8 Worst Blue Jays Free Agent Signings in Team History

A good free agency class can lead to the shortening of the Toronto Blue Jays World Series odds. 

On the other hand, misjudged free-agent signings can be costly for the Jays’ outlook. 

Worst Free Agent Signings By the Toronto Blue Jays

8. Kendrys Morales (Three years, $33 million)

With a 115 OPS+ and coming off a couple of good years with the Kansas City Royals, it was understandable that the Blue Jays offered a three-year deal. 

It didn’t work out in Toronto for Morales, though, as he was worth 0.7 bWAR over his two seasons with the club before being sent to the Oakland Athletics in a trade.

Related: 5 Biggest Collapses in Blue Jays History, Ranked 

7. Maicer Izturis (Three years, $9 million)

Signing Maicer Izturis, a light-hitting infielder, to a three-year deal was a curious decision. Iztruis had been an average hitter in only three of his previous nine big-league seasons.

Across the three years of his contract, Izturis played a total of 118 games, of which 107 were in the first year of the deal. Injuries completely derailed his Jays career, and in the time he was on the field, he was a liability as a hitter and defender.

6. Hyun Jin Ryu (Four years, $80 million)

Hyun Jin Ryu started his Jays career strongly with a third-place finish in the AL Cy Young race. One great year isn’t enough on an $80 million contract, however, and Ryu had a 102 ERA+ in his second season. 

Injury kept the veteran to only 17 outings across the third and fourth years of his contract. Ryu returned to the KBO for the 2024 season.

5. Tanner Roark (Two years, $24 million)

Toronto didn’t sign Tanner Roark with the expectation that he would become a baseball betting favourite for the Cy Young. Roark had been a serviceable starter with a 113 ERA+ across 1100 big-league innings, so it was reasonable to project him as a mid-rotation guy.

Joining a Jays team expecting to compete, Roark struggled mightily. He made 14 appearances over two seasons as a Jay and posted a 66 ERA+. 

4. Frank Thomas (Two years, $18 million)

Frank Thomas finished fourth in AL MVP voting in 2006, which prompted the Jays to offer the Hall of Famer a two-year deal.

Big Hurt accepted and had a solid year in 2007, which was his age-36 campaign. Thomas struggled early in 2008 and saw his playing time decrease. He complained to the press and was ultimately released. 

3. Yariel Rodríguez (Five years, $32 million)

Yariel Rodríguez’s contract has incentives which could take it above $47 million. In December 2025, just two years into his contract, he was removed from the 40-man roster and retained in the minor leagues. 

His pitching+ was only 90 as a starter in 2024. Rodríguez followed that with sharper stuff out of the bullpen in 2025, but his command remained an issue, contributing to a 4.19 xERA. 

2. B.J. Ryan (Five years, $47 million)

B.J. Ryan earned the second of back-to-back All-Star appearances in his first year as a Jay. It was all downhill from there.

Ryan pitched only 83 innings with a 100 ERA+ across the 2007, 2008, and 2009 seasons. He was released in 2009 with $15 million remaining on his contract. 

1. Anthony Santander (Five years, $92.5 million)

Anthony Santander hitting 44 home runs in 2024 resulted in the worst free agent signing in franchise history. A poor defender with middling batted ball metrics, regression was inevitable in 2025. 

A shoulder injury exaggerated the situation. He had a 57 OPS+ in 54 games for the Jays before being sidelined and will miss the start of the 2026 campaign. Across nine years in the majors, Santander has only had one year with a xwOBA higher than the 59th percentile.