American League forecast: Can Blue Jays overcome last year's World Series heartbreak?

What happened to the Blue Jays last October is something that’s not easily forgotten. Normally, getting to the World Series for the first time in 32 years produces a euphoria that resonates throughout the winter, and serves as a springboard into the next year.

That wasn’t the case for Toronto. Not when you come within the length of Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s toenail of winning that World Series. Or return home to Rogers Centre needing only one victory to put away the Dodgers and instead drop both in gut-wrenching fashion.

In hindsight, being part of what many would argue was the greatest World Series is small consolation when you wind up on the losing end. And until the Blue Jays return to the Fall Classic, the searing memory can only serve as motivation.

“I don’t think you ever come to peace with the result,” said Chris Bassitt, a key piece to the Blue Jays’ October run before signing with the Orioles this offseason. “I’ve revisited every situation in that series a thousand times.”

Bassitt may have moved elsewhere in the division, but he probably speaks for his former teammates that were left to pick up the pieces. Toronto didn’t choose to simply run it back in defense of their American League crown. The Blue Jays struck early in the offseason by signing Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million contract — the largest in franchise history — then added righthander Cody Ponce, last year’s KBO MVP, on a three-year, $30 million deal.

Rather than bring back homegrown hero Bo Bichette, who had been supplanted at shortstop by a better defender in Andres Gimenez, the Jays opted for Japanese star Kazuma Okamoto, giving him a four-year, $60 million contract to play third base. Otherwise, the contact-obsessed Jays mostly kept their vaunted lineup core intact, anchored by Vlad Guerrero Jr., and still have the elite ability to harass pitchers and soft defenses at a level that other clubs will be trying to emulate this season.

“It was just an offensive juggernaut,” said Kiner-Falefa, now with the Red Sox. “Just the way the team clicked, everybody knew their role in the lineup. It was just a collective approach and we were able to adjust to any type of strategy.”

The Blue Jays should be able to do more of the same this season, which again makes them a threat to repeat — not only atop the AL East, but with a shot at avenging last year’s October heartbreak.

Elsewhere in the division, the Yankees obviously will have enough firepower to challenge Toronto, and the ’26 edition is different enough to change last year’s outcome for the better. The return of Gerrit Cole is a primary reason, along with a healthy Carlos Rodon and a deeper rotation that added power lefty Ryan Weathers. The Red Sox reloaded by signing Ranger Suarez and trading for Sonny Gray, but failed to add a desperately needed middle-of-the-order bat. That instead went to the Orioles in Pete Alonso, who joins new additions Taylor Ward, Shane Baz and Ryan Helsley. The Rays will feature nightly fireworks from slugger Junior Caminero, but don’t figure to be a legit threat.

AL CENTRAL

This is the Tigers’ division to win, and they behaved like it this winter, not only by holding on to Tarik Skubal for his walk year but doubling down on the rotation with the signing of Framber Valdez (3 yrs, $115M) and putting together a $13 million reunion tour with old bandmate Justin Verlander. Gleyber Torres is back on the $22 million qualifying offer, and the bullpen got a veteran upgrade in Kenley Jansen.

What’s left in the Central? Never count out Steven Vogt’s low-budget Guardians, though elite closer Emmanuel Clase is more likely to occupy a jail cell than a major-league bullpen again because of the insider-gambling allegations. The Royals’ biggest winter makeover was moving in the walls at Kauffman Stadium to help one of the league’s worst offenses. The White Sox keep collecting young talent with their perpetual selloffs, but catcher Ryan Teel pulling a hamstring at the WBC was a tough break for the start of the season. Not that they’ll contend anyway, of course. And speaking of fire sales, the Twins traded nearly half their active roster at last year’s trade deadline, but still have ace Joe Ryan and centerfield standout Byron Buxton. We’re not sure why.

AL WEST

There’s no reason to think the Mariners won’t repeat here after ending the Astros’ four-year reign atop the division. They’ve got a stellar rotation supported by slugging catcher Cal Raleigh, the MVP runner-up, a great closer in Andres Munoz and also made sure to bring back Josh Naylor (5 yrs, $92.5M) while trading for the highly-coveted utility man Brendan Donovan.

Behind Seattle it’s Houston, which signed the best Japanese pitcher on the market in Tatsuya Imai but have a lineup that is starting to get a little tired relying on the likes of Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa, both looking past their prime. Could the A’s be a sneaky wild-card contender? They’ve got plenty of young offensive talent in Rookie of the Year Nick Kurz, shortstop Jacob Wilson and slugger Brent Rooker. Plus the newly-acquired Jeff McNeil! As for the Angels, there’s Sayville’s Logan O’Hoppe — a rising star behind the plate — and not much other reason to pay attention.