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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
    Another pitching injury has opened the door for a prospect.
    Right-handed reliever Tommy Nance was placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday with right forearm discomfort by the Toronto Blue Jays. Left-handed reliever Adam Macko was called up from Triple-A Buffalo to make his MLB debut.
    Nance has made 20 appearances this year with a 3.86 ERA over 21 innings, walking eight and striking out 25.
    Macko was a seventh-round draft choice of the Seattle Mariners in 2019 and acquired by the Jays in November 2022 as part of the Teoscar Hernandez trade. At Triple-A this season, Macko pitched in 13 games covering 18 innings with eight walks and 19 strikeouts.
     
    Leo Morgenstern
    It's unfortunately official. Yesterday, manager John Schneider suggested that surgery was "on the table" for right-hander José Berríos. Today, he confirmed that Berríos will indeed go under the knife. The surgery will take place on Wednesday.
    Berríos has been on the injured list all season with a stress fracture in his right elbow. On Friday, Schneider said he did not believe the issue involved any soft tissue damage:
    Today, however, he revealed that there could be "some ligament stuff going on" after all:
    According to MLB.com's Keegan Matheson, Berríos could return within a couple of months in a best-case scenario. But if his surgeons discover any soft tissue damage during the initial procedure, he would surely be out significantly longer.
    Leo Morgenstern
    José Berríos has been on the injured list all season with a stress fracture in his right elbow. He seemed to be nearing a return until he suffered a setback after four rehab starts. He has since gone for imaging and met with Dr. Keith Meister. Today, John Schneider told reporters, including Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith, that "surgery is on the table" for Berríos.
    Given all the confusing details surrounding the right-hander's elbow health, it's hard to guess what kind of surgery it would be. However, at this point in the year, it's very likely that any kind of surgery would end his season. 
    Rotation depth continues to be an issue for the Blue Jays, with Shane Bieber, Cody Ponce, and Max Scherzer joining Berríos on the IL. Eric Lauer was designated for assignment earlier this week, leaving just four fixtures on Toronto's starting staff: Kevin Gausman, Dylan Cease, Trey Yesavage, and Patrick Corbin. While the team has survived to this point, losing Berríos for the year could be tough to overcome. 
    Steve Drumwright
    The return of Addison Barger was unfortunately short.
    The Toronto Blue Jays' right fielder went back on the 10-day injured list, this time with inflammation in his right elbow. Outfielder Yohendrick Pinango was called up from Triple-A Buffalo. Also, the Jays officially brought up right-handed reliever Yariel Rodriguez, a move reported Sunday, and designated left-hander Eric Lauer for assignment. The Blue Jays still have one opening on their 40-man roster.
    Barger, who was activated off the IL Saturday following a sprained left ankle, was scratched from Sunday's lineup vs. the Los Angeles Angels. This followed a terrific throw in Saturday's game, a 101.2 mph outfield assist that was the fastest in MLB this season. Barger went 0-for-3 with a run scored Saturday against the Angels.
    Pinanago had been sent down when Barger was activated. This came despite a slash line of .423/.444/.462 with four RBIs in 10 games.
    Lauer was the casualty for the Jays calling up Rodriguez. In eight games, including six starts, Lauer had a 6.69 ERA in 36⅓ innings. He had walked 16 and struck out 26. His struggles this season were a stark contrast to the 3.18 ERA he posted in 28 appearances, including 15 starts, in 2025, his first season with the Jays. Lauer is being paid $4.4 million this season. If no one claims him off waivers, the Jays will be responsible for his salary, minus a prorated portion of the MLB minimum should he eventually sign elsewhere.
    In his last appearance Sunday vs. the Angels, Lauer came on after an opener and pitched five innings, allowing six runs and three homers in five innings of a 6-1 loss.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    The Toronto Blue Jays are ready to give Yariel Rodriguez another shot.
    The right-handed reliever will be called up from Triple-A Buffalo by the Blue Jays on Monday, according to MLB insider Francys Romero. The Jays have an open spot on their 40-man roster, so only a move involving the 26-man roster will be necessary.
    Rodriguez signed a five-year, $24 million contract with the Jays before the 2024 season, but has had issues with walks, causing him not to stick on the major-league roster. Rodriguez made 21 starts in 2024 with a 4.34 FIP (4.47 ERA), then 66 appearances in 2025, all but one out of the bullpen, posting a 4.40 FIP (3.08 ERA).
    While Rodriguez has had strikeout rates of 23.1% and 22.1% the last two years (22.4% is the MLB average), respectively, his walk rates have been below average at 10.9% and 11.9%. The MLB average is 8.3%.
    In 11 appearances, including one start, this year at Buffalo, Rodriguez has walked nine and struck out 25 in 13⅔ innings, giving up four runs for a 2.63 ERA.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    He is officially back.
    The Toronto Blue Jays activated right fielder Addison Barger from the 10-day injured list Saturday and optioned outfielder Yohendrick Pinango to Triple-A Buffalo. Barger is hitting second in the Jays' lineup against the Los Angeles Angels.
    Barger had been expected to be activated Friday, but his travel delayed that from happening. Barger has been out since going on the IL April 7 with a sprained left ankle. He had been off to a slow start to the season, going 1-for-19 in eight games.
    His presence in the lineup will bolster a lineup that needs some good news. The Jays entered Saturday ranked 27th out of 30 teams in runs and 25th in OPS (.683).
    Pinango has been a boon to the Jays' offense since his promotion April 25 to make his MLB debut. Pinango has a .423/.444/.462 slash line in 10 games with four RBIs.
     
     
    Leo Morgenstern
    Addison Barger will have to wait at least one more day before he's back in the Blue Jays' lineup. The team originally planned to activate him from the 10-day injured list ahead of tonight's game against the Angels, but John Schneider told Sportsnet's Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker today that Barger is still in transit. He is not expected to rejoin the Blue Jays until Saturday.
    This gives the team a bit more time to decide how to make room for Barger on the active roster. For what it's worth, the Angels are sending the left-handed Reid Detmers to the mound this evening, which might explain why the Jays aren't rushing the lefty-batting Barger to town. 
    Barger has been on the IL since April 6 with a sprained ankle. Prior to his injury, he was 1-for-19 with a double and six strikeouts. Only two of his 23 plate appearances came against left-handed pitching. He has hit .193 with a 55 wRC+ and just one home run in 128 career PA against southpaws. 
    Leo Morgenstern
    Toronto Blue Jays team president Mark Shapiro sat down for an interview on BNN Bloomberg earlier this week. While introducing Shapiro, anchor Merella Fernandez mentioned that the team brought in a record $445 million of revenue in 2025. 
    This is the first time I've heard that $445 million figure, although I later checked and found it lines up with the team's 2025 revenue estimate from Forbes. While Shapiro did not personally confirm the number, the framing of the interview ("Blue Jays CEO Mark Shapiro shares how the team brought in $445 million revenue") certainly makes it seem like the executive is endorsing its accuracy.
    I can't say I'm all that invested in the particulars of Rogers' financials, but every further detail about how much freaking money the team made last season is a good sign that ownership will continue to invest in the Blue Jays' roster – and I'm all for that.
    Leo Morgenstern
    Speaking to reporters before Tuesday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider revealed that José Berríos is going for an MRI on his pitching elbow. The right-hander has been on the injured list all season with a stress fracture.
    Although he claimed to feel fully healthy entering the spring, Berríos was shut down after testing revealed the fracture in his elbow. He started a rehab assignment in mid-April. In four minor league outings, he has given up 17 runs in 14.1 innings, struggling with control and failing to miss bats. His velocity was noticeably down in his latest appearance.
    Presumably, the team will have more information to offer tomorrow. While we can only speculate what this means for Berríos until we learn the results of his MRI, it seems likely that the Jays will need Eric Lauer for at least one more turn through the rotation.
    Michael Coyle
    The Toronto Blue Jays are getting healthier. 
    A day after welcoming back Trey Yesavage, the Blue Jays announced that George Springer has been activated off the 10-day injured list. While Springer will not be in the starting lineup during the Blue Jays’ series finale against the Boston Red Sox, he will be available off the bench. 
     
    Springer originally fractured his left big toe on April 11 after following a pitch off his foot. The 36-year-old exited the contest and has missed the past 15 games after being placed on the IL on April 12. 
    Through 14 games, Springer is batting .185 with two home runs and six RBIs. During his absence, the Blue Jays have gone 7-8, and have been rotating Myles Straw, Nathan Lukes, and Ernie Clement through the leadoff spot. 
    In a corresponding move, the Blue Jays designated Eloy Jiménez for assignment. The 29-year-old appeared in 12 games with the Blue Jays, batting .290 with three RBIs and a .343 on-base percentage. 
    With Springer set to return to the DH role, and Jiménez offering no real positional flexibility, the Blue Jays were forced to make this move. 
    First pitch on Wednesday is set for 3:07 p.m. at the Rogers Centre. 
    Steve Drumwright
    The move Toronto Blue Jays fans have been waiting for finally happened: Trey Yesavage is back.
    The right-hander was activated Tuesday from the 15-day injured list following a right shoulder impingement. Right-handed reliever Chase Lee was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo to make room on the 26-man roster. Yesavage will be the starting pitcher in Tuesday's game against the Boston Red Sox.
    Yesavage, Jays Centre's No. 1 prospect, had only made three regular-season starts for the Jays when he made a name for himself with 11 strikeouts over 5⅓ innings in his postseason debut. He ended up being instrumental in Toronto's run to the World Series, including a seven-inning, 12-strikeout performance in Game 5 of the World Series to put the Jays on the brink of a championship.
    Now, the 22-year-old returns with the team needing some stabilization in the rotation after right-hander Max Scherzer went on the IL Monday. Yesavage's shoulder issue popped up in spring training.
    Lee was called up Monday to replace Scherzer on the roster and pitched 1⅓ innings in the series opener vs. the Red Sox, a 5-0 loss. Lee allowed a solo homer as the only hit in his outing.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    Max Scherzer's mysterious arm issues have landed him on the injured list.
    Scherzer, who has struggled in the early portion of the season, was placed on the 15-day injured list Monday by the Toronto Blue Jays with right forearm tendinitis and left ankle inflammation. Right-handed reliever Chase Lee was brought up from Triple-A Buffalo. Scherzer had been slated to start Wednesday vs. the Boston Red Sox at the Rogers Centre, so they will need to find a replacement for that game or have a bullpen game.
    The 41-year-old Scherzer has made five starts and allowed 20 runs on 22 hits with eight walks and 10 strikeouts in 18⅔ innings, resulting in a 9.64 ERA. His injury is the latest blow to a beleaguered Blue Jays pitching staff with eight pitchers currently in the IL, including three on the 60-day IL. Rookie right-hander Trey Yesavage (right shoulder impingement) is set to be activated from the 15-day IL and start Tuesday.
    Lee was acquired in December from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for left-hander Johan Simon. Lee didn't make the Opening Day roster, so this will be his Blue Jays debut. He made 32 appearances for the Tigers in 2025, with a 4.10 ERA in 37⅓ innings, walking nine and striking out 36. In nine games at Buffalo this year, Lee has a 1.32 ERA with nine walks and 12 strikeouts in 13⅔ innings.
     
    Leo Morgenstern
    Another Blue Jay is on the shelf. Nathan Lukes exited early on Friday against the Guardians. Today, the Blue Jays placed him on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain. Lukes joins fellow position players Alejandro Kirk, George Springer, Addison Barger, and Anthony Santander on the IL.
    To replace Lukes in Toronto, the Jays are promoting another lefty-batting outfielder: Yohendrick Pinango. Soon to be 24 years old, Pinango will be making his MLB debut the first time he gets in a game. He is batting .288 with an .857 OPS and a 128 wRC+ at Triple-A Buffalo this season. 
    Pinango was not on the 40-man roster, so the Blue Jays transferred reliever Yimi García from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL to open a space. García is now eligible to return no sooner than May 21.
    Leo Morgenstern
    The Blue Jays acquired catcher Willie MacIver from the Rangers today in exchange for cash considerations. MacIver will report to Triple-A Buffalo; he has two minor league option years remaining.
    MacIver, 29, appeared in 33 games for the Athletics last season, including 31 behind the plate. He hit .186 with three home runs and a 58 wRC+. The rookie backstop earned negative grades in most defensive metrics in that small sample. 
    With Alejandro Kirk on the injured list and Tyler Heineman having dealt with back spasms this year, it makes sense that the Blue Jays wanted to add a little more catching depth.
    To make room for MacIver on the 40-man roster, the Jays designated utility player Tyler Fitzgerald for assignment. They acquired Fitzgerald from the Giants earlier this month. While he spent some time on Toronto's active roster, he never made it into a game. In six games for Triple-A Buffalo, he went 3-for-20 with a double and two runs. 
    Seth Stohs
    Trey Yesavage started collecting cards about the time that he was called up to the big leagues last year. He collects some baseball cards but also football cards. But, if you want to mail him cards through the mail to sign for you, just don't. 
    On the We the Hobby podcast, Yesavage said that he doesn't collect cards of himself, but he also isn't going to sign cards sent to him through the mail.  
    "People send me my cards in the mail to sign and send back, but I don't sign them. I'll put that out there. if you send them to me, you're not going to get them back. I do keep some of them and give them to my family and whatnot, but I really don't collect any higher-end stuff of myself." 
    He doesn't really explain why he doesn't do it. It doesn't appear to come from a place of anger. In the interview, he just said it simply, straightforward. 
    Does that bother you? Do you care? If you send cards through the mail, what is your expectation for return? Share your thoughts. 
    (time stamp about 16:12)
     In the 25-minute conversation recorded about a week ago, the Blue Jays (can we call him an Ace yet?) pitcher discussed a number of topics from his rehab, the high moments of the playoffs and his call up, and much, much more. 
    Leo Morgenstern
    Lazaro Estrada gave the Blue Jays everything they could have asked for in his 2026 debut, pitching four scoreless innings in place of an injured Cody Ponce. 
    The Jays optioned Estrada to the minors the following day. However, Sportsnet's Shi Davidi reports that the righty suffered a shoulder impingement in connection with that outing. As such, the Blue Jays have reversed his option and instead placed him on the major league 15-day injured list, retroactive to April 5.
    Estrada will be eligible to come off the IL on Monday, but it seems unlikely he'll be ready that soon. So, the Blue Jays have one less depth arm for the time being. Thankfully, both Trey Yesavage and José Berríos continue to make progress on their rehab assignments. Each could be ready to return at some point later this month. 
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