Main Story: Toronto should use its Rule 5 Draft protections on four rising prospects: pitchers Nolan Perry, Gage Stanifer and Daniel Guerra, plus infielder Josh Kasevich. Each offers a meaningful potential return, from Perry’s strikeout dominance to Kasevich’s advanced contact skills, and could contribute to the major-league club soon. The Blue Jays must weigh those prospects against other roster priorities before the draft.

By the Numbers
  • Nolan Perry: 2.32 ERA and 31 innings in his Double-A stint; struck out more than 30% of opposing batters at each level in 2026.
  • Gage Stanifer: 161 strikeouts in 110 innings in 2025; posted a 2.90 expected ERA in 2026.
  • Josh Kasevich: Hit .282/.364/.363 over 130 games and struck out in 11.4% of plate appearances.
  • Daniel Guerra: Recorded a 3.33 ERA across 78⅓ innings and averaged 97 mph on his fastball.
  • Rule 5 Draft: Teams can protect up to 40 players; this year’s draft is scheduled for Dec. 9.
Yes, But

The four prospects aren’t equally close to the majors. Stanifer’s ERA, walk rate and WHIP all worsened in 2026, while Kasevich is 25 and has yet to reach the big leagues. Their upside is notable, but Toronto must balance it against current roster space and each player’s development needs.

Bottom Line

Protecting these four would preserve promising pitching depth and a near-ready contact hitter. The Rule 5 Draft can produce real contributors—as Toronto’s Spencer Miles showed—so leaving a valued prospect exposed carries a potentially costly risk.