP, a 2.5 K/BB ratio, 42 saves, six blown saves, and 66 innings pitched.
At 33 years old, Estevez still has some good baseball left in him. He may be losing some steam, as noted by Miller with the drop in velocity. However, he’s still an elite late-inning pitcher.
Whether or not the Blue Jays would be willing to pay the price it would take to acquire Estevez remains to be seen. But, if Toronto is serious about adding bullpen help, there aren’t many better options than Estevez.
Blue Jays Trade Pitch Would Land Elite 2-Time All-Star Pitcher