The Toronto Blue Jays enter the 2025-26 offseason with expectations higher than ever after falling one win short of a championship against the Los Angeles Dodgers.With their core still in its prime and several major decisions looming, this winter will determine whether last season was a breakthrough or a missed opportunity.Front-office decisions over the next few months will shape whether 2025 is remembered as a one-year peak or the start of a sustained run. The priorities are clear: keep an elite bat in-house, reinforce the top of the rotation, and add another impact hitter to lengthen the lineup.With that in mind, three free agents stand out as moves the Blue Jays almost have to make if they want to maximise their 2026 playoff chances: Bo Bichette, Ranger Suarez and Kyle Tucker.#1. Bo BichetteBo Bichette declined the club’s one-year qualifying offer and is now exploring free agency, but the Blue Jays cannot afford to let him walk.The 27-year-old was the anchor of Toronto’s offense, coming off a season in which he hit .311 with 18 homers, 94 RBIs and an .840 OPS before returning from a knee sprain to deliver a strong World Series.Reports from the GM Meetings indicate Toronto intends to stay in the mix for a long-term deal, and with the team already seeking pitching upgrades, losing a prime-age star would create a new problem they are not built to solve.#2. Ranger SuarezRanger Suarez, fresh off rejecting Philadelphia’s qualifying offer, is among the top starting pitchers available.The 30-year-old posted one of his best seasons in 2025, a 3.20 ERA with 151 strikeouts across 157.1 innings and multiple projections peg him for a four or five year contract worth close to nine figures.Toronto’s rotation needs a reliable No. 2 behind Kevin Gausman, and Suarez fits that role with postseason experience, strike-throwing consistency and the ability to handle AL East lineups.#3. Kyle TuckerKyle Tucker is expected to be one of the headline free agents this winter after a strong season with the Cubs, where he hit .266 with 22 homers, 73 RBIs and 25 steals.His five-year production places him among the elite all-around outfielders in baseball.Tucker’s market will be huge, potentially 10 years and upwards of $350 million, but Toronto has been linked to him multiple times, with analysts noting he fits perfectly into a lineup that needs another left-handed, middle-order presence.