Complete Offseason Guide, Predictions for the Toronto Blue Jays

Fingers will be pointed in all directions now that Toronto fell short in its quest for World Series glory, losing the American League Championship Series to Kansas City in six games.

Whether its ace David Price, manager John Gibbons or nearly all of the team's biggest bats (except Jose Bautista), there's no shortage of potential scapegoats for fans to take their disappointment and frustration out on heading into the offseason.

Will Price and/or Gibbons be back? What about the man responsible for assembling this group, general manager Alex Anthopoulos?

Changes are certainly coming to Rogers Centre. What follows is a look at how sweeping they might be as Toronto's long winter begins.

Payroll Breakdown

Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

Alex Anthopoulos

With only $40 million committed to the roster heading into 2016, you'd think Anthopoulos was about to embark on a shopping spree to end all shopping sprees.

But then you realize $40 million is going to pay the salaries of two players—and the potential buyouts of four team options.

By the time you get done factoring in the options Toronto picks up, raises for arbitration-eligible players and retaining some of the team's free agents, the Blue Jays could quickly approach 2015's Opening Day payroll of nearly $126 million before adding one player from outside the organization.

The question isn't whether the Blue Jays will set a new franchise record for payroll on Opening Day 2016—it's by how much they'll shatter the previous mark.

Arbitration-Eligible Players

Kathy Willens/Associated Press

Ben Revere and Josh Donaldson

Players Headed for Arbitration (2015 salary)

• IF Darwin Barney ($2.525 million)
• LHP Brett Cecil ($2.475 million)
• RHP Steve Delabar ($507,500)*
• 3B Matt Dominguez*
• 3B Josh Donaldson ($4.3 million)
• RHP Drew Hutchison ($520,100)
• IF Munenori Kawasaki ($507,500)*
• LHP Aaron Loup ($527,000)
• OF Ben Revere ($4.1 million)
• OF Michael Saunders ($2.875 million)
• 1B Justin Smoak ($1 million)
• C Josh Thole ($1.75 million)

When it comes to arbitration in Toronto, there's Josh Donaldson—and there's everyone else. With three years of team control remaining, the need to lock him up to a long-term deal isn't there—and it would be cost-prohibitive for the Jays to do so coming off what figures to be an MVP-winning season.

Donaldson nearly triples his yearly salary, agreeing on a one-year, $12.5 million pact.

Justin Smoak's 18 home runs are enough to see him double his salary, while trade-deadline addition Ben Revere, one of the only left-handed bats in Toronto's lineup (and a fine leadoff hitter), signs off on a one-year, $6.25 million deal.

On the mound, Drew Hutchison wasn't nearly as bad as his 5.57 ERA would lead you to believe, and the 25-year-old cracks the $1 million mark for the first time, taking home a $2.5 million salary in 2016. 

Brett Cecil, who has pitched to a combined 2.67 ERA and 1.14 WHIP since 2013 and can become a free agent after the 2016 season, inks a three-year, $15 million deal.

*Salary information for Steve Delabar and Munenori Kawasaki courtesy of Spotrac. Matt Dominguez's 2015 salary is unknown.

Toronto's Own Free Agents and Players with Options

Kathy Willens/Associated Press

Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion

Potential Free Agents

• RF Jose Bautista ($14 million team option)
• LHP Mark Buehrle
• RHP R.A. Dickey ($12 million team option)
• 1B/DH Edwin Encarnacion ($10 million team option)
• RHP Marco Estrada
• LHP Jeff Francis
• RHP LaTroy Hawkins
• IF Maicer Izturis ($3 million team option)
• RHP Mark Lowe
• C/DH Dioner Navarro
• IF Cliff Pennington
• LHP David Price

What a list.

If Toronto truly wanted to shock the baseball world, it would decline the team options it holds—but we all know that's not going to happen. Bautista, R.A. Dickey and Edwin Encarnacion aren't going anywhere.

Despite his postseason issues, the Blue Jays would love to keep Price atop their rotation, and ownership has deep enough pockets to make it happen. But the southpaw figures to at least match, if not exceed, the seven-year, $210 million deal Max Scherzer signed with Washington last winter.

With Dickey, Hutchison and Marcus Stroman already locked into the rotation and Aaron Sanchez likely to join them—not to mention a really deep pool of free-agent starters—that's going to be too rich for Toronto's liking. Price walks.

But Marco Estrada won't. Toronto's best pitcher for a stretch in his first year with the team, the 32-year-old decides to stick around on a three-year, $45 million deal with a mutual option for a fourth season.

Potential Free-Agent Targets

Tony Dejak/Associated Press

Jeff Samardzija

With Price departing, it wouldn't be hard to envision the Blue Jays making a serious run at another high-end starter, though the likes of Johnny Cueto, Zack Greinke and Jordan Zimmermann are likely going to price themselves out of Toronto's comfort zone.

But there are a slew of quality arms on the next level of the free-agent market, both in the rotation and the bullpen, that would be cheaper additions for the club to make.

Here are some of the names the Blue Jays could be linked to once free agency begins:

• Yovani Gallardo, RHP: No longer a 200-strikeout pitcher, Gallardo thrived as Texas' de facto ace after Yu Darvish was lost for the season. He stymied Toronto in his one career start at Rogers Centre, tossing 8.1 innings of three-hit, shutout ball.

• Darren O'Day, RHP: He has quietly become one of the game's elite non-closing relievers, pitching to a 2.07 ERA and 0.96 WHIP with 402 strikeouts over 400 innings since 2009. He's better against right-handed batters but has become adept at shutting down the opposition from either side of the plate.

• Jeff Samardzija, LHP: Samardzija struggled with the White Sox but has a track record of success and less wear and tear on his arm than other free-agent starters. He won't cost nearly as much as other top options due to his late-season fade.

• Joakim Soria, RHP: He's juggled multiple bullpen roles over the past two years and could have his eye on a ninth-inning opening elsewhere. But if he's willing to serve as a setup man, Soria would be a tremendous addition to the back end of the Blue Jays bullpen.

Potential Trade Targets

Associated Press

Julio Teheran

With a minor league system that has seen much of its young talent moved to obtain veteran pieces, the Blue Jays may not be interested in continuing the practice. That said, Toronto is built to win now—and history has taught us that GM Alex Anthopoulos isn't afraid to include prospects for immediate help.

Keep in mind there's no indication any of the players listed below are readily available...yet. But once the playoffs are over and the offseason kicks into high gear, they could be.

• Tyson Ross, RHP, San Diego Padres: With Troy Tulowitzki entrenched at shortstop and San Diego looking for a long-term answer at the position, Toronto could look to acquire Ross, a grossly underrated starter, with a package built around shortstop prospect Richard Urena.

• Francisco Rodriguez, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers: Toronto has been linked to K-Rod on-and-off multiple times over the past year or so, and while Roberto Osuna figures to stick as the team's closer, adding some veteran insurance in a setup role wouldn't be a terrible idea.

• Julio Teheran, RHP, Atlanta Braves: It's a deal that would cost Toronto some of its better remaining prospects, but Teheran is still young (entering his age-25 season), signed to a team-friendly deal (due roughly $40 million through 2020) and has flashed ace potential. Jon Heyman wrote for CBS Sports in August that the Braves will look to move him this winter.

Unless otherwise noted/linked, all statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs; all payroll and salary information courtesy of Cot's Contracts.

Want to talk Blue Jays' offseason plans or anything baseball-related? Hit me up on Twitter: @RickWeinerBR.