How Blue Jays’ $100 Million World Series Cash Boost is Fueling a Spending Spree
Posted on: January 7, 2026, 05:20h.
Last updated on: January 7, 2026, 05:25h.
- Blue Jays introduce latest free agent signing, Kazuma Okamoto
- Team ownership says it generated $100m during World Series run
- Team in the middle of an active off-season, adding four players, $337 million in payroll
The reasons behind the Toronto Blue Jays’ free agent spending this off-season are starting to come more into focus, with a report that Rogers Communications Inc., the company that owns the team, brought in $100 million in additional revenues during the team’s World Series run this past fall.
The Blue Jays have so far committed $337 million to four players. According to reporting by The Financial Post, interviewing company executive chair Edward Rogers, the company’s focus on sports will become even more solidified when they combine their sports and entertainment holdings into one corporate entity, opening that up to third-party investors to complement the company’s cable and wireless phone operations.
Team Introduces Newest Acquisition
Rogers already has 100% ownership of the Blue Jays, an organization the company bought in 2000, when the Jays’ future in Toronto was very much in doubt. The communications behemoth also owns Rogers Centre, Sportsnet media network, plus Rogers doubled its ownership stake in Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) to 75%, buying out rival Bell in a deal that closed in July. MLSE owns the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors, MLS’ Toronto FC, CFL’s Argos, and Scotiabank Arena.
Yesterday Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins introduced the team’s latest acquisition – Kazuma Okamoto, an all-star slugger from Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball League, playing for the Yomiuri Giants, where he had hit 248 home runs, a league best. The Blue Jays have also signed pitchers Dylan Cease, 7 years x $210 million, Cody Ponce, 3 years x $30 million, and Tyler Rogers, 3 years x $37 million. And don’t forget pitcher Shane Bieber triggering his $16 million player option for 2026.
MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand writes here that the Jays are still the best bet to land free agent OF Kyle Tucker.
Then There Are the Sports Betting Benefits
“We estimate that the MLB playoff run was worth over $100 million in high-margin revs (revenues),” wrote Adam Shine, a National Bank telecom analyst, in his Dec. 21 note to clients, from The Financial Post article.
Those 248 homers in Japan was one more than Munetaka Murakami, who signed with the Chicago White Sox in December. Okamoto, a six-time NPB all-star, is a third baseman, who can also play first (he can also play the outfield). He missed half the season last year with an elbow issue, but he’s a legitimate power threat for the Jays, ranging from 27 to 41 home runs over those years with the Giants. Of note also were his batting averages the last three season with the Giants – .278, .280 and .327.
According to FanGraphs, Okamoto’s wRC+ (Weighted Run Created Plus, one of the best single metrics to measure hitters, accounting for context like the effects of hitter-friendly parks, or league-wide run environment) is projected to be 110 for 2026, which puts him in the good or solid contributor category (FanGraph also projects 19 HRs, 59 RBIs).
Yankees Betting Favourites
At DraftKings, the New York Yankees are currently betting favourites to win the American League East at +205, followed by the Blue Jays at +225, Boston Red Sox at +280, Baltimore Orioles at +450, and Tampa Rays at +2500. At FanDuel, it’s the Yankees at +170, Jays +250, Red Sox +310, Orioles +450, and Rays +2200.
As Casino.org reported last week, DraftKings, in their year-end sports betting analysis, referenced the Blue Jays as the most bet team in Ontario by handle in 2025, followed by the Oklahoma City Thunder, Toronto Maple Leafs, Los Angeles Dodgers, Kansas City Chiefs, Golden State Warriors, Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, and the Philadelphia Eagles.
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