Jesse Burrill

Yohendrick Pinango was left unprotected in the Rule-5 draft, and now he's not part of the group invited to camp. Interesting.

Remember the 2024 Blue Jays season? Most fans would rather forget about it. Toronto finished last in the AL East amid disappointing offensive seasons from George Springer and Bo Bichette, and with a pitching staff that lacked consistency from top to bottom. By Baseball Reference WAR, Bowden Francis was the Blue Jays' second-best pitcher, which is a reflection of how thin the roster became. By the trade deadline, the team was in sell mode, and the season was effectively over. The real culprit for why that season was so bad was the bullpen. All in all, it was a 4.82 bullpen ERA, and a dreadful -2.1 FanGraphs WAR number. That fWAR was by far the worst in the majors and the worst in franchise history. It’s not hard to see how it happened. Yimi García and Jordan Romano both got hurt, Tim Mayza was DFA’d mid-season, Erik Swanson had been demoted, and the best reliever the Blue Jays had was Ryan Yarbrough, who was brought in from the Dodgers at the trade deadline. Almost a year to the day, I wrote a piece about what history says about bullpen units coming off historically poor seasons, concluding that a bounce back in 2025 was likely. Long story short, it was. The Blue Jays' reliever fWAR jumped to 3.2 in 2025 (which is the exact number ZiPS projected coming into the season), a jump of over five wins from the year prior, ranking them 18th in all of baseball. Of course, the turnaround wasn't simply the result of positive regression; the Blue Jays did a massive overhaul of the bullpen from one season to the next. Jeff Hoffman was brought in to anchor the ninth inning, Yariel Rodríguez shifted to the bullpen full-time, and Louis Varland and Seranthony Domínguez were added at the trade deadline. At the same time, several pitchers already in the organization took meaningful steps forward in 2025. The result was a bullpen that not only looked different on paper but also performed significantly better on the field. The difference is most obvious when comparing individual contributions year over year. Blue Jays Bullpen bWAR Comparison - 2024 Contributors vs. 2025 Contributors 2024 Reliever bWAR (2024) 2025 Reliever bWAR (2025) Chad Green 0.7 Yariel Rodríguez 1.4 Brendon Little 0.1 Braydon Fisher 1.4 Genesis Cabrera -0.1 Brendon Little 1.1 Erik Swanson -0.3 Eric Lauer 0.9* Trevor Richards -0.5 Tommy Nance 0.6 Nate Pearson -0.7 Jeff Hoffman 0.5 Zach Pop -1.4 Mason Fluharty 0.1 *Numbers as a reliever only, and are an estimate, as Baseball Reference does not differentiate between SP and RP WAR. In a season that required all 162 games to clinch the AL East, the impact of strong bullpen performances was impossible to ignore. Mason Fluharty’s escape act against the Dodgers and Braydon Fisher's stranding of the zombie runner twice late in the season in Tampa are two instances that directly swung wins in the Blue Jays' favour. Ultimately, those small moments were key in deciding who won the AL East. Getting better pitchers is half the battle; the Blue Jays' bullpen was also better as a group in several other categories: Metric 2024 2025 K-BB% 11.3% 15.1% SwStr% 10.3% 12.8% Strand Rate 69.0% 71.9% HR/9 1.46 1.04 FB Velo (mph) 94.0 95.1 Barrel Rate 8.7% 9.1% As a whole, the unit improved in several areas. Yes, the barrel rate rose by 0.4%, but league-wide the barrel rate rose by 0.7%, so that's still an improvement for the Blue Jays. On top of that, they were able to strike out more batters, throw harder, and leave fewer men on base, while, most importantly, limiting the number of home runs allowed. For as much as the Blue Jays' bullpen had home run issues at times, the total number they gave up dropped from 92 in 2024 to 69 in 2025, an improvement of 23 total home runs. Looking forward to 2026, all eyes are going to be on the bullpen yet again. The addition of Tyler Rogers is certainly going to help, especially when it comes to home runs. A return to health for Yimi García will also be beneficial, as will a full season of Louis Varland. In addition, the bullpen has more depth than in recent years. Yariel Rodríguez, who was a key part of the bullpen this past season, has been outrighted off the roster and will have to work his way back into the picture. The Blue Jays have two Rule 5-eligible players (Spencer Miles, Angel Bastardo) that may factor into this bullpen. Ricky Tiedemann, Chase Lee, and several other names with or without big league experience may also factor into the bullpen if need be. For what it's worth, the ZiPS projections for the Blue Jays just released earlier this month, and that system has the Blue Jays bullpen taking yet another leap, to the 3.9 WAR mark. That number would have them in 13th place in MLB based on last season's numbers. Now, as spring training grows closer, the Blue Jays could benefit from another bullpen arm. Both the starting rotation and the lineup seem to be set in stone, but the bullpen could be the easiest way the Blue Jays could raise their ceiling. Free agent Seranthony Domínguez could be an option to return, and there are always relievers that may be available via trade. Entering 2026, the Blue Jays have reason to believe their bullpen can once again be a strength. Improved depth, better health, and favourable projections point towards continued progress, but the margin for error in the AL East remains razor-thin. The 2024 season served as a reminder of just how quickly things can unravel when the bullpen becomes a liability. For Toronto, sustaining this progress may be the clearest path to the Fall Classic and avoiding another season where things unravel just as quickly. View full article

Ernie Clement is no stranger to the big stage. Blue Jays fans have known how talented Clement is for a while, but the rest of baseball took notice this postseason. With an MLB record 30 hits, hitting over .400, he was firmly in the World Series MVP consideration. At the end of the year, he accumulated a 3.2 fWAR, which ranked him as one of the top 60 players in the sport last season. Pair that with a 10.4% K Rate and an elite ability to square up the baseball (both in the 97th percentile), and he’s developed into a complete baseball player. Mark DeRosa and Team USA took notice, too. Confirmed 1B - Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Dominican Republic C - Alejandro Kirk, Mexico LHP - Adam Macko, Canada INF - Ernie Clement, USA Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was born in Montreal, but committed early on to play for the Dominican Republic in the tournament. It will be his first appearance after backing out of the 2023 tournament due to right knee discomfort. Alejandro Kirk will also be making his debut in the tournament. He missed the 2023 tournament due to the birth of his child, and he’ll be the number one catcher for the team. Adam Macko, a left-handed pitcher in the Blue Jays organization, was born in Slovakia but grew up in Canada, and Shi Davidi reported that he will pitch for Team Canada in the tournament. Still Unsure, but Likely SS - Andrés Giménez, Venezuela OF - Anthony Santander, Venezuela 3B - Kazuma Okamoto, Japan SP - José Berríos, Puerto Rico, RHP - Yariel Rodriguez - Cuba SS - Leo Jimenez - Panama Team Venezuela has been delayed in naming their roster, but some names have started being announced. Both Gimenez and Santander played on the 2023 team, with Santander hitting 2 home runs and a 1.332 OPS in the tournament. There is a chance Santander chooses to remain in camp, but if he’s fully healthy (which John Schneider says he is), then he’s a name to keep an eye on. Okamoto stated in his press conference that he wants to play for Japan, and after his heroics in the last tournament, it seems likely he’ll be back. A similar case to José Berríos, who pitched in 2023 and wants to return. It's the same story for Yariel Rodriguez, who pitched for Team Cuba in the past and, after being outrighted off the 40-man roster, may use the WBC as another stage to showcase his skills. Jimenez has major league experience and has been approached by the Panamanian Baseball Federation to play; he’s just awaiting Blue Jays approval, which he’ll likely get. Still Unsure RHP - Yimi Garcia, Dominican Republic RHP - Dylan Cease, USA RHP - Kevin Gausman, USA RHP Cody Ponce, Mexico C - Brandon Valenzuela, Mexico RHP - Lazaro Estrada, Cuba Yimi Garcia played on the 2023 team, but after coming off elbow surgery, he may not want to pitch in the tournament. Cease and Gausman are certainly good enough to pitch for Team USA, but their starting rotation already seems set. Ponce stated in the Foul Territory podcast in December that he wants to play in the tournament. But “Will have to talk to the Jays and see what they want him to do.” Valenzuela is eligible for Mexico, with Kirk being the number one option. Valenzuela could be getting consideration. Estrada was passed on in the 2023 tournament, but he does have MLB experience and could be an option. Will Not Play George Springer - Puerto Rico George Springer had originally committed to playing, but has since dropped out to recover from injury, as he was dealing with several injuries towards the end of the 2025 season. Blue Jays fans will not only get to watch current players compete in the tournament, but the teams will also feature prominent Blue Jays players of the past. Here are some other names of players who are likely to represent their country in the tournament. RHP - Aaron Sanchez, Mexico INF - Bo Bichette, Brazil SS - Otto Lopez, Canada RHP - Paolo Espino, Panama LHP - Matthew Boyd, USA RHP - Taijuan Walker, Mexico RHP - Liam Hendricks, Australia Some other names, Yusei Kikuchi for Japan, Hyun Jin Ryu and Mitch White for Korea, Rowdy Tellez, and Anthony Banda for Team Mexico, are all eligible and may be on their respective teams, but none of those names are confirmed yet. Pitchers and catchers are set to report on February 11, and the World Baseball Classic will get underway on March 5. With Talent, star power, and some of the best players from all countries around the world, the tournament is set up to be one of the best ones yet. For Ernie Clement, it's a chance to build on his breakout season and showcase his versatility alongside some of the game’s biggest stars, and he, like the rest of his teammates, will prove the belong on the stage with baseball’s biggest stars. View full article

On Tuesday afternoon, Kazuma Okamoto was officially announced as a member of the Blue Jays. The press conference featured the usual suspects: Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins was present along with Okamoto’s translator, Gino Gordon, his agent, Scott Boras, and Okamoto himself. After a brief introduction and a flurry of photos taken as Okamoto donned the Blue Jays jersey for the first time, the standard question-and-answer period began. The presser included lots of fun information (which can be found here), including how Okamoto (with the help of his daughter) chose the Blue Jays, his affection for the city of Toronto, and lots more, but one question in particular stood out more than others, and it may be a hint into what's in store for the rest of the offseason. That question was addressed to Atkins, who was asked about the potential of more moves coming for this team. He gave his usual, “we're always looking to make the team better” response that Blue Jays fans have heard for years, but then added, “The one thing I’ll add is additions... will start to cut away playing time from players that are very good MLB players.” The quote itself could mean many things, and pinning down exactly what Atkins is trying to convey is no easy task. Perhaps he means that the Jays are content with their roster and no further moves are forthcoming, or maybe it indicates that a trade is being considered to move some MLB talent off the team. Alternatively, it could be a negotiation tactic to lower the demands of Kyle Tucker/Bo Bichette. Only Atkins truly knows. But regardless of what his motives were, there is a lot of truth to his statement. The Blue Jays are running into a problem that a lot of good teams have: too many players and not enough roster spots. If the Jays do decide to add another position player, then someone is going to be the odd man out. As things stand right now, the position player group seems full. George Springer, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Alejandro Kirk, and Daulton Varsho are no-doubt starters. Addison Barger, Ernie Clement, and Andrés Giménez were key contributors during the 2025 playoff run. While there are some question marks about Okamoto and Anthony Santander, both players have tremendous upside and deserve a shot to play regularly until they prove they can't. The Okamoto signing now moves the left-handed hitting Nathan Lukes into a pure bench role, with Myles Straw as the right-handed alternative. Both are strong defensive outfielders who did enough offensively in 2025. Davis Schneider also profiles as a bench piece, but he can hit left-handers and hold his own at second base or in the corner outfield. The other spot belongs to Tyler Heineman, who will serve as the backup catcher. This makes the roster crunch decision incredibly difficult, as all four players were above replacement level in 2025. Here are the fWAR totals for those players: Schneider - 1.3 Straw - 1.8 Lukes - 1.8 Heineman - 2.1 Only Schneider and Lukes still have minor league options. None of these players deserves to be taken off the roster, and I would hate to be in John Schneider's shoes if he has to tell one of them that they're no longer on the team. Now, the Blue Jays could turn this surplus into an advantage. They have a pool of depth that could be used to improve other areas of the roster. Not too long ago, the Blue Jays had three major league-calibre catchers, and they ended up trading one of them to acquire Varsho in 2022. Yet, turning the depth they have now into a trade may be harder than it first appears. Straw is still owed $7.4 million going into the season. Lukes will be 32, and he just played his first full big league season. Schneider may be the piece that other teams have the most interest in, but he was a key contributor in the clubhouse last year and has the most home run power of the bench pieces. The logjam exists not just on the 26-man roster but on the 40-man roster as well. Paxton Schultz was designated for assignment when the Okamoto signing became official, and he threw some quality innings for the team in 2025. He made 13 appearances with a 4.38 ERA and more strikeouts (28) than innings pitched (24.2). He’ll likely catch on with another team, but for now, he’s a victim of circumstance. As for who might be next off the 40-man roster, that's a dilemma in itself. Tommy Nance is a candidate, but like Schultz, he had his moments in ‘25. There are two Rule 5 hopefuls in Angel Bastardo and Spencer Miles who the Jays will likely try to carry into spring training. Bowden Francis had an ugly 2025 season, but a DFA would be surprising. After that, it's the largely unproven group of Adam Macko, Lazaro Estrada, Jake Bloss, Leo Jimenez, Jonatan Clase, and Joey Loperfido. While one of them may be next in line, losing any of them comes with real risk. All of these players have potential big league upside, and a case can be made that they can all help the major league team in 2026. There’s a cliché in baseball that these things always work themselves out, and that's likely to be true again. But the Kazuma Okamoto signing is already forcing the Blue Jays to confront a reality that all good teams face, and that's with depth, difficult decisions follow. Okamoto doesn't just add talent to the lineup; he compresses the roster. And as the offseason continues and more moves feel likely, the challenge for the Blue Jays won't only be who they add, but who they’re willing to let go. View full article

2025 will go down as one of the most historic seasons in Toronto Blue Jays franchise history, from having the best record in the Grapefruit League, to signing Vladimir Guerrero Jr.to the largest contract in franchise history, to making it all the way to Game 7 of the World Series. It was a season defined by milestones. For all of us at Jays Centre, it was a milestone season for us, too. 2025 was our first year covering the Blue Jays. Over the course of the year, several articles generated clicks, started conversations, some points were debated, and shone a light on just how special some of the performances in 2025 were. Here are our top five articles from the 2025 season: 5) 2026 Toronto Blue Jays Roster Projection, v1 By Sam Charles Dec 3rd 2025 Before we look back at 2025, let's briefly jump ahead to the present and take a look at 2026. With several high-impact signings already complete (Dylan Cease, Cody Ponce added via free agency), and Shane Bieber exercising his player option to return to the team. It's a good idea to take a look at where the roster currently stands with the potential of more impact moves on the table. The piece touches on the potential return of Bo Bichette, the rumors surrounding Kyle Tucker, and highlights the bullpen, as well as all the possible names that will likely contribute to the 2026 team at some point. It's a must-read and serves as a great refresher as the offseason rolls on. 4) Tyler Heineman Is On His Way To Making Backup Catcher History By Leo Morgenstern Aug 6th 2025 If projecting the future drew readers in, unexpected on-field production kept them coming back. One of the main storylines that carried the 2025 Blue Jays was their consistent production from unexpected sources. Tyler Heineman was one of those sources several times this past season. Heineman had always been known for his glove, but the 34-year-old found another level with his bat, and not only was it good, but it was also historic in terms of production from backup catchers. At the time the article was written, Heineman's 2.2 fWAR was 11th all-time among catchers with less than 200 PAs, and while he finished the season at 2.1 fWAR, his pace had him projected to be the best of all time. It's not often a backup catcher makes headlines, but that's just the type of magic Heineman had in 2025. 3) Even Alex Anthopoulos Wouldn’t Have Extended Vladimir Guerrero Jr. By Davy Andrews Mar 5th 2025 The Blue Jays eventually got a deal done with Guerrero, but there was a lot of chatter about whether it would get done. Vlad had set a deadline of the first day of camp to get an extension done, and the day came and went, and still no pen was put to paper. Davy took a look at former Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos, who has a history of extensions for his young players in Atlanta, and thought, if he were still in charge in Toronto, would he have handled the Vladimir Guerrero Jr.situation any differently? At the time, the piece had therapeutic qualities, trying to give fans a perspective that things would be okay if a deal didn't work out. But now that Guerrero is under contract for a decade plus, it feels especially relevant to get a glimpse at what the front office may have been thinking during that moment. 2) Could a Scott Boras Failure Result in a Blue Jays Triumph? By Megan M Jan 30th 2025 Flash back to the 2024-25 offseason, and the Blue Jays were still looking for help on the roster. Juan Soto had just signed in Queens after being linked to the Blue Jays all winter, and the reputation that the Blue Jays finishing second on every free agent started to feel very real. Megan speculated that a misread of Alonso’s market could be a good opportunity for the Blue Jays to strike and look to acquire the slugger on a short-term deal to help bolster the offence. He ended up returning to the Mets in 2025, hit 38 home runs, and has since turned that into a five-year deal with Baltimore this offseason. Although it didn’t end up happening in Toronto, it's worth a read, especially as the Blue Jays and Scott Boras have a history. With some notable Boras clients still on the free agent market (Alex Bregman, Cody Bellinger), there is a chance they link up again. 1) So That’s why the Blue Jays Didn’t Extend Vladimir Guerrero Jr. By Davy Andrews Mar 10th 2025 Sweet sweet closure. You rarely get some direct comments from a star player about his thoughts on the team, and Vlad certainly shared his thoughts. Vlad spoke in Spanish to ESPN about what exactly went down between the two parties. Davy does a great job of breaking down all that Vlad had to say in the two-and-a-half-minute clip, and looking back after the contract has been signed, a lot of what he says holds up. Signing Vladimir Guerrero Jr.was one of the biggest decision points the franchise has ever made, and you can make the argument that getting the deal done is already starting to pay dividends. There is also a compelling case that, without extending Guerrero, the Blue Jays wouldn’t have made the historic World Series run they did. It's an absolute must-read, especially knowing how the Jays' season went and the impact Guerrero had on it. View full article

This may be the biggest and most star-studded World Baseball Classic yet. The 2023 tournament was a massive success, punctuated by Shohei Ohtani striking out his at-the-time teammate Mike Trout to clinch Japan's third WBC championship in six tournaments. Fast forward to 2026, and the event is picking up even more steam. Many more of baseball's star players have committed to playing, and Team USA is loaded with elite talent led by Aaron Judge, Cal Raleigh, along with frontline starters Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes. Team Japan, led by Shohei Ohtani, will once again be a tough challenge, while the Dominican Republic is stacked with All-Stars and MVP-caliber players, including the Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. Team Canada may not have the same high-end talent as these other nations, but there is no doubt that the roster Canada puts together will be able to compete and have a chance to strike an upset or two, and in a short tournament where small samples mean so much, anything is truly possible. Canadian baseball fans may remember in 2006, when Team Canada, led by Justin Morneau, Jason Bay, and Matt Stairs, upset a loaded American team 8-6, showing that on any given day, anything is truly possible. The team already has several MLB and high-end prospects committed to Team Canada, and thanks to Shi Davadi of Sportsnet, we have a list of players who have confirmed to wear the Maple Leaf for Team Canada when pool play starts in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in March. Team Canada Locks Manager - Ernie Whitt Infield Catcher - Bo Naylor First Base - Josh Naylor Second Base - Edouard Julien Shortstop - Otto Lopez Third Base - Abraham Toro UTIL - Trei Cruz The infield seems to be a strength for this team. Josh Naylor is a former All-Star and is coming off a career-best 3.1 bWAR season. His brother Bo played in 123 games for Cleveland and hit 14 home runs. Julien was exceptional in the 2023 WBC (1.821 OPS) and is looking to bounce back after two sub-replacement-level seasons in Minnesota. Lopez provides elite shortstop defence, and he’s coming off a 3.5 bWAR season. Toro can play all around the infield, and Cruz (the son of former Blue Jay Jose Cruz Jr) is a switch-hitter who posted an .867 OPS across two minor league levels in Detroit's system in 2025. Outfield Tyler O'Neill Denzel Clarke Owen Caissie Jared Young The outfield is young and has a wealth of talent. O’Neill is a veteran of eight MLB seasons, has two Gold Glove awards, and has two 30-home-run seasons under his belt. Clarke may be one of the best up-and-coming defensive centerfielders in all of baseball. Caissie made his MLB debut with the Cubs this season and is considered the best prospect in their system. Jared Young has had some MLB time, but he did post a .969 OPS, getting on base over 40% of the time in Triple-A with the Mets. Pitchers RHP Michael Soroka RHP Cal Quantrill RHP Matt Brash LHP Rob Zastryzny LHP James Paxton RHP Phillippe Aumont RHP Curtis Taylor LHP Adam Macko RHP Jordan Balazovic RHP Eric Cerantola LHP Logan Allen If there is one downside to Canada, it may be the rotation. Soroka and Quantrill have had some success in the big leagues. Matt Brash is armed with a 98 mph fastball and a career 31.1% strikeout rate. Zastryzny is a veteran of seven big league seasons and has a 2.12 ERA over his last two years with Milwaukee. James Paxton, who retired after the 2024 season, brings veteran experience and familiarity with high-leverage play. Aumont has pitched for Canada in four WBCs already. Taylor, Macko, and Cerantola are all currently pitching in Triple A in the Cardinals, Blue Jays, and Royals systems, respectively. Balazovic got a cup of coffee with the Twins in 2023 and posted a 3.75 ERA in Detroit's minor league system. Allen has most recently pitched in Korea, made 31 starts, and logged 173 innings, and will likely make a start for Team Canada during the tournament. Team Canada Maybes Infield First base - Freddie Freeman Catcher - Liam Hicks UTIL - Tyler Black Outfield Tristan Peters Freddie Freeman becomes the big wild card here, a nine-time All-Star, three-time World Series winner, and former MVP would help any team, and Canada is no exception. Freeman’s mother is Canadian, and he has played for Team Canada in the past to honor her. There seems to be mutual interest between the two parties, and if Freeman can play, he would immediately become the focal point of Canada’s lineup. The drawback may be that he’s not 100% healthy, as he has battled wrist, ankle, and hip injuries over the course of the 2025 season, and manager Ernie Whitt said that Freeman is “having some procedures done” and the Dodgers may prefer it that he spends more time resting and recovering in camp, especially since they played deep into October. Expect more information to come about Freeman as the tournament draws closer. Hicks, Black, and Peters all have a decent shot of being on the roster, as all of them have made it to the majors and have had limited forms of success. Hicks may have the best chance as he is a catcher, but assuming everyone on the prior list is ready to play, these players may be the odd men out Pitchers RHP Jordan Romano LHP Mitch Bratt RHP Jonah Tong RHP Jameson Taillon RHP Zach Pop RHP Rowan Wick If Team Canada adds some of these pitchers, that would add to the upside of the team. From reading Shi’s Article, there is some mutual interest in Romano pitching for the team. Tong and Bratt both may prefer to spend time at their respective spring training camps, but both are young and have immense upside. Taillon said Canada asked him back in November, but he's still “working through it all right now”. Pop and Wick seem unlikely, but both have had big league success previously and could always be an option. Team Canada Unlikelys Infielders First base - Vladimir Guerrero Jr. As fun as it would be, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has already committed to playing for the Dominican Republic in the WBC. Pitchers RHP Nick Pivetta RHP Cade Smith LHP Erik Sabrowski Nick Pivetta is coming off his best MLB season, where he threw a career-high 181 2/3 IP and 5.3 bWAR. The chances of him playing are not zero, as he was going to play for Canada during the 2023 WBC but then dropped out due to illness. Davidi mentioned in the previous article that Pivetta, Smith, and Sabrowski are all unlikely to play, citing a large workload over the past two seasons with Smith and injury issues with Sabrowski. All three of these pitchers would have been a boost to Team Canada, but they will likely have to piece things together without them this go around. Things are certainly going to change between now and March when the tournament is set to get underway, but on paper, Team Canada has a blend of solid major leaguers, young players with upside, and a reliable set of position players. It's exactly the type of team that could surprise and go on a run in a short tournament. If there was ever a World Baseball Classic where Canada was positioned to break through, 2026 might be it. View full article

If you were looking for an unsung hero behind the Blue Jays' run to Game 7 of the World Series, you wouldn’t have to go far before Eric Lauer's name came up. He made his season debut at the end of April, and after a run of quality pitching out of the bullpen, he joined the rotation full-time on June 11, remaining there until the end of August, after which he transitioned back into the bullpen. On the season, Lauer posted a 3.18 ERA with 2.2 bWAR over 104.2 innings, adding another 8.2 frames during the postseason, including an incredible outing in Game 3 of the World Series that held the Dodgers scoreless over 4.2 innings. For as sensational as Lauer was in 2025, the day he became a Blue Jay was uneventful; it didn't make many headlines when he signed a minor league contract with the Blue Jays in December of 2024. Now, it's quite rare that a minor league signing has as much impact on a team as Lauer did. With all due apologies to Matt Whatley, Kevin Gowdy, and Amir Garrett, that's the rub when it comes to minor league contracts; if these players were all expected to be good, then they wouldn’t be in this category. At some point, it becomes a matter of throwing darts and hoping one lands on the bullseye. With that being said, the Blue Jays have already signed a few players to some minor league deals. Let’s learn more about them to see if any of them could have a Lauer-sized impact in 2026. Michael Plassmeyer, LHP 2025 Stats (in AAA with TEX): 105.2 IP, 4.43 ERA, 34 BB, 99 K Plassmeyer, now 29 years old, was drafted in 2018 by the Mariners and has bounced between six different teams in his seven minor league seasons. He was first traded after the 2018 season in a deal that also sent Mike Zunino and Guillermo Heredia from the Mariners to the Rays, with Jake Fraley and Mallex Smith going the other way. Plassmeyer has 11 innings of big league experience under his belt, with the Phillies in 2022 and ‘23. He’s a three-pitch pitcher (fastball, changeup, slider) that averages just under 89 mph on his heater. He’s a strike thrower, and if the Blue Jays can find a way to have him miss more barrels, then he could carve out a Lauer-ish role in ‘26 as a swingman who can move between the bullpen and the rotation. Rodolfo Castro, 2B/SS 2025 stats (in AAA with PHI): 133 G, .234/.324/.421, 19 HR, 18 SB, 22.7 K%, 10.3 BB% If the name Rodolfo Castro stands out, you might remember him from a play in 2022 when his cellphone famously flew out of his back pocket during a headfirst slide into third base. The incident earned him a one-game suspension under MLB’s electronic device policy. The now 26-year-old does have 194 MLB games under his belt, and although he hasn’t hit well (career 83 wRC+), Castro does still have a nice combination of power and speed. While he has played all over the infield, third base appears to be his best defensive fit. Castro had been a switch-hitter his whole career, but gave it up to hit strictly right-handed in 2025. The Blue Jays may think there is more to come as he gets more repetitions from the right side. He could see some big league time in 2026 if the bat holds up. Tanner Andrews, RHP 2025 Stats (in AA with MIN): 16.2 IP, 3.78 ERA, 18 K, 3 BB Andrews, now 30, was selected by the Marlins in the 10th round of the 2018 draft. He reached as high as Triple A with the Giants in 2023 and ‘24 but has yet to make his major league debut. Andrews is a three-pitch pitcher (fastball, splitter, and slider) and has battled bouts of wildness in his career, carrying a 9.0% career walk rate in the minor leagues. However, he did trim that number down to just 4.0% in a small 2025 sample, and paired that with a FIP that dipped below 3.00 for the first time (2.01). The Blue Jays likely buy into that progress, and if Andrews can continue that trend, then he’ll provide some big league relief depth or, at worst, become an intriguing relief option in Buffalo. Carlos Mendoza, UTIL 2025 Stats (in AA-AAA with DET): 97 G, .287/.394/.409, 7 HR, 12 SB, 11.1 K%, 13.0 BB% Mendoza, 26, is a left-handed-hitting utility player who has seen time at second base, third base, left field, and right field in the minors. At just 5-foot-7 and 165 lbs., he’s never likely to be much of a power hitter, but through two levels in the minors in 2025, he did have a .394 OBP, a good contact rate (83.9% in '25), and he walked more than he struck out. Versatile, good contact skills, and a wRC+ above 100 at almost every level at which he’s played. You can see why the Blue Jays would have interest here. He’s a candidate to make his big league debut this season if things break his way. ***** No one is expecting these players to be game changers in 2026, but no one expected Lauer to be one either. The most likely scenario is that these players will spend more time with the Bisons than the Blue Jays. Still, there is enough skill and upside here to find some reason for optimism, and it wouldn't be a surprise if one or two make an impact at the big league level this season. View full article

The Winter Meetings came and went, all without the Blue Jays making any major moves. This wasn't a cause for panic, though, as the team has already reshaped its pitching staff, signing Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million contract, followed by giving a three-year, $30 million contract to Cody Ponce. With Chris Bassitt and Max Scherzer likely departing, those additions were essential. Toronto still has some work to do in the bullpen. Collectively, Jays relievers posted a 3.98 ERA in 2025 (16th in MLB), and the team has identified the 'pen as a need that will have to be addressed this winter. They have already made some small transactions this offseason; Seranthony Doínguez was granted free agency, Nick Sandlin and Yariel Rodríguez were outrighted to the minors, with Sandlin electing free agency, and they recently acquired right-hander Spencer Miles in the Rule 5 draft from the Giants. He must remain on the active roster all season, or else he will be offered back to San Francisco. This leaves the Blue Jays' bullpen in an interesting spot. As things currently stand, Jeff Hoffman is still the closer, Yimi García will be making his return from his elbow injury, and after some speculation about stretching out Louis Varland to take on a starting role, GM Ross Atkins confirmed that he will remain in the bullpen going into 2026. It seems like the Blue Jays have six starters for five spots, and one of those arms will likely have to move to the bullpen, unless there are injuries or the club unexpectedly goes to a six-man rotation. That creates competition for only a handful of relief roles among Braydon Fisher, Brendon Little, Tommy Nance, Mason Fluharty, Eric Lauer, Miles, Justin Bruihl, Rodriguez, Paxton Schultz, and Rule 5 draft holdover Angel Bastardo, who will have to be on the active roster for 90 days, or he will be offered back to the Red Sox. The Blue Jays certainly aren't just content with the group they have, though. Over the past couple of weeks, the top free agent relievers Edwin Díaz, Devin Williams, Ryan Helsley, and Robert Suarez all found new homes, and while the Blue Jays had various amounts of interest in these players, none of them ended up in Toronto. The team is certainly not done, and there will be more additions along the way, whether in the form of Pete Fairbanks, Brad Keller, or maybe a trade. But if there is one area of need that may require reinforcement, it's the left side of the bullpen. Right now, the top three left-handed arms in Toronto's projected bullpen are Little, Lauer, and Fluharty, and while all three had various levels of success in 2025, it didn't end that way. Little went from being one of the best relievers in baseball in the first half of the season to being almost unplayable in the postseason, and while Lauer and Fluharty had bright spots in 2025, neither of them is an established high-leverage arm. Managing a bullpen is always key to getting through baseball games, and being able to bring in a left-handed pitcher to get out a tough pocket of lefties is always important. John Schneider knows this well, as the Blue Jays are certainly going to face a slew of elite left-handed hitters over the course of a long season, and a pitcher who can be relied on to shut them down is a piece that Schneider would love to have. With that being said, here are three names the Blue Jays should consider adding this offseason to be their left-handed specialist out of the bullpen. 1) Drew Pomeranz - 46.1 IP, 1.94 ERA, 27.9 K%, 6.8 BB% (as a reliever) Before last season, Pomeranz hadn't seen big league time since 2021 with the Padres. He resurfaced in 2025 and was a key part of the Cubs' bullpen. Now, at 37 years old, he could be a useful piece in any bullpen, especially when you consider left-handers hit just .176 with just two extra-base hits off him all season. 2) Sean Newcomb - 70.0 IP, 2.19 ERA, 22.4 K%, 7.0 BB% (as a reliever) Newcomb, now 36, began the year in the Red Sox organization and made five starts for the team before a trade at the end of May sent him to the Athletics. From there, he pitched out of the bullpen and was extremely effective, posting a 1.75 ERA in 51.1 innings for the A’s. Lefties had a .283 wOBA against him last season, and with the potential for him to start some games, he would be an intriguing option for rotation depth should it come down to that. 3) Tim Mayza - 16.2 IP, 3.78 ERA, 20.3 K%, 6.8 BB% Yes, seriously, that Tim Mayza. His Blue Jays tenure didn’t end according to plan. After spending parts of seven seasons with the Blue Jays, he was let go in 2024 after he had an 8.03 ERA through 24.2 innings that season. But he did look like he was back to being a big league reliever in 2025. He’s still effective at getting left-handers out (.228 wOBA against LHH vs. .373 against RHH), and the fastball velocity has taken a tick up, to 95 mph. He may never again be the guy who posted a 1.52 ERA and 2.1 bWAR for the Jays in 2023, but he’s not done as a major league reliever and could be had on a minor league deal. Not only would it make for a great storyline, but he could be effective if put in the right position. View full article

One of the smaller questions surrounding the Blue Jays has been answered this week. On Tuesday, Ross Atkins addressed the media at the Winter Meetings, and among the many topics he covered was the future role of right-hander Louis Varland. He will remain in the bullpen and will not be stretched out as a starter in 2026 (per Sportsnet). Varland was acquired at the trade deadline and appeared in 23 regular season games with the Blue Jays, posting a 4.94 ERA with 28 strikeouts. He followed that with an MLB-record 15 postseason appearances, delivering a 3.94 ERA and 17 strikeouts. There had been some early offseason chatter that Varland may be stretched out as a starter, as he made 23 starts over four seasons in Minnesota, but after the Blue Jays signed Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce earlier this offseason, they are opting to keep Varland in a relief role. The Blue Jays' bullpen remains in flux; Nick Sandlin and Yariel Rodríguez have already been removed from the roster, and more moves are expected. For now, it's a safe bet to pencil Varland into one of the club's eight bullpen spots for 2026. Featured image courtesy of Brad Penner, Imagn Images. View full rumor

The Blue Jays certainly mean business this offseason. In a surprising move, the team has announced that RHP Yariel Rodriguez has been outrighted from their 40-man roster. Toronto now sits with 38 players on the roster, with the Cody Ponce signing still pending. Rodriguez, a Cuban native, signed a five-year, $32 million contract in February of 2024 after three strong seasons pitching in Japan from 2020 to 2022. The Blue Jays originally tried him as a starting pitcher in his first professional season. He made four starts in April before being placed on the injured list due to spinal inflammation. When he came back at the end of June, he had a 4.17 ERA, a FIP that matched, and looked like a potential starting rotation building block for years to come. In 2025, Toronto shifted him back into the bullpen, a role in which he excelled while in Japan, and it looked like he had really found a home. On the whole, he had a 3.08 ERA, a team-high 73 innings pitched out of the bullpen, and in terms of Win Probability Added, his 2.29 WPA led all Blue Jays relievers. Because of that performance, the outright off-the-roster move caught many people off guard; the Jays aren't pressed for 40-man roster space, and from the outside looking in, it doesn’t seem like anything forced their hand, so the timing seems odd. It's possible that the Blue Jays simply chose to get ahead on some business, much like when they non-tendered Alek Manoah earlier this season to get some roster clarity, and maybe the team is doing the same with Rodriguez here. Still, the question remains: Why move on from Yariel in the first place? While his season-long numbers look solid, there were some stark differences between the first and second halves that cause some concern. Yariel Rodriguez first half vs second half: - ERA: 2.47 vs 4.21 - WHIP: 0.93 vs 1.51 - K%: 25.6% vs 16.9% - BB%: 8.9% vs 15.3% More baserunners, more runs, fewer strikeouts, and more walks, none of those pointed in the right direction. His average fastball velocity, as high as 96.8 mph in June, dropped to 94.8 mph by season's end, which was just another cause for concern. By October, he wasn’t even on the World Series roster, despite being one of the better relievers for chunks of the summer. Ultimately, the Blue Jays saw enough warning signs to take a gamble, expose him to waivers, and risk losing him for nothing but $7 million in salary relief. All other 29 teams also passed. Rodriguez remains in the Blue Jays organization, as he doesn’t have enough service time to decline the outright assignment in favour of free agency. As things stand, he will train this winter and try to earn his spot back on the 40-man roster, or potentially become a trade candidate if the Blue Jays are willing to retain some of the $17 million remaining on the contract. For the Blue Jays, this move creates options. They didn't need the roster spot today, but the Blue Jays are clearly going to add more to their roster. With the additions of Ponce and Dylan Cease to the starting rotation, it has pushed some of the other potential starting options (Eric Lauer, maybe Jose Berrios) into potential bullpen roles to begin the season. As of now, the Blue Jays bullpen looks like: RHP - Jeff Hoffman, Yimi Garcia, Louis Varland, Braydon Fisher, Tommy Nance, Jose Berrios LHP - Brendon Little, Eric Lauer This list doesn’t include names like Mason Fluharty, Justin Bruihl, and Paxton Schultz, all of which helped the Blue Jays at various points in 2025. One silver lining of Rodriguez’s situation is the potential opportunity to be a starting pitcher again. Behind Berrios and Lauer, the Jays' starting pitching depth includes: Ricky Tiedemann, Bowden Francis, Lazaro Estrada, and Adam Macko, with Gage Stanifer not far behind. Rodriguez has the chance to spend most of the season in Buffalo, and if things go well for him, he can force his way back onto the roster. How his story unfolds remains to be seen. Maybe he returns to the bullpen and regains his early-season form, maybe he converts to a starter and something clicks for him, maybe his best success will come outside of the Blue Jays organization. Situations like this can still pay off. Myles Straw was in a similar situation in Cleveland before the Blue Jays made a trade, and Straw was a key part of the Jays' success in 2025. Whether or not that happens in Toronto, I doubt we’ve seen the last of Yariel Rodriguez. As for the team, this move adds another layer of intrigue. They’ve already made two impact signings to the rotation, and with the winter meetings arriving, clearing a spot on the 40-man roster may be a sign that something else may be coming. One thing is for sure: the Blue Jays certainly aren’t afraid to make some challenging decisions, as they look to find the pieces to push the team to baseball glory. View full article

The fact that Delgado only got one year on the ballot is a crime.

What a way to begin the offseason! The first major free agent came off the board on Wednesday, and unlike in past off-seasons, it was the Blue Jays who made the first strike, signing right-handed pitcher Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million contract, with the hopes that not only would the 30-year-old lead the Blue Jays to postseason glory in 2026, but throughout the deal. It's not hard to see why the Jays targeted Cease; no pitcher in baseball has more strikeouts over the last five seasons. He has finished top five in Cy Young voting twice in his career, and he’s been incredibly durable, making at least 32 starts in every season since 2021. Pair all that with the fact that he seems to be a good fit in the clubhouse and that there may be some more untapped potential in his arm, and it's a no-brainer to see why the Blue Jays were willing to make him their ace for the next seven years. With any free agent signing, especially one of this magnitude, there is always risk involved. What if all the walks and fly balls he allows catch up to him? And what if he actually does get hurt? All of those concerns are valid, and honestly, there isn't a pitcher in baseball who doesn’t come with at least some level of concern, but it's that last point in particular that should be explored more. Pitcher health is never a for-sure thing, but the Blue Jays have historically been able to do a good job of keeping their veteran starting pitchers healthy. Kevin Gausman has made 30+ starts in each of his four seasons in Toronto, Chris Bassitt did the same in his three years here, and, dating back to additions like Robbie Ray, Yusei Kikuchi, and José Berríos, many of the starters they have brought into the organization have stayed healthy. Is this simply because the team can identify which pitchers will hold up physically? Is this something the coaching and medical staff can teach? Or is there some amount of luck involved? The most likely answer is that it's probably a little bit of all three, but pitcher injuries are rampant all over baseball, and the Blue Jays are going to have to make sure the staff stays healthy if they want to repeat as American League champions in 2026. As things currently stand, the rotation of Gausman, Cease, Trey Yesavage, Shane Bieber, Berríos, and the newly acquired Cody Ponce looks good on paper, but it does come with some concerns. Yesavage took a massive innings leap in ‘25, Gausman is entering his age-35 season, Berríos ended the year on the injured list, Bieber is still building back up from Tommy John, and as good as Ponce was in the KBO, returning to MLB comes with its uncertainties as well. So, it's crucial that Cease stays healthy and effective on the mound, as pitching injuries could be a significant downfall for the 2026 Jays team. Father Time comes for everyone, and it will come for the Blue Jays pitchers, too. Aaron Nola was long known as one of the most durable pitchers in baseball. He had made 30+ starts in seven straight seasons (excluding the COVID-shortened 2020 season) until the injury bug got to him, as he made only 17 starts in 2025. Gerrit Cole is another example. From 2017 to 2023, he was the model of consistency. However, at the age of 33, he missed the first 75 games of the season due to an elbow injury, which ultimately led to him missing the entire 2025 season as he underwent Tommy John surgery. Now, this isn't just a problem that the Blue Jays are trying to solve; pitching injuries have been an epidemic around Major League Baseball. It got to the point where, in December of 2024, the league released a study that it called MLB’s Report on Pitcher Injuries. There's a lot to it, but some key findings were that velocity chasing, pitch design trends, and max-effort throwing all put more pressure on the elbow and shoulder, contributing to an increased risk of injury. Now, to turn this back to Dylan Cease, his fastball velocity was the highest of his career in 2025, averaging 97.1 mph, and it wasn't just his fastball that saw a velocity spike: His four-seam fastball, slider, and knuckle curve were all thrown at the hardest average velocity of his career, and the spin rates on each pitch were at or near his career highs as well. Now, there is a lot more that leads to injuries than just throwing harder. There are several cases of pitchers throwing harder and continuing to have success. There’s no reason to think Cease couldn't follow that path. Yet, injuries can feel random at times. Yimi García injured his ankle when he slipped getting into a cold tub back in July. In 2015, Michael Saunders injured his knee by just stepping on a sprinkler head, and all the way back in 1993, Rickey Henderson got frostbite because he left an ice pack on his leg too long and had to miss three games. The real question becomes, do the Blue Jays know what it will take to keep Cease healthy? In reality, they just might. They have a proven track record of doing so, and according to reporting by Sportsnet's Shi Davidi, Cease has already met with pitching coach Pete Walker and assistant pitching coach Sam Greene, who answered questions about how they could help him grow into a true number one starter. One can assume that included coming up with a plan to keep him on the mound. The Blue Jays just made their biggest financial investment in a free agent in franchise history. So, no matter how you look at it, the team is going to be relying on Cease heavily as they look to repeat as American League champions. Keeping him healthy and effective will go a long way toward making that dream a reality. View full article

Adding roster depth doesn't always lead to the sexiest moves of the offseason, but as the Blue Jays showed last season, it is absolutely crucial to building a dominant team. Small moves like signing Eric Lauer to a minor league deal, adding Myles Straw in a minor trade, and claiming Tyler Heineman off waivers were all moves that helped the Blue Jays reach the World Series. Not all minor moves pay off; Joey Votto, Spencer Turnbull and Richard Lovelady never had their moments in Toronto. But part of building depth comes from recognizing where you can add talent. The Blue Jays will undoubtedly make some additions this winter, with some being headline names and others being small moves that could pay off later. In this piece, we’ll take a look at the corner infield positions and see where the Blue Jays might look to add depth. FIRST BASE Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: .292/.381/.467, 23 HR, 3.9 fWAR Vlad needs no introduction. He's the undisputed starting first baseman and is one of the truest superstars in the sport. He elevated that spotlight to a new level in the postseason, producing a 1.289 OPS and eight home runs to do his part to get the Blue Jays to the brink of the title. Guerrero has also been incredibly durable, playing 156+ games in each of the last four seasons. He’ll be relied on heavily again in 2026 as Toronto looks to repeat as American League champions. Ernie Clement/Anthony Santander Behind Guerrero, the only returning players who logged time at first base last season were Ernie Clement (12 games) and Anthony Santander (one game). Clement can fill in admirably in a pinch, but he is best suited to play elsewhere on the diamond. Santander has just 14 career games at first, and while giving him more reps there could help ease Toronto’s outfield logjam, it's hard to rely on him in that position until that happens. Look for the Blue Jays to add some first base depth before the start of spring training. Riley Tirotta - .268/.359/.417, 12 HR, 111 wRC+ (with Triple-A Buffalo) The Blue Jays don’t have a “true” first baseman in Buffalo right now. Tirotta is the closest candidate, having played 55 games at the position in 2024. Last season, he became a lot more versatile (something the Blue Jays emphasize in their farm system), as he played games at first base (36), third base (43), and right field (30), as well as second and shortstop. He hasn't appeared on any of FanGraphs' preseason lists of Jays top prospects or Jays Centre's top prospect rankings, but he has produced above-average offence in recent years. If the Blue Jays stand pat, then Tirotta could see some time in Toronto this summer. Other Names To Know: Damiano Palmegiani Peyton Williams THIRD BASE Addison Barger .243/.301/.454, 21 HR, 2.2 fWAR Because of the Blue Jays' positional versatility, Addison Barger may see more time in right field than at third base. But at the moment, he is pencilled in as the everyday third baseman. Barger had a breakout season in 2025, and Toronto will once again rely on his bat to spark the offence. Defensively, he grades better in the outfield, but because of his elite arm strength (96.5 mph average), he’s valuable at both positions. Until injuries or future roster moves dictate otherwise, he’s likely to get the first look at third base. Ernie Clement .277/.313/.398, 9 HR, 3.2 fWAR If Barger isn’t the starter, then Clement is next in line. He played all four infield positions in 2025 (and likely will again in ‘26) but saw most of his work at the hot corner. His glove is elite; Statcast's Fielding Run Value ranked him as a top 10 infielder last season, and the eye test backs it up. As of now, Ernie is slotted to be the everyday second baseman, but any addition up the middle could push him back to third. If he’s able to replicate his 2025 breakout, the Blue Jays will happily pencil him in every day. Charles McAdoo .247/.318/.413, 16 HR, 114 wRC+ (with Double-A New Hampshire) McAdoo came over in the Isiah Kiner-Falefa trade at the 2024 trade deadline and looked right at home in his first full season with the organization. He’ll be 24 years old next season and has a real chance to take a step forward to big league relevance. There is some swing and miss to his game (27.7% K-rate in 2025), and he may eventually shift to first base. But the Blue Jays let Vladimir Guerrero Jr. stay at third for a while and may do the same with McAdoo. He ranked as Jays Centre's 14th best prospect on our end-of-season list. Other Names To Know: Cutter Coffey Sean Keys Tucker Toman On the whole, the Blue Jays have impact at the top, but once you get past Guerrero, Barger and Clement, the depth falls off quickly. In recent years, the club has let go of Will Wagner, Spencer Horwitz, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Ty France, all of whom provided coverage at the corner infield spots. With that in mind, the Jays will need to prepare for potential injuries or underperformance, and they will likely look for reinforcements through trade or free agency this offseason. Those additions may not make headlines, but as this team just showed, the under-the-radar moves could prove crucial as they aim to repeat as American League champions in 2026. View full article

At just 22 years old, Trey Yesavage has already lived a fascinating life. When most of us are his age, we're still trying to figure ourselves out, searching for a career, trying to find love, or even just trying to find a way to move out of our parents' basement. Yesavage isn’t your typical 22-year-old. By now, we all know the story. Drafted in July of 2024, he began 2025 in Single A before making a meteoric rise throughout the system to the big leagues, and then making three appearances in the World Series. It's as much of a fairytale moment as you can get in baseball without winning the championship. Shortly after the season concluded, the fairytale continued for Trey, as he announced on his Instagram that he and his girlfriend, Taylor, had gotten engaged! (Congrats from all of us at Jays Centre!) It capped off what will certainly be an extremely memorable year for Yesavage and his family. Getting engaged is a sign of commitment, a sign that no matter what happens, two people will be there for each other through thick and thin. An engagement shows that you're connected; it’s represents the bond that the two of you have formed as you take on the world together. And just like Trey and Taylor did, maybe it’s time that the Blue Jays should make a commitment of their own by offering Yesavage a long-term extension to keep him in Toronto. As things currently stand, Yesavage is still set to be a Blue Jay for years to come. He is in his pre-arbitration seasons and won’t be eligible for arbitration until 2029. He doesn't become a free agent until after the 2031 season, when he will hit the market as a 29-year-old. It wouldn’t be unheard of for the Blue Jays to offer a guaranteed contract to a player as young as Yesavage. The Boston Red Sox just did it with their star outfielder Roman Anthony, giving him an eight-year, $130 million contract extension this summer. Jackson Merrill signed a nine-year, $135 million deal with the Padres in April, while Jackson Chourio, Bobby Witt Jr., and Corbin Carroll also signed similar early-career extensions in recent years. The Blue Jays, however, have not historically been a team to do this; the only pre-arb extension they’ve ever given out was the three-year, $3.7 million pact they made with a then 22-year-old Roy Hallyday in 2000, and it’s been 25 years since then. The case for the extension makes sense. Yesavage has already shown he can get big league hitters out and do it on the biggest stage in baseball, despite being so young and inexperienced. Nothing in baseball is guaranteed, but if the Blue Jays believe that Yesavage is going to be a front-line starter for years to come, then giving him a small pay raise now, in exchange for long-term cost certainty, may be a smart investment. Star pitchers in baseball can make upwards of $35 million a season, and if Yesavage ends up signing a contract now, the Blue Jays could potentially have a starting pitcher who is worth that much money on a much cheaper deal, which could help keep the team competitive into the 2030s. For Yesavage, it makes some sense, too. I'm sure that engagement ring wasn’t cheap, and being able to have some cost certainty throughout his career would be a major plus. Having guaranteed money attached to your name can provide a sort of comfort, a consistent feeling knowing that no matter what happens in your career, whether it's an injury or poor performance, the income will still be coming. With the arbitration process, that isn't necessarily a guarantee. The main question that is going to have to be answered is how certain the Blue Jays are that Yesavage is going to be good and consistent for a long time. Pitchers are inherently injury-prone; the action of throwing the ball over the head causes a lot of strain on the elbow and shoulder, which can be a precursor to severe injuries. Yesavage also had a massive innings jump this year (174.2, compared to just 93 in his final season in college), and the fact that he throws with such a high arm angle means he puts more torque and pressure on the elbow than pitchers who throw more from the side, potentially putting him at higher risk for elbow issues going forward. The last time the Blue Jays had a pre-arb pitcher pitch so well at the highest level was Alek Manoah, who debuted in 2021. He pitched to a 3.22 ERA over 20 starts that year and followed that up with a 6.0 bWAR season, where he made the All-Star team, made 31 starts and finished third in Cy Young Award voting. If the Blue Jays were to have given Maonah an extension then, nobody would have questioned it. It looked like Manoah was set to be the next Blue Jays ace. Yet injuries, setbacks and a decline in command, derailed his career. The Blue Jays DFA’d him in September, and he is now a member of the Atlanta Braves. If the Blue Jays had given Manoah the big extension, then they would be stuck paying for a pitcher that isn't helping them win today. In hindsight, the fact that they didn’t looks like a smart move by the front office. Now, Trey Yesavage isn’t Alek Manoah; they're different pitchers with different paths. For every story like Manoah’s (or, say, Nate Pearson’s) there comes along a Roy Halladay or a Dave Stieb who becomes the backbone and anchor of a pitching staff. The Blue Jays will factor in injury risk, but at some point, the potential of Yesavage might be too high, and the Blue Jays may want to explore an extension sooner rather than later. Especially as the offseason rolls on. View full article