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Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Eric Lauer pitches in 1st inning spring training action against the Philadelphia Phillies in Dunedin, Fla. on Saturday Feb. 21, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Blue Jays blank Phillies 3-0 as Varsho, Keys homer in Grapefruit League opener

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026

DUNEDIN - The Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 3-0 on Saturday in their Grapefruit League opener at TD Ballpark.

Daulton Varsho, who started at designated hitter, opened the scoring with a solo home run in the fifth inning, and first baseman Sean Keys added a two-run shot in the sixth.

Eric Lauer started on the mound and Toronto’s pitching staff held Philadelphia to four hits over nine shutout innings, while the Blue Jays recorded nine hits off Phillies pitching.

It was Toronto’s first game since a 5-4 extra innings loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 7 of the World Series.

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Baseball Hall of Famer Bill Mazeroski, known for walk-off home run in 1960 World Series, dies at 89

Hillel Italie, The Associated Press 1 minute read Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026

Bill Mazeroski, the Hall of Fame second baseman who won eight Gold Glove awards for his steady work in the field and the hearts of countless Pittsburgh Pirates fans for his historic walk-off home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series, has died at the age of 89.

The Pirates, who announced the death on Saturday, said Mazeroski was "a true Pirates legend."

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb

Just over half of ball, strike challenges successful in spring training openers

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Just over half of ball, strike challenges successful in spring training openers

The Associated Press 2 minute read Friday, Feb. 20, 2026

Just over half the ball/strike challenges were successful on the first day of spring training games Friday as Major League Baseball prepared for the first regular-season use of the automated ball-strike system — the so-called robot umpires.

Thirteen of 23 calls were overturned during the five games, MLB said, which came to 56.5 per cent.

There were an average of 4.6 challenges per game and 2.6 overturned calls per game.

Seven challenges were made of plate umpire Alex MacKay's calls during Arizona's 3-2 win over Colorado, and six were successful. The Diamondbacks had four of five decisions reversed and the Rockies were 2-for-2 in challenges.

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Friday, Feb. 20, 2026

FILE - The Automated Ball/Strike System plays on the scoreboard after a pitch call was challenged during the first inning of a spring training baseball game between the Chicago White Sox and the San Diego Padres, Feb. 26, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)
FILE - The Automated Ball/Strike System plays on the scoreboard after a pitch call was challenged during the first inning of a spring training baseball game between the Chicago White Sox and the San Diego Padres, Feb. 26, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

Kazuma Okamoto set to make Blue Jays debut Saturday in exhibition vs. Phillies

John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Kazuma Okamoto set to make Blue Jays debut Saturday in exhibition vs. Phillies

John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Friday, Feb. 20, 2026

Kazuma Okamoto will don a Toronto Blue Jays jersey in a competitive baseball game for the first time on Saturday.

Okamoto, like Toronto's entire infield, will be playing in the World Baseball Classic in March, forcing Blue Jays manager John Schneider to get him into the lineup as quickly as possible, including the team's Grapefruit League home opener.

"I'd like for him to play on Saturday and that's kind of the plan we've talked about with our medical staff," said Schneider on Feb. 14. "With all these guys that are going to WBC, we'll try to get four or five games in before before they leave again."

The Blue Jays host the Philadelphia Phillies at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Fla., on Saturday in the first exhibition game of the year for both teams. Long reliever Eric Lauer is scheduled to start for Toronto.

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Friday, Feb. 20, 2026

Toronto Blue Jays' Kazuma Okamoto, right, is congratulated by Andrés Giménez after hitting a long home run in batting practice at Spring Training in Dunedin, Fla., on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
Toronto Blue Jays' Kazuma Okamoto, right, is congratulated by Andrés Giménez after hitting a long home run in batting practice at Spring Training in Dunedin, Fla., on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Blue Jays rookie sensation Trey Yesavage prepares for first full season in the majors

John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Blue Jays rookie sensation Trey Yesavage prepares for first full season in the majors

John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026

Trey Yesavage's 2025 was such a whirlwind, moving through all five levels of the Toronto Blue Jays organization in a single season and playing a significant role in its run to the World Series, that he needed to process it all once it was over.

"It took a few days to just go through the entire season as a whole and just reflect, just realize how blessed I am," said Yesavage at the Blue Jays Player Development Complex in Dunedin, Fla. "Just talking with myself, just being in silence and seeing where my brain's at."

The 22-year-old Yesavage started his season with the single-A Dunedin Blue Jays of the Florida Complex League and moved his way through every level of Toronto's full-season minor-league system, arriving in the big leagues as a September call-up.

Yesavage had a 1-0 record over three starts, with a 3.21 earned-run average over 14 innings, striking out 16. He was just as sharp in the post-season, with a 3-1 record, a 3.58 ERA and 39 strikeouts over 27 2/3 innings in the American League Division Series, Championship Series, and World Series.

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Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Trey Yesavage stretches before a bullpen session at Spring Training in Dunedin, Fla. on Wednesday Feb. 11, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Trey Yesavage stretches before a bullpen session at Spring Training in Dunedin, Fla. on Wednesday Feb. 11, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Bruce Meyer elevated to players’ association interim executive director

Ronald Blum And David Brandt, The Associated Press 2 minute read Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Bruce Meyer was promoted to interim executive director of the baseball players’ association on Wednesday, a day after Tony Clark’s forced resignation, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the move had not yet been announced.

Matt Nussbaum was promoted to interim deputy executive director from general counsel.

The decisions by the Major League Baseball Players Association executive board during an online meeting was a move for continuity ahead of the likely start in April of what figures to be contentious collective bargaining.

Arjun Nimmala to get big-league reps with Blue Jays during World Baseball Classic

John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Arjun Nimmala to get big-league reps with Blue Jays during World Baseball Classic

John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026

It took a full season of baseball, but Arjun Nimmala has learned that less is more.

Nimmala spent all of the 2025 season with the single-A Vancouver Canadians, playing in 120 games with the Toronto Blue Jays' minor-league affiliate. The 20-year-old shortstop is spending spring training with the major-league roster, sharpening his skills on and off the field.

"Just trying to keep the game as simple as possible, have as much fun as possible," said Nimmala on his goals. "Just mentally, I'm trying to stay locked in and prepared every single game and give it my best effort.

"I'm not going to put the pressure on myself to perform, because I know when I'm at my best I'm relaxed."

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Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026

Toronto Blue Jays Arjun Nimmala gets a high five after a session at Spring Training in Dunedin, Fla. on Tuesday February 17, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
Toronto Blue Jays Arjun Nimmala gets a high five after a session at Spring Training in Dunedin, Fla. on Tuesday February 17, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Tony Clark resigning as head of MLB players union, AP source says, as possible cap fight looms

Ronald Blum, The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Tony Clark resigning as head of MLB players union, AP source says, as possible cap fight looms

Ronald Blum, The Associated Press 2 minute read Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tony Clark is resigning as head of the Major League Baseball Players Association, a person familiar with union’s deliberations said Tuesday.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because his decision, first reported by ESPN, had not been announced. The person said an announcement was likely later Tuesday.

Clark’s decision comes during an investigation by the U.S. Attorney in Brooklyn, New York, into One Team Partners, a licensing company founded by the union and the NFL Players Association.

The move was made ahead of an expected start of collective bargaining in April for an agreement to replace the five-year labor contract that expires Dec. 1. Management appears on track to propose a salary cap, which possibly could lead to a work stoppage that causes regular-season games to be canceled for the first time since 1985.

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Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026

FILE - Major League Baseball Players Association Executive Director Tony Clark answers a question during a news conference in New York on March 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)
FILE - Major League Baseball Players Association Executive Director Tony Clark answers a question during a news conference in New York on March 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

Blue Jays comeback falls short in 8-7 spring training loss to Yankees

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Blue Jays comeback falls short in 8-7 spring training loss to Yankees

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026

DUNEDIN - New York first baseman Paul Goldschmidt homered and drove in four runs, and the Toronto Blue Jays came up short in their comeback bid in an 8-7 loss to the Yankees in spring training action Tuesday.

Goldschmidt's two-run homer off Tyler Rogers in the third put the Yankees up 4-1. He then increased the Yankees' lead to 6-1 with a two-run double in the fifth.

Down 7-1 in the bottom of the sixth, the Blue Jays mounted a comeback.

Carlos Mendoza started a four-run inning with an RBI single. Charles McAdoo then drove in two with a double before coming around to score on a throwing error to cut the lead to 7-5.

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Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge connects for a single off Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Jesse Hahn during the fifth inning of a spring training baseball game Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, in Dunedin, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
New York Yankees' Aaron Judge connects for a single off Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Jesse Hahn during the fifth inning of a spring training baseball game Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, in Dunedin, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Okamoto homers in Blue Jays 4-3 loss to Mets in pre-season play

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Okamoto homers in Blue Jays 4-3 loss to Mets in pre-season play

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Monday, Feb. 23, 2026

DUNEDIN - Kazuma Okamoto hit a two-run home run, his first in a Blue Jays jersey, in Toronto's 4-3 pre-season loss to the New York Mets on Monday.

Okamoto, who made his debut Saturday, belted it deep in the bottom of the second inning to open the scoring. 

The 29-year-old signed a four-year deal with Toronto (1-2) in January after an 11-year career in Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. He was a career .277 hitter with 248 home runs, 717 runs batted in, while leading the league in homers three times.

The Mets (2-1), who did not have former Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette in uniform, tied it in the third thanks to an RBI single from Nick Morabito, followed by an RBI double by MJ Melendez. 

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Monday, Feb. 23, 2026

Toronto Blue Jays' Kazuma Okamoto keeps an eye on the action during batting practice at Spring Training in Dunedin, Fla., on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
Toronto Blue Jays' Kazuma Okamoto keeps an eye on the action during batting practice at Spring Training in Dunedin, Fla., on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Schneider, Kirk to lead the way for Blue Jays on Automated Ball-Strike challenges

John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Schneider, Kirk to lead the way for Blue Jays on Automated Ball-Strike challenges

John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Monday, Feb. 23, 2026

Davis Schneider and Alejandro Kirk will have the green light, George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. probably have a yellow. 

Everyone else will sit on red, at least at first, as the Toronto Blue Jays get used to Major League Baseball's new Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System in regular-season games.

Manager John Schneider said that, at least early in the pre-season, there is a firm hierarchy for who can and can't challenge umpire calls using the new instant-replay system.

His logic is that Davis Schneider and Kirk have proven that they have a firm sense of the strike zone and that Springer and Guerrero — when in the right frame of mind — do as well. 

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Monday, Feb. 23, 2026

Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk takes batting practice at Spring Training in Dunedin, Fla., Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk takes batting practice at Spring Training in Dunedin, Fla., Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Blue Jays rally falls short in 11-10 Grapefruit League loss to Red Sox

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Blue Jays rally falls short in 11-10 Grapefruit League loss to Red Sox

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026

FORT MYERS - The Toronto Blue Jays fell 11-10 to the Boston Red Sox on Sunday, scoring three times in the ninth before coming up short in their second Grapefruit League game of the spring.

The Blue Jays (1-1) scored four runs in the first inning on RBI hits from designated hitter Eloy Jiménez, second baseman Leo Jiménez and shortstop Arjun Nimmala, but Boston (2-0) answered with four of its own in the bottom half.

Toronto later built a 7-4 lead in the sixth on Eloy Jiménez’s solo homer and shortstop Josh Kasevich’s two-run shot before Boston erupted for six in the bottom of the inning.

The Red Sox extended the lead to 11-7 before Toronto made things interesting with three runs in the ninth on RBI doubles from Tucker Toman and Yohendrick Pinango, as well as an RBI single from Robert Brooks. Reliever Jay Allmer struck out Sean Keys to end the rally.

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Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026

The Toronto Blue Jays line up for the anthems prior to the first Spring Training game against the Philadelphia Phillies in Dunedin, Fla. on Saturday February 21, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
The Toronto Blue Jays line up for the anthems prior to the first Spring Training game against the Philadelphia Phillies in Dunedin, Fla. on Saturday February 21, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Ponce strikes out two, Clement gets three hits in Jays’ exhibition tie against Tigers

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Preview

Ponce strikes out two, Clement gets three hits in Jays’ exhibition tie against Tigers

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Yesterday at 3:51 PM CST

LAKELAND - Cody Ponce struck out two in his Toronto spring training debut, Ernie Clement went 3-for-3 with two runs batted in and the Toronto Blue Jays tied a Detroit Tigers split squad 4-4 on Wednesday.

Ponce, signed by Toronto in the off-season after an MVP campaign in South Korea, pitched the opening inning for the Blue Jays and struck out the first two batters he faced in a perfect inning.

Toronto opened the scoring in the top of the fourth on an RBI single from Nathan Lukes and a two-run single from Clement.

Detroit took the lead in the sixth as Corey Julks hit a run-scoring single off Pat Gallagher before Thayron Lirinzo tagged Jack Cushing for a three-run homer.

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Yesterday at 3:51 PM CST

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Cody Ponce warms up at Spring Training in Dunedin, Fla., on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Cody Ponce warms up at Spring Training in Dunedin, Fla., on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Max Scherzer and Toronto Blue Jays agree to $3 million, 1-year deal, AP source says

Ronald Blum, The Associated Press 1 minute read Preview

Max Scherzer and Toronto Blue Jays agree to $3 million, 1-year deal, AP source says

Ronald Blum, The Associated Press 1 minute read 12:22 AM CST

NEW YORK (AP) — Max Scherzer is returning to the Toronto Blue Jays.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner has agreed with the reigning American League champions on a $3 million, one-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press early Thursday.

The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal was subject to a successful physical and had not been announced.

The 41-year-old Scherzer can earn another $10 million in performance bonuses.

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12:22 AM CST

FILE -Toronto Blue Jays' pitcher Max Scherzer runs prior to Game 7 of baseball's World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Nov. 1, 2025, in Toronto. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)
FILE -Toronto Blue Jays' pitcher Max Scherzer runs prior to Game 7 of baseball's World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Nov. 1, 2025, in Toronto. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)

Reports: Toronto Blue Jays, Max Scherzer reach agreement on one-year deal

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Preview

Reports: Toronto Blue Jays, Max Scherzer reach agreement on one-year deal

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Updated: 12:29 AM CST

The Toronto Blue Jays and Max Scherzer have reached an agreement on a one-year deal worth US$3 million, according to multiple reports.

Scherzer, a two-time World Series champion and three-time Cy Young Award winner, played the 2025 season in Toronto on a one-year, $15 million contract.

The 41-year-old right-hander had a 5-5 record in 17 starts, with a 5.19 earned-run average in his lone campaign with the Jays.

He had a 3.77 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 14.1 innings across three starts in the post-season where Toronto fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers in seven games in the World Series.

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Updated: 12:29 AM CST

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer (31) winds up to deliver a pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers during second inning Game 7 World Series playoff MLB baseball action in Toronto on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer (31) winds up to deliver a pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers during second inning Game 7 World Series playoff MLB baseball action in Toronto on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. says Blue Jays ‘very capable’ after World Series heartbreak

John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. says Blue Jays ‘very capable’ after World Series heartbreak

John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Monday, Feb. 16, 2026

DUNEDIN - When the Toronto Blue Jays lost Game 7 of the World Series in a heartbreaking 11th inning, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was the last person to leave the home dugout at Rogers Centre.

Sitting in that moment was how he moved on from Toronto's disappointing 5-4 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"When I left, I felt like I had faced reality, and the only thing I had left to say to myself was just thank God for the year I had, for the year the team had had," said Guerrero.

"Right then, I just turned the page."

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Monday, Feb. 16, 2026

Toronto Blue Jays' (left to right) George Springer, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and manager John Schneider watch a fly ball during batting practice at Spring Training in Dunedin, Fla., on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
Toronto Blue Jays' (left to right) George Springer, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and manager John Schneider watch a fly ball during batting practice at Spring Training in Dunedin, Fla., on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

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