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Trey Yesavage Trey Yesavage Limited workload to start season
Fri, Mar 6, 2026, 11:53 AM
Yesavage could face an abbreviated workload to begin the season, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: The Blue Jays have been pitching Yesavage in live batting practice sessions rather than games, and there's no timeline for when he will appear in a Grapefruit League contest. Manager John Schneider noted Friday of Yesavage that "we still view him as a starter," but the righty could be limited to 3-4 innings per start early on in the season. Toronto is being careful with Yesavage's workload after he threw 139.2 innings in 2025, including the postseason, which was a 46.1-inning jump from 2024 at East Carolina. |
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Ricky Tiedemann Ricky Tiedemann Remains shut down from throwing
Fri, Mar 6, 2026, 10:47 AM
Tiedemann (elbow) has yet to resume a throwing program, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: Tiedemann was shut down a couple weeks ago after feeling left elbow soreness following a bullpen session. An MRI cleared the lefty of structural damage, and Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Friday that Tiedemann could be cleared to resume throwing "hopefully in the next couple of days." |
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Shane Bieber Shane Bieber No timetable for mound work
Fri, Mar 6, 2026, 10:44 AM
Bieber (forearm) had a heavy flat-ground throwing day Friday, but there remains no timetable for when he will throw from the mound, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Friday that "all reports are good" on Bieber, who is "champing at the bit." It's clear, however, that Toronto will continue to proceed cautiously with the right-hander as he works his way back from last year's forearm fatigue. Bieber has already been ruled out for Opening Day, and given where he's at in his throwing program, a minimum stay on the injured list seems unlikely. |
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Jeff Hoffman Jeff Hoffman Plans to ease back on fastball
Wed, Mar 4, 2026, 1:07 PM
Hoffman plans to throw his four-seam fastball less often in 2026 while increasing his slider usage, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet reports.
Analysis: Two years ago with the Phillies, Hoffman threw his slider 47.9 percent of the time and his four-seamer 27.4 percent, and the result was a 2.41 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 33.2 percent strikeout rate over 52.1 innings, as well as a barrel rate allowed in the 99th percentile and a hard-hit rate allowed in the 95th percentile. In 2025, while feeling the weight of a big free-agent contract from the Jays and his first season as a full-time closer, the right-hander tried to attack the zone more often and threw his fastball 37.4 percent of the time, while reducing his slider usage to 29.9 percent. His numbers took a big step backward as a result, highlighted by a first percentile barrel rate allowed and 58th percentile hard-hit rate allowed. A renewed emphasis on his slider, which generated a career-high 47.4 percent whiff rate last season, should help Hoffman regain some of the dominance that slipped away from him. |
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Joe Mantiply Joe Mantiply Inks deal with Toronto
Tue, Mar 3, 2026, 7:11 PM
Mantiply signed a minor-league contract with the Blue Jays on Tuesday that includes an invite to big-league spring training.
Analysis: The 35-year-old lefty spent the previous six seasons with the Diamondbacks but was released last June. Mantiply then inked a minor-league pact with Toronto in July. He appeared in 14 games out of the bullpen for Triple-A Buffalo, posting a 3.45 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 19:0 K:BB across 15.2 innings but didn't appear in any big-league games for the Blue Jays. Mantiply will compete for one of the final spots in the bullpen ahead of Opening Day. |
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Adam Macko Adam Macko Optioned to Triple-A
Tue, Mar 3, 2026, 4:54 PM
The Blue Jays optioned Macko to Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: The left-hander delivered two scoreless appearances early in camp but was never a likely bet to make Toronto's Opening Day roster. Macko started in 10 of his 18 appearances at Triple-A last season, finishing with a 5.06 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 65:36 K:BB over 64 innings. |
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Addison Barger Addison Barger Slugs first spring homer
Tue, Mar 3, 2026, 12:24 PM
Barger went 1-for-4 with a grand slam in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox.
Analysis: The 26-year-old got hold of a hanging splitter from minor-leaguer Patrick Halligan for his first homer of the spring. Barger is expected to spend most of his time in right field this season while Kazuma Okamoto handles third base, and defensive stability could allow him to build on his 2025 breakout at the plate, when he slashed .243/.301/.454 in 135 games with 21 home runs. |
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Cody Ponce Cody Ponce Getting stretched out
Tue, Mar 3, 2026, 12:21 PM
Ponce allowed one run on four hits over two innings in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox. He struck out two without walking a batter.
Analysis: The right-hander built up to 32 pitches (18 strikes) against a Boston lineup that consisted of prospects and big-league depth players. Ponce has looked good so far this spring as he gets ready to pitch in MLB for the first time since 2021, posting a 4:0 K:BB through his first two appearances and three innings. |
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Max Scherzer Max Scherzer Will be ready for start of season
Tue, Mar 3, 2026, 9:51 AM
Scherzer said Tuesday that he is completely over last year's nagging thumb issues and will be ready to go at the start of the season, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Scherzer also confirmed that he will make his Grapefruit League debut Saturday against the Phillies and hopes to throw multiple innings. The 41-year-old agreed to terms with the Blue Jays just last week, but he's been throwing on his own and appears to be built up stamina-wise where he would normally be at this stage of spring training. Scherzer isn't guaranteed a spot in the Toronto rotation when the regular season begins, however, as Jose Berrios also appears to be over his 2025 injury issues. |
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Max Scherzer Max Scherzer Could pitch in game Saturday
Mon, Mar 2, 2026, 10:13 AM
Scherzer could be ready for his Grapefruit League debut as soon as Saturday versus the Phillies, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: Scherzer is in Blue Jays camp after agreeing to terms last week, though his deal has yet to be officially announced. It's not a given that the 41-year-old will be part of the Opening Day rotation, but Scherzer had been throwing on his own so it shouldn't take too long to rebuild his stamina. |
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Jose Berrios Jose Berrios No-hits Yankees over four frames
Sun, Mar 1, 2026, 12:25 PM
Berrios gave up zero hits or runs over four innings Saturday in the Blue Jays' split-squad game against the Yankees. He struck out two and walked two.
Analysis: The 31-year-old right-hander is looking to bounce back from a tough 2025 season, and Berrios was impressive Saturday against a New York lineup that features Aaron Judge, Jazz Chisholm and other Opening Day starters. Berrios picked up velocity as the outing progressed, and his fastest pitch of the day registered at 94.5 mph on a four-seamer to top prospect Spencer Jones in the third inning -- a very good sign after he averaged just 93.0 mph with the pitch last season, the lowest mark of his career. With Shane Bieber (forearm) set to miss Opening Day and begin the year on the IL, there's a spot in the rotation for Berrios, but he'll need to show last year's injuries and struggles are behind him to claim it. |
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Dylan Cease Dylan Cease Fans three in spring debut
Sun, Mar 1, 2026, 12:13 PM
Cease allowed one run on one hit and one walk over 1.2 innings during the Blue Jays' split-squad game against the Phillies on Saturday. He struck out three.
Analysis: Making his Grapefruit League debut for Toronto, Cease threw his first pitch of the day at 98.3 mph, and he topped out at 98.9 mph with his four-seamer. The right-hander did serve up a second-inning solo shot to Bryan De La Cruz, but otherwise it was a strong first outing in a Jays uniform as he tossed 19 of 33 pitches for strikes. Cease will slot in at the top of the rotation after the 30-year-old right-hander signed a seven-year, $210 million deal over the winter. He's topped 200 strikeouts in five straight seasons, posting a 3.72 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 11.3 K/9 during that stretch while averaging about 32 starts and 177 innings a year. |
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Cody Ponce Cody Ponce Perfect inning in spring debut
Thu, Feb 26, 2026, 10:06 AM
Ponce struck out two in a perfect inning during the Blue Jays' Grapefruit League game against the Tigers on Wednesday.
Analysis: The 31-year-old right-hander fired 16 of 22 pitches for strikes in his spring debut, getting Parker Meadows to swing through a cutter before fooling top prospect Kevin McGonigle with the kick-change that helped him turn his career around overseas. Ponce won the KBO's MVP Award in 2025 with the Hanwha Eagles on the strength of a 1.89 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 252:41 K:BB over 180.2 innings, a performance that netted him a three-year, $30 million deal from Toronto this offseason. He's being counted on to fill a mid-rotation spot in his return to MLB, and the kick-change may give him more strikeout upside than projected against big-league hitters. |
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Max Scherzer Max Scherzer May not be part of initial rotation
Thu, Feb 26, 2026, 9:54 AM
Scherzer could ramp up slowly to begin the season, with the Blue Jays more concerned about having him available in September and October than March and April, Mitch Bannon and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic report.
Analysis: The 41-year-old right-hander made one start in March last season before being shut down due to a lingering thumb issue, and Scherzer didn't re-join the Toronto rotation until late June. Having re-signed with the team Wednesday on a one-year deal that could be worth up to $13 million with incentives, a similar plan could be in place for 2026, although Scherzer at least appears to be healthier this spring. Even with Shane Bieber (forearm) set to begin the season on the IL, the Jays have plenty of healthy rotation depth at this point in camp, with Kevin Gausman, Dylan Cease, Trey Yesavage, Cody Ponce, Jose Berrios and Eric Lauer capable of taking regular turns to begin the campaign. |
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Trey Yesavage Trey Yesavage Easing into action
Tue, Feb 24, 2026, 10:55 AM
Yesavage threw a side session Tuesday and is expected to make his Grapefruit League debut sometime next week, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: The Blue Jays are building up Yesavage deliberately following a considerable workload jump in 2025. His next mound work will be a live batting practice session, and a Grapefruit League start could follow that. The top pitching prospect threw 139.2 innings in 2025, including the postseason, after logging 93.1 innings as a junior at East Carolina in 2024. The Blue Jays plan to manage Yesavage's workload fluidly throughout the season, per Zwelling, who notes that Yesavage could have starts skipped or pushed back depending on how he's recovering between outings. |
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Ricky Tiedemann Ricky Tiedemann Battling elbow soreness
Tue, Feb 24, 2026, 10:22 AM
Tiedemann experienced left elbow soreness after a side session last week and will be shut down from throwing for a week after undergoing an MRI, which came back clean, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: It's encouraging that the left-hander appears to have avoided any structural damage, but any elbow problems early in camp are particularly notable after he missed all of 2025 while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. Tiedemann is one of the Blue Jays' top prospects, and the organization was considering having him work as a reliever this season in his first year back from the procedure. The 23-year-old's outlook could gain some clarity next week when he's re-evaluated, but his availability for the start of the campaign is now in question regardless of whether or not a longer shutdown is needed. |
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Jose Berrios Jose Berrios Pitched through biceps injury
Mon, Feb 23, 2026, 1:48 PM
Berrios revealed Monday that he pitched through a biceps tendon injury throughout the 2025 season, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Berrios admitted that he was already feeling less than 100 percent health-wise during spring training last year, but he didn't find out until September following an MRI that he had a biceps tendon issue. The righty wound up making 30 starts for the seventh consecutive non-COVID season, but he had a 5.15 ERA after the All-Star break and was demoted to the bullpen late in the year. Berrios said Monday that he's fully healthy now, and he is the leading candidate to serve as the Blue Jays' fifth starter while Shane Bieber (forearm) recuperates. |
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Daulton Varsho Daulton Varsho Starts spring with homer
Sun, Feb 22, 2026, 8:16 AM
Varsho went 2-for-2 with a solo home run in the Blue Jays' Grapefruit League game against the Phillies on Saturday.
Analysis: The center fielder took Seth Johnson deep in the fifth inning of Toronto's spring training opener. Varsho posted a career-high .832 OPS in 2025 while launching 20 home runs in only 71 games, and if he can stay healthy he seems poised to deliver his first career 30-homer campaign. |
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Andres Gimenez Andres Gimenez Played through ankle injury in 2025
Sat, Feb 21, 2026, 11:45 AM
Gimenez admitted he was still playing through pain at the end of last season after returning from a high-ankle sprain in August, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports. "Anyone who's had a high ankle sprain," Gimenez said in camp this week, "they know."
Analysis: The 27-year-old infielder was an overall disappointment in his first season with Toronto, slashing a career-worst .210/.285/.313 and swiping just 12 bases after back-to-back 30-steal campaigns for Cleveland. Gimenez will shift to shortstop on a full-time basis in 2026, and while his defense should still be an asset, his ability to stay healthy and provide some value with his bat and legs would be a welcome sight in a Jays offense that will be adjusting to the offseason departure of Bo Bichette. |
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Yimi Garcia Yimi Garcia Won't be ready for Opening Day
Fri, Feb 20, 2026, 5:58 PM
Garcia will "100 percent" not be ready for Opening Day as he continues to recover from surgery on his right elbow from last September, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet reports.
Analysis: Garcia underwent surgery to clean up scar tissue around his right elbow, which caused him to miss the Blue Jays' postseason run. The 35-year-old reliever has yet to throw off a mound but hopes to do so over the next week or two. Garcia's absence opens the door for other relievers such as Spencer Miles, Mason Fluharty and Chase Lee to earn larger roles for themselves for the start of the 2026 season. |
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