A love letter for the 2025 Toronto Blue Jays

The GIST: The heartbreak of the Toronto Blue Jays’ 5–4 extra-innings loss to the LA Dodgers in Game 7 of the World Series may never fade, but neither will the magic of the blue birds’ postseason run. From the power of friendship to the nationwide vivacity, let’s be romantic about baseball one more time.

💌 A love letter for the 2025 Blue Jays: This group of uncommon men lit Canada on fire this season, whether it was infielder Ernie Clement setting MLB’s single postseason hits record or the squad’s late-inning heroics all summer long. Canadians across the country (re)discovered the magic of baseball, and there are receipts to prove it.

• While the loss was gut-wrenching, this was the most electric World Series ever, and the Jays (who finished dead last in the American League East division last year) were inches away from dethroning a juggernaut. There’s no pennant for second place, but there is gratitude.

➡️ What’s next for Toronto: A beautiful balancing act, as the franchise tries to retain as much of its roster as possible. Fan favorites like first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., rookie pitcher Trey Yesavage, and Clement are locked in for 2026, but others — like long-time infielder Bo Bichette and pitcher Shane Bieber — will be hot commodities in free agency.

🧠 The broader impact on MLB: Many say LA’s title run all but guarantees a 2027 lockout, with the current collective bargaining agreement set to expire in December 2026. Why? With the highest payroll in baseball (even with two-way star Shohei Ohtani’s contract mostly deferred), the Dodgers just reminded everyone there’s still no salary cap in MLB, the only major sports league without one.

• Notably, the last team to repeat as World Series champs was the well-resourced NY Yankees, who dominated baseball from 1998 to 2000…right before the all-important luxury tax was implemented.

• All to say, expect owners to push for both a salary cap and a salary floor this offseason in an effort to close MLB’s massive spending gap, which amounts to hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Stay tuned.