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  • Toronto Blue Jays Trade & Free Agent Rumors

    Follow the latest Toronto Blue Jays trade and free agent rumors, along with quick notes on the big league club, the minor leagues and the draft.
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    Steve Drumwright
    The return of Dylan Cease is official.
    The right-handed starter was activated from the 15-day injured list Tuesday by the Toronto Blue Jays, who optioned left-handed reliever Adam Macko to Triple-A Buffalo. Cease, who has been out since March 25 with a strained right hamstring, is scheduled to start Tuesday against the Philadelphia Phillies.
    Cease, who signed a seven-year, $210 million contract as a free agent this offseason, has a 2.59 FIP (3.05 ERA) in 11 starts over 62 innings, with a 10.1% walk rate and a career-best 35.7% strikeout rate before being injured.
    Macko has made 12 appearances, including his MLB debut, over 12 innings, with a 2.94 FIP (1.50 ERA), posting an excellent 4.2% walk rate to go along with an above-average 25% strikeout rate.
    His demotion leaves Mason Fluharty as the only left-hander in the bullpen and just one of two lefties on the staff (starter Patrick Corbin is the other).
     
    Steve Drumwright
    The return of Tommy Nance has brought the end of Yariel Rodriguez's time with the Toronto Blue Jays.
    Nance, a right-handed reliever, was activated from the 15-day injured list Monday following right forearm discomfort. Right-hander Yariel Rodriguez was designated for assignment.
    The DFA of Rodriguez brings an end to a disappointing tenure. Rodriguez signed a five-year, $32 million contract before the 2024 season as he came over from Cuba. He made 21 starts as a rookie, then converted to a relief role in 2025, appearing in 66 games. This year, Rodriguez pitched in just 10 games after starting the season at Triple-A on the injured list. He had a 7.71 ERA in 9⅓ innings, allowing two homers, seven walks and striking out six.
    If no one claims Rodriguez, the Jays will be on the hook for the remainder of his $7 million salary this season as well as the $14 million over the final two years of his contract.
    Nance is a welcome return to the bullpen. He appeared in 20 games before hitting the IL on May 17, posting a 3.86 ERA in 21 innings, walking eight and striking out 25.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    The return of Simeon Woods Richardson to the Toronto Blue Jays is official.
    The Jays on Friday added Woods Richardson to the 26-man roster and demoted right-handed starter Chad Dallas to Triple-A Buffalo after a nice MLB debut the day before.
    Woods Richardson was originally drafted by the New York Mets in the second round in 2018, then dealt to the Jays at the 2019 trade deadline in the Marcus Stroman deal. Two years later, Woods Richardson was on the move again as the Jays shipped him to the Minnesota Twins in a trade-deadline move to acquire right-hander Jose Berrios. Just a few days ago, after being designated for assignment by the Twins, Woods Richardson was reacquired by the Jays in a cash transaction.
    While he has the tools to be a good piece in a starting rotation, he has struggled in 2026. In 10 starts and two relief appearances with the Twins, Woods Richardson had a 6.17 FIP (7.74 ERA) over 47⅔ innings with a .330 opponent batting average. His walk rate is up (11% this year, 9.5% career), while his strikeouts have been down remarkably (11.5%, 19.7%).
    How Woods Richardson eventually fits into the Jays' pitching staff is yet to be determined, but he figures to initially begin in a relief role.
    Dallas, meanwhile, was only expected to get the one appearance after being called up Thursday to make his MLB debut. And it went very well for the 25-year-old, who was the bulk guy behind opener Mason Fluharty in Thursday's 7-2 win over Atlanta. Dallas went 3⅔ innings, allowing one run on two hits with a pair of walks and two strikeouts.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    The unexpected journey of the Toronto Blue Jays' pitching staff has led to Dallas. Chad Dallas, that is.
    The right-handed starter had his contract selected from Triple-A Buffalo to and is expected to make his MLB debut Thursday against Atlanta. The Jays optioned right-handed reliever Hayden Juenger, who made his MLB debut Sunday, to Triple-A. Right-handed reliever Tanner Andrews was designated for assignment to make room for Dallas on the 40-man roster.
    Dallas, a 25-year-old who was the Jays' fourth-round draft choice in 2021 out of Tennessee, has made eight starts in his 10 appearances this year at Triple-A, where he had a 4.50 ERA with 13 walks and 38 strikeouts in 36 innings.
    Juenger pitched twice in his four days in the majors. He allowed three runs in his debut Sunday, giving up two hits and walking two with no strikeouts in a 9-5 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. But he bounced back with a perfect inning Wednesday in a 7-3 loss to Atlanta.
    Andrews, who was at Triple-A, had appeared in two MLB games with the Jays, throwing three shutout innings, giving up one hit and two walks with a strikeout. At Triple-A, he had a 1.29 ERA in 17 games and 21 innings, allowing 15 walks and striking out 23.
     
    Leo Morgenstern
    The Blue Jays have acquired pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson in a trade with the Twins, according to Mitch Bannon of The Athletic. Minnesota will send cash considerations back to Toronto.
    Woods Richardson, 25, was a prospect in the Blue Jays' system from 2019-21. Toronto acquired him from the Mets in the Marcus Stroman trade and later sent him to the Twins in the José Berríos deal.
    The righty was designated for assignment over the weekend. He pitched well for the Twins from 2024-25, putting up a 4.11 ERA over 51 games (50 starts). However, he has struggled in 2026, with a 7.74 ERA in 47.2 innings. Jays Centre's Jim Scott recently wrote about Woods Richardson as a potential target for the Blue Jays.   
    Leo Morgenstern
    The Toronto Blue Jays have acquired more right-handed depth in the form of veteran reliever Justin Topa.
    Topa, 35, has seven seasons of MLB experience with the Brewers, Mariners, and Twins. He owns a 4.27 ERA in 172 career appearances, with nine saves and 32 holds. The righty struggled badly for Minnesota earlier this year (8.05 ERA, 5.97 xERA in 19 IP), prompting his release. However, he was solid for the Twins in 2025, pitching to a 3.90 ERA (4.42 xERA) in 60 frames.
    The Blue Jays have 10 pitchers on their major league injured list, and they're currently counting on bullpen games to fill two of the five slots in their rotation. So, it makes sense that they're stockpiling pitching depth, and it wouldn't be surprising to see Topa get a shot with Toronto in the coming weeks.
    Steve Drumwright
    The Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday called up right-handed reliever Hayden Juenger to make his MLB debut. Right-handed reliever Austin Voth was designated for assignment.
    A sixth-round draft choice by the Jays in the 2021 draft out of Missouri State, the 25-year-old Juenger has been good at Triple-A this season, posting a 3.15 ERA in 17 appearances and 20 innings, walking eight and striking out 23. He has been a reliever these last four seasons after trying his hand at starting in 2022. He rose through the ranks quickly, debuting at High-A in 2021, then splitting time between Double-A and Triple-A in 2022. He has been at Triple-A since, other than some rehab appearances last year. For his career, Juenger has a 4.45 ERA.
    Voth appeared in Friday's 6-5 loss to the Baltimore Orioles, giving up five runs in 3⅓ innings, including five hits and four walks with no strikeouts.
     
    Leo Morgenstern
    It's more bad news for yet another Toronto Blue Jays pitcher. Left-hander Joe Mantiply, who has already been on the IL for the past two weeks, needs surgery to repair the damage in his left knee. It will be an arthroscopic procedure.
    The good news is that the Jays expect to have Mantiply back at some point later this year, although it might be toward the end of the season. The 35-year-old pitched well for Toronto before he hit the shelf, tossing 17.2 innings with a 2.04 ERA. He struck out 16 and walked four, generating groundballs at a 48.9% rate.
    While Mantiply is out, the Blue Jays will continue to lean heavily on fellow left-hander Mason Fluharty. Rookie southpaw Adam Macko will also have a chance to carve out a more permanent role in Toronto's bullpen if he continues to succeed.
    Leo Morgenstern
    The Toronto Blue Jays have officially selected infield prospect Charles McAdoo to their active roster. He will replace fellow righty-batting infielder Lenyn Sosa, who heads to the IL with a right wrist contusion after getting hit by a pitch on Tuesday. Lazaro Estrada (shoulder impingement) has been transferred to the 60-day IL to open space on the 40-man roster; the right-hander had been on the 15-day IL since April 4. The Jays will hope McAdoo (Jays Centre's No. 14 prospect) can be a spark for their offense, which has struggled against left-handed pitching in 2026.
    In addition, Connor Seabold has reported to the Jays. He will be available out of the bullpen tonight, giving the Jays a much-needed fresh arm. Fellow right-hander Chase Lee has been optioned to make room on the active roster. Toronto already freed up a 40-man slot for Seabold when they traded for him yesterday.
    Leo Morgenstern
    Charles McAdoo is heading to Baltimore. Jays Centre's No. 14 prospect will join the Blue Jays tomorrow as they start a series against the Orioles, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. He'll be making his MLB debut when he first gets in a game.
    The Jays can free up space for McAdoo on the active and 40-man rosters by designating Lenyn Sosa for assignment. While I'm only speculating, it's all but certain that's how they're going to do it (unless there's been another injury we don't know about).
    McAdoo, like Sosa, is a right-handed-hitting infielder. He is primarily a third baseman but has recently started getting reps in at second base, which is Sosa's primary position. And while Sosa is hitting beyond poorly this season (.195 with a .490 OPS), McAdoo has hit well down in Triple-A Buffalo. He has eight home runs and a 13.9% walk rate, and his wRC+ is 12% better than league average. 
    The Blue Jays will hope McAdoo can keep it up at the MLB level, much like his former Bisons teammates Yohendrick Piñango and Brandon Valenzuela.
    Steve Drumwright
    While there were a slew of moves Wednesday by the Toronto Blue Jays, there was only one set that affected the 26-man roster.
    That was the Jays calling up right-handed reliever Austin Voth from Triple-A Buffalo and sending right-handed reliever Tanner Andrews back down to Triple-A.
    The others included a trade, with right-hander Connor Seabold being reacquired from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for left-hander Juanmi Vasquez, and right-handed starter Jose Berrios (15-day injured list, right elbow stress fracture) and catcher Alejandro Kirk (10-day injured list, fractured left thumb) being transferred to the 60-day injured list. Those were paperwork moves to create room on the 40-man roster for Voth and Seabold. Seabold had been designated for assignment by the Tigers. The Jays will have to make a 26-man roster move once Seabold reports to the team. Another move, reported Tuesday, was made official as the Jays signed right-handed reliever Matt Bowman to a minor-league contract.
    Voth is making his second appearance with the Jays this season. He was called up April 5 and pitched 2⅔ innings that day against the Chicago White Sox in a 3-0 loss, allowing one run on three hits with a walk and a strikeout. Voth was DFA'd the next day, went unclaimed and chose to become a free agent only to re-sign with the Jays on April 11 on a minor-league contract. He didn't pitch in the majors in 2025, last appearing with the Seattle Mariners in 2024.
    Andrews was called up Monday to make his MLB debut and he appeared in games Monday and Tuesday, pitching two innings, giving up no runs on one hit with two walks and a strikeout.
    Seabold is back with the Jays after signing a minor-league contract in January. But the Jays released him a few days before Opening Day and scooped up by the Tigers, who included him on the season-opening roster. He then went on the 15-day IL on April 26 with inflammation in his left ankle and returned to the MLB roster May 15, but was DFA'd Sunday. He appeared in 11 games for the Tigers, with a 3.45 ERA over 15⅔ innings, with 17 hits, five walks and 14 strikeouts.
     
    Leo Morgenstern
    On Monday, the Blue Jays selected the contract of right-hander Tanner Andrews from Triple-A Buffalo. The next day, they signed a new arm to replenish their right-handed minor league relief depth.
    Matt Bowman, 35 on Sunday, has appeared in 231 games over seven major league seasons. From 2016-19, he pitched to a 4.02 ERA and 3.20 xERA in 183 games for the Cardinals and Reds. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2020 and did not return to the majors until September 2023. Since then, he has tossed 59.1 innings with a 5.46 ERA and 5.05 xERA for the Yankees, Twins, Diamondbacks, Mariners, and Orioles. 
    While Bowman hasn't had much success since his surgery, he's been an interesting pitcher to watch. If you're curious to learn more about Bowman, Michael Rosen of FanGraphs wrote a great piece about the unusual right-hander last season.
    This past winter, Bowman signed a minor league deal with the Twins. Although he pitched to a 1.69 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 21.1 innings at Triple-A St. Paul, he never got a call-up to the majors. Last week, he exercised an opt-out clause in his contract, prompting Minnesota to grant him his release.
    Matt Bowman will now report to the Buffalo Bisons, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him pitching for the Blue Jays at some point this year. 
    Leo Morgenstern
    So much for day to day. Dylan Cease is heading to the injured list after straining his left hamstring in Sunday's series finale against the Pirates. There's no timeline for his return as of yet, but John Schneider is hopeful that it's a "minimal stay." The earliest Cease could return is June 9.
    The Blue Jays were already working a less-than-full rotation before Cease's injury. In addition to Cease, Kevin Gausman, Trey Yesavage, and Patrick Corbin, rookie Spencer Miles has been filling a bulk role in pseudo bullpen games. It isn't clear yet who the Blue Jays will call up to replace Cease right away or how they'll get through the next couple of weeks without him.
    As for Cease, this will likely end his streak of five straight seasons with at least 32 starts. This is the first non-COVID-related IL stint of his eight-year MLB career.
    Steve Drumwright
    As expected, outfielder Nathan Lukes is back. Somewhat surprisingly, it cost Davis Schneider his spot in the majors.
    The Toronto Blue Jays on Monday activated Lukes from the 10-day injured list and optioned the struggling Schneider to Triple-A Buffalo. Lukes has been on the IL since April 25 with a strained left hamstring. Also, right-handed starter Shane Bieber is beginning a rehab assignment in the Florida Complex League. He has not pitched this season due to right elbow inflammation.
    Lukes was slashing .250/.286/.327 with no homers and eight RBIs in 20 games before being injured.
    Schneider, a fan favorite, has not been able to get going offensively this season and has a .127/.295/.211 slash line with a homer and eight RBIs in 38 games. He has drawn 17 walks. The decision to option Schneider instead of someone such as Lenyn Sosa could be as a result of superstar first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. being hit on the right elbow by a pitch Sunday.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    The Toronto Blue Jays' injured list just got a little bit longer.
    Left-handed reliever Joe Mantiply was placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday by the Blue Jays, who called up right-handed reliever Chase Lee from Triple-A Buffalo. Mantiply has inflammation in his left knee.
    A reliable member of the Jays' bullpen, Mantiply is the ninth Jays pitcher currently on either the 15- or 60-day injured list. In 17 appearances during his first year with the Jays, Mantiply has pitched 17⅔ innings with four runs allowed on 16 hits and four walks with 16 strikeouts.
    Lee, acquired in an offseason trade from the Detroit Tigers, is up for the second time this season. He had a brief call-up at the end of April, appearing in one game in which he allowed a solo homer in 1⅓ innings with a strikeout.
     
    Leo Morgenstern
    What's that line from The Dark Knight? Oh yeah, "You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain."
    Eric Lauer was a hero for the Blue Jays in 2025, pitching to a 3.18 ERA over 104.2 innings between the bullpen and the rotation. He gave the team another 8.2 innings with a 3.12 ERA in October.
    While he seemed superfluous throughout most of the 2025-26 offseason, the southpaw had a spot in Toronto's Opening Day rotation. Yet, although the team's rotation depth is even thinner now than it was then, Lauer just wasn't pitching well enough to hold onto a roster spot. By the time he was designated for assignment last Monday, he had more runs (27) than strikeouts (26) on the season. He also gave up 16 walks, 38 hits, and 11 home runs in 36.1 innings. 
    Yesterday, Lauer finally escaped DFA limbo when the Blue Jays announced they had traded him to the Dodgers for a player to be named later or cash considerations. According to The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya, he will take on a "reliever/swingman" role in L.A.
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