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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
    Still trying to replenish depth after being smacked with a handful of key injuries, the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday acquired infielder Lenyn Sosa from the Chicago White Sox. In exchange, the Jays sent 18-year-old minor-league outfielder Jordan Rich and a player to be named later or cash to the White Sox.

    To make room on the 40-man roster, right-handed starter Shane Bieber (right elbow inflammation) was moved from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL. Another move will be needed before Tuesday's series opener vs. the Milwaukee Brewers to get Sosa on the 26-man roster.
    The 26-year-old Sosa brings a little bit of pop with him, having hit 22 homers and 75 RBIs last year with a .264/.293/.434 slash line in a career-best 140 games played. It was a breakout season for Sosa, who was off to a slow start this year (7-for-33, .212/.212./.303).
    Sosa can play all around the infield except for shortstop, but is primarily a second baseman. His defense is considered subpar. The Jays recently acquired second baseman Tyler Fitzgerald, who had been designated for assignment by the San Francisco Giants.
    Rich was drafted by the Jays in the 17th round of last year's draft, but has yet to make his pro debut.
     
    Michael Coyle
    The injury bug continues to rear its ugly head for a Toronto Blue Jays team looking to piece it together through the 2026 season’s opening month. 
    On Sunday morning, the Blue Jays placed outfielder George Springer on the injured list with a left big toe fracture, further depleting an already hurting roster. In a corresponding move, Eloy Jiménez was selected from Triple-A Buffalo to replace Springer on the active roster. 
    Jiménez took over the designated hitter spot and hit seventh on Sunday, as the Blue Jays wrapped up a three-game series with the Minnesota Twins at the Rogers Centre. In Toronto's 8-2 loss, Jiménez went 2-for-4 with two singles and two strikeouts.
    The Blue Jays originally signed Jiménez to a minor league contract in September of last season after he was released from the Tampa Bay Rays organization. After appearing in just six Triple-A games for the Buffalo Bisons last year, Jiménez was brought back to the organization this past January with an invite to spring training. 
    The 29-year-old impressed during spring training, appearing in 18 games and batting .286 with two home runs, three RBIs and a .333 OBP across 45 PA. Jiménez picked up where he left off in spring training in Triple-A with the Bisons. Through 11 games, he hit .257 with one home run and five RBIs while reaching base at a .372 clip. 
    Jiménez is a career .269 hitter at the big league level, to go along with 95 home runs and 298 RBIs over stints with the Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles organizations. The Dominican Republic native’s best season in MLB came during his rookie year, when Jiménez slugged 31 home runs for the White Sox. 
    Jiménez’s last appearance in MLB came back in 2024, split between the White Sox and Orioles. He batted .238 with six home runs and 23 RBIs in 98 games.
    The right-handed hitter’s stick will determine his role with the Blue Jays. If Jiménez proves he can drive the ball with authority, then he has a chance to get consistent at-bats as manager John Schneider looks for answers on the offensive side of the ball. The Twins started right-hander Taj Bradley yesterday afternoon, so evidently, the Blue Jays aren't only planning to use Jiménez’s bat when he has the platoon advantage.
    Steve Drumwright
    George Springer is headed to the injured list.
    The Toronto Blue Jays' designated hitter sustained a broken left big toe after fouling a ball off the foot in the third inning of Saturday's game vs. the Toronto Blue Jays. There are likely to be more tests done before determining the severity of the injury and how long Springer might be out. Typically, those types of injuries sideline players four to six weeks.

    Myles Straw replaced Springer in the lineup.
    Springer, the Jays' leadoff hitter, is the latest injury to hit the defending AL champions. Six players are on either the 10- or 15-day injured list with another four on the 60-day IL. Six of those 10 are pitchers.
    With right fielder Addison Barger still about a week away from coming off the 10-day IL with his sprained left ankle, the Jays will need to make a corresponding move before Sunday's series finale. Outfielder Jonatan Clase is the only position player in the minors who is on the 40-man roster.
     
    Leo Morgenstern
    According to reporter Francys Romero, the Toronto Blue Jays recently signed Tomoya Kinjo, an international amateur free agent from Japan. The right-hander trained in the Dominican Republic and previously played in the Shikoku Island League Plus, an independent professional league in Japan. At 23 years old, Kinjo is on the older side for an international amateur signing, but Romero notes he reaches 98 mph on his fastball – that's eye-catching at any age.
    Indeed, according to Yakyu Cosmopolitan, Kinjo has set a goal to reach 165 kmh (103 mph), and he's documenting his progress on social media. He has already hit the 100 mph milestone in this endeavor. Obviously, there's more to pitching than velocity, but the appeal of an amateur who can already hit triple digits is just as clear.
    Yakyu Cosmopolitan also notes that Kinjo entered the NPB draft in both 2024 and '25 but was not selected in either year. In other words, he's not going to be a top prospect – at least not right away (and maybe not ever). He's a notable lottery ticket, but he's still a lottery ticket.
    Kinjo joins many new Blue Jays prospects in the international class of 2026, highlighted by catcher Juan Caricote and outfielders Michael Mesa and Aneudi Severino. Romero did not provide details about Kinjo's signing bonus.
    Leo Morgenstern
    The Blue Jays made a handful of transactions before their game this afternoon. Seeking a shot in the arm for the bullpen, they selected the contracts of Joe Mantiply and Austin Voth from the Buffalo Bisons. To make room for Mantiply and Voth on the 40-man roster, the Jays moved Anthony Santander and Cody Ponce to their 60-day IL. Neither of those moves was unexpected; both Santander and Ponce are expected to miss significantly more than 60 days recovering from their respective injuries.
    Meanwhile, to free up space in the big league bullpen, Toronto sent Brendon Little and Lazaro Estrada down to Triple-A Buffalo. Estrada got the call to the majors when Ponce hit the IL. He threw four scoreless, hitless innings yesterday, striking out three and walking two. His option has nothing to do with his performance; the Jays simply want as many fresh arms in their bullpen as possible, and Estrada won't be available for several days after throwing 66 pitches on Saturday. 
    As for Little, his situation is a little more complicated. He's given up 11 runs (10 earned) on three home runs in five appearances this season. Of course, this demotion doesn't mean the Blue Jays are giving up on him after a few rough appearances. Rather, he was one of only a few relievers in Toronto's bullpen with a minor league option remaining. Given his struggles, it made perfect sense to give him a brief break in the minors to reset while simultaneously opening up a bullpen spot for a more rested arm. 
    Mantiply and Voth both signed minor league contracts with Toronto this offseason. Mantiply is coming off a rough year in 2025, but the southpaw was a key player in the Diamondbacks' bullpen from 2021-24. Voth has experience as both a starter and a reliever, and he's coming off a successful year in NPB. The Jays will presumably look to him for length.
    Leo Morgenstern
    Patrick Corbin and the Toronto Blue Jays have come to terms on a one-year, $1 million contract. Corbin can earn an additional $1 million in incentives. The left-hander will head to Single-A Dunedin to ramp up after missing spring training. 
    Corbin, 36, threw 155.1 innings for the Texas Rangers in 2025, pitching to a 4.40 ERA and 4.75 xERA. While it's been years since he was more than an innings eater, he has been one of the game's more durable arms over the past decade.
    Toronto signed Corbin in the wake of a serious injury to Cody Ponce, who sprained his ACL during his Blue Jays debut. While the team once seemed to have a surplus of starters, they're now facing a shortage in the rotation. Corbin won't be ready to help out right away, but the Jays clearly understand that there's no such thing as too much starting pitching. 
    Leo Morgenstern
    Moments before the White Sox walked off the Blue Jays on Friday, Alejandro Kirk exited after taking a foul tip off his left thumb. The All-Star catcher went for X-rays, and the team will presumably provide an update on Saturday.
    It's not yet clear if Kirk will need to miss time, but if he does, it will be a huge blow to both Toronto's offense and defense. Tyler Heineman has been more than capable as Kirk's backup, and Brandon Valenzuela should be ready for his first taste of the majors, but Kirk is a middle-of-the-order bat and one of the best defensive catchers in the game. 
    The Blue Jays are already dealing with a depleted starting rotation, and losing a talented game-caller and pitch-framer like Kirk would only exacerbate any problems the pitching staff might have.
    Leo Morgenstern
    Update (Tuesday, March 31): Ponce has been diagnosed with a right ACL sprain, the team told reporters (including MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson). It’s not yet clear if it’s a full or partial tear, but the righty will miss a good chunk of time either way. It’s possible his season is already over, though manager John Schneider isn’t giving up hope for Ponce’s 2026 campaign quite yet.
     
    Monday, March 30: Cody Ponce had to be carted off the field on Monday night. The right-hander was less than three innings into his Blue Jays debut when he hurt his leg fielding an infield groundball. He fell to the ground and needed a medical cart to exit the field.

    Before he left, Ponce struck out three Rockies batters and generated 15 swings and misses. He averaged 95.9 mph on his four-seam fastball, topping out at 97.1 mph. His slider was his best weapon, earning eight whiffs on 10 swings. 
    For now, the injury has been labelled right knee discomfort. While the Blue Jays likely won't have a more meaningful update until Ponce can go for imaging, an IL stint seems more than possible. Four of Toronto's starters – Trey Yesavage, Shane Bieber, José Berríos, and Bowden Francis – are already on the injured list. The next man up could be Adam Macko or Lazaro Estrada for a spot start, though the Jays can get by without a fifth starter until April 8.
    Leo Morgenstern
    After almost nine years in Toronto's organization, Leo Jiménez is heading to Miami. Jiménez made a valiant effort to break camp with the Blue Jays, but ultimately, he failed to make the Opening Day roster. As he was out of options, the team had no choice but to designate him for assignment.  
    On Sunday, the Marlins decided to take a chance on the 24-year-old infielder, sending a 23-year-old infielder (and $250,000 of international bonus pool money) to the Blue Jays in return. Miami selected Dub Gleed in the ninth round of the 2024 draft, and he made his affiliated debut in 2025. He rose through the Marlins' system quickly, finishing his season with one game at Triple-A Jacksonville. The corner infielder walked almost as often as he struck out, helping him post a 124 wRC+ across four levels.
    Leo Morgenstern
    The Blue Jays have named the 26 players who will make up their active roster when their season starts on Friday, March 27. The biggest surprise, if you can call it that, is that Rule 5 draft pick Spencer Miles has earned a spot in the bullpen over the more experienced Chase Lee. Meanwhile, the other notable (though even less surprising) piece of news is that Leo Jiménez failed to earn a spot on the 26-man roster and thus was designated for assignment. As expected, Angel Bastardo, another Rule 5 pick, was also DFA'd.
    Here is Toronto's official Opening Day roster, listed by position and in alphabetical order:
    Pitchers
    Dylan Cease Braydon Fisher Mason Fluharty Kevin Gausman Jeff Hoffman Eric Lauer Brendon Little Spencer Miles Tommy Nance Cody Ponce Tyler Rogers Max Scherzer Louis Varland Catchers
    Tyler Heineman Alejandro Kirk Infielders
    Ernie Clement Andres Gimenez Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Kazuma Okamoto Outfielders
    Addison Barger Nathan Lukes Jesus Sanchez Davis Schneider George Springer Myles Straw Daulton Varsho Rehabbing pitchers Shane Bieber, Yimi García, José Berríos, and Trey Yesavage have all been placed on the 15-day IL, while injured outfielder Anthony Santander has been placed on the 10-day IL (retroactive to March 22). They join Bowden Francis, who landed on the 60-day IL back in February.
    Leo Morgenstern
    On Saturday morning, Blue Jays manager John Schneider confirmed his starting rotation to begin the 2026 season.
    As we already knew, Kevin Gausman will take the ball on Opening Day against the Athletics. He will be followed by Dylan Cease and Eric Lauer to close out the first series of the year. After that, when the Jays welcome the Rockies to the Rogers Centre, Cody Ponce and Max Scherzer will take the bump for the first two games, before (presumably) handing the ball back to Gausman.
    At one point, it seemed like Toronto had too many good starting pitchers to choose from. Yet, in the end, the Blue Jays and Schneider didn't have any difficult decisions to make. Shane Bieber, José Berríos, and Trey Yesavage will all begin the season on the IL, leaving five starters left for five jobs. 
    Michael Coyle
    On Saturday morning, Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider announced that right-hander Kevin Gausman will be the club's Opening Day starter when the Blue Jays’ season kicks off on Friday, March 27, at the Rogers Centre against the Athletics. 
    This marks the first time that Gausman has been tasked with the Opening Day role in a Blue Jays uniform, though it will be the third Opening Day start of his big league career. Gausman’s first Opening Day start came in 2017 as a member of the Baltimore Orioles, then again in 2021 with the San Francisco Giants. 
    Speaking to the media this morning, Schneider touched on the decision to give the 35-year-old the ball for game one. 
    “Pumped for him, pumped for us. About time he got one, kind of what me and Pete [Walker] told him,” Schneider said (per Sportsnet). “Still figuring out the rest of the rotation, how that lines up, but I'm excited for Kevin to get us going.”
    Gausman is entering the final year of his five-year, $110 million contract, which he signed on December 1, 2021. Over his Blue Jays’ career,  Gausman has pitched to a 48-41 record, while posting an ERA of 3.48. 
    Last season, Gausman was brilliant for the Blue Jays, producing an ERA of 3.59, a FIP of 3.41 and a WHIP of 1.06. Across 32 regular season starts, Gausman struck out 189 batters over 193 innings pitched, relying on his devastating splitter to leave hitters in knots at the plate. Gausman held opponents to a .216 batting average, the second-best mark of his career. 
    During the Blue Jays’ run to the World Series, Gausman only got better. In six appearances, he pitched to an ERA of 2.93. The right-hander tossed 30 ⅓ innings, recording 26 strikeouts, while holding opponents to a .159 average. 
    As the Blue Jays are dealing with injuries to José Berríos and Shane Bieber, while also slowly bringing rookie Trey Yesavage along, Gausman will be tasked with leading a rotation that is hopefully going to be a strength for the team in 2026. 
    Leo Morgenstern
    On Thursday, Blue Jays manager John Schneider revealed that Jose Berríos has been diagnosed with inflammation in his pitching elbow (per MLB.com's Keegan Matheson). Fortunately, no one seems overly concerned, and Berríos will not be shut down from baseball activities. 
    "I've been feeling great and throwing the ball well," Berríos told reporters (including Sportsnet's David Singh). "But the MRI says something, so now we have to take care of that."
    Indeed, both player and manager seem surprised by the results of the MRI. After all, just a few weeks ago, Berríos spoke about how healthy he was feeling: "Last year, at this time, I had doubt in my mind already. Today, I felt like nothing's on my mind. I'm clear."
    Schneider was clear to note that it was "different inflammation" than anything Berríos dealt with last season. Whether that's good news or bad news is hard to say.
    "We're kind of still in the information gathering stage," Schneider explained (per Singh).
    Leo Morgenstern
    Trey Yesavage and Ricky Tiedemann are two of the Blue Jays' top pitching prospects. Yesavage will play a key role for Toronto in 2026. Tiedemann could make an impact of his own. Yet, with just over two weeks left until Opening Day, neither has pitched in a spring training contest. 
    The Blue Jays are taking things extra slow with Yesavage to increase the chances that he's strong and healthy when the games matter most. That has meant keeping him out of Grapefruit League play thus far. However, MLB.com's Keegan Matheson reported on Tuesday that the young right-hander will pitch two innings in a minor league spring training game later today. It remains unclear what the plan is after that, but at least Yesavage will finally see some game action. As much as the team wants to protect him, pitching in actual competitive spring training baseball games is necessary if he's going to be ready for the start of the regular season.
    Meanwhile, Tiedemann was shut down with elbow soreness in late February. Tests came back negative for anything serious, but considering he hasn't pitched since July 2024 (Tommy John surgery), the Jays weren't going to take their chances. The lefty is on the 40-man roster now and has a very good chance to join Toronto's bullpen at some point in 2026, but rushing him back to the mound (and rushing him up to the majors) would be short-sighted.
    The good news is that, according to Matheson, Tiedemann started throwing again on Monday. He'll need time to ramp up safely, but this is a step in the right direction. He has already been optioned to Triple-A Buffalo, so it's safe to say he's officially ruled out for Opening Day. Still, it might not be long before we see Tiedemann on the mound at the Rogers Centre.
    Leo Morgenstern
    Caleb Freeman was getting ready to start the 2026 campaign in the Mexican League before the Blue Jays came calling. After seven years in the White Sox organization, Freeman elected free agency this past fall. He spent a few months on the open market before he landed with the Rieleros de Aguascalientes, but it turns out he won't be playing in Mexico after all. According to his transaction log on MLB.com, the right-hander signed a minor league contract with Toronto earlier this week.
    Freeman, 28, made his MLB debut with the White Sox in 2025, facing 16 batters over five appearances and recording 10 outs. He struck out three, walked one, and gave up two earned runs on five hits. While the sample was tiny and the results were mediocre, the righty hit 97 mph with his fastball and flashed a genuinely nasty slider against same-handed hitters.
    With that said, raw stuff has never been the problem for Freeman. His command has always been shaky, and he owns a 14.2% walk rate in his six minor league seasons. While he only walked one of the 16 batters he faced at the big league level in 2025, his 15.7% walk rate in 43 games between Double and Triple A suggests his control issues haven't gone away.
    Freeman has already been assigned to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, so he will presumably begin the year at Double A. He's an arm to keep in mind should the Blue Jays need a short-term stopgap in the 'pen, but he'll have to cut down on the walks if he wants an extended look in Toronto.
    Leo Morgenstern
    Veteran left-hander Joe Mantiply re-joined the Blue Jays today, signing a new minor league contract. Unsurprisingly, his deal includes an invitation to spring training.
    Mantiply, now 35, was a late bloomer. Following several years in the Tigers, Yankees, and Reds organizations, he broke out in his thirties with the Diamondbacks. From 2021-24, he pitched in 236 games for Arizona, putting up a 3.63 ERA and 3.49 xERA. He did an exceptional job of keeping the ball on the ground and limiting home runs. More than half of the batted balls he allowed in those four years were on the ground, and he kept his opponents to just 12 home runs in 820 trips to the plate.
    The lefty had a strong season in 2024 but struggled terribly in 2025. The D-backs optioned Mantiply in April after he gave up 13 runs and 20 hits over his first eight games. His struggles continued at Triple-A and in his brief return to the majors. Eventually, on June 1, the team for whom he made an All-Star appearance in 2022 and pitched meaningful postseason innings in 2023 released him, less than one year removed from a 75-game, 1.2 fWAR season. 
    After six weeks in the wilderness, Mantiply found a new home in the Blue Jays organization. He looked much more like his old self over two months with Buffalo, producing a 3.45 ERA and 1.90 FIP in 15.2 innings, striking out 19, walking none, and giving up just one home run. 
    Presumably, Mantiply was hoping to parlay that strong finish into a major league deal. Evidently, however, he was unable to land a guaranteed contract, so he chose to re-up with the organization that bought stock in him last summer. He will most likely start the season back at Triple-A, but if he performs anything like he did in his last stint in Buffalo, he'll get his chance in the big league bullpen eventually.
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