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Josh Winckowski Josh Winckowski Grabs minors deal from Jays
Wed, Dec 31, 2025, 5:39 PM
Winckowski (elbow) signed a two-year, minor-league contract with the Blue Jays on Wednesday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Analysis: Winckowski gave up five earned runs across 11.2 innings with the Red Sox in 2025 before suffering a flexor strain in May that kept him sidelined for the remainder of the season. The 27-year-old righty underwent an internal brace procedure earlier this month to address the issue and is likely to miss most, if not all, of the 2026 season as a result. Once Winckowski is fully recovered, the Jays are expected to build him back up as a starter. |
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Nic Enright Nic Enright Grabs MiLB deal from Toronto
Wed, Dec 31, 2025, 9:25 AM
The Blue Jays signed Enright (elbow) to a two-year, minor-league contract Wednesday, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Enright underwent Tommy John surgery in October, so he will rehab in the Blue Jays organization with an eye on returning in 2027. The 28-year-old posted a 2.03 ERA and 30:12 K:BB over 31 innings for the Guardians in 2025 before getting hurt and is under team control through 2031, so he could prove to be a savvy long-term investment. |
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Jorge Alcala Jorge Alcala Signs NRI pact with Toronto
Mon, Dec 29, 2025, 1:54 PM
The Blue Jays signed Alcala to a minor-league contract Dec. 18 that includes an invitation to spring training, Ari Alexander of 7 News Boston reports.
Analysis: Alcala held a 6.22 ERA, 1.75 WHIP and 61:30 K:BB across 55 innings in 2025 between the Twins, Red Sox and Cardinals and was non-tendered by St. Louis in November. The hard-throwing reliever will compete for a spot in the Blue Jays' bullpen but is likely to begin the 2026 campaign at Triple-A Buffalo. |
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Ricky Tiedemann Ricky Tiedemann Expected to be fully healthy for ST
Fri, Dec 26, 2025, 1:47 PM
Tiedemann (elbow) is expected to be fully healthy in time for camp, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Tiedemann missed the entire 2025 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in July of 2024, and he has totaled just 140 innings in the minors since being drafted by Toronto in 2021. Despite that, it was still an easy call for the Blue Jays to add Tiedemann to the 40-man roster in November for Rule 5 protection. While Tiedemann has flashed high upside and is close to full health, Matheson cautions that "even sniffing 100 (innings) feels very unlikely" in 2026 given all the missed time. "Hopefully he's a factor for us in our rotation," GM Ross Atkins said. "That's the plan, but we would be open to him impacting the team in a bulk role or some creative way, depending on how things are going." |
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Justin Bruihl Justin Bruihl Removed from 40-man roster
Mon, Dec 15, 2025, 5:42 PM
The Blue Jays designated Bruihl for assignment Monday.
Analysis: The transaction clears a spot on the 40-man roster for Tyler Rogers, whose signing was officially announced Monday. Bruihl made 15 appearances out of Toronto's bullpen in 2025, collecting a 5.27 ERA and 18:7 K:BB across 13.2 frames. The southpaw has been outrighted previously, so he would have to approve an outright assignment by the Blue Jays. |
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Michael Plassmeyer Michael Plassmeyer Gets minors pact from Blue Jays
Mon, Dec 15, 2025, 4:57 PM
The Blue Jays signed Plassmeyer to a minor-league contract Dec. 6.
Analysis: Plassmeyer spent all of the 2025 season at Triple-A Round Rock in the Rangers organization, posting a 4.43 ERA and 99:34 K:BB over 105.2 innings while splitting time between the rotation and bullpen. It's unclear what role the Blue Jays have in mind for the southpaw, but he's likely headed to Triple-A Buffalo to begin the 2026 season. |
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Tyler Rogers Tyler Rogers Inks three-year pact with Jays
Fri, Dec 12, 2025, 6:57 PM
Rogers signed a three-year, $37 million contract with the Blue Jays on Friday that includes a vesting option for 2029, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: After bolstering their rotation by signing Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce earlier this offseason, the Blue Jays now add an elite back-end bullpen arm in the form of Rogers. The 34-year-old righty enjoyed one of his best MLB seasons in 2025, logging a 1.98 ERA and 0.94 WHIP across 77.1 innings between the Giants and Mets. Given Jeff Hoffman's struggles as Toronto's primary closer this past season (4.37 ERA), there's a chance that Rogers takes over as the club's primary ninth-inning option. |
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Chase Lee Chase Lee Shipped to Toronto
Fri, Dec 12, 2025, 4:17 PM
The Tigers traded Lee to the Blue Jays on Friday in exchange for Johan Simon, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Lee reached the big leagues for the first time in 2025 and finished the regular season with a 4.10 ERA and 1.10 WHIP over 37.1 innings. He'll now help bolster Toronto's bullpen, but he's unlikely to work as more than a middle-relief option. |
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Shane Bieber Shane Bieber Coming back from forearm fatigue
Wed, Dec 10, 2025, 1:15 PM
Bieber dealt with right forearm fatigue toward the end of this season, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: It's not clear exactly when the issue popped up for Bieber, who was the last Blue Jays hurler to throw a pitch in Game 7 of the World Series against the Dodgers, serving up a go-ahead home run to Will Smith in the top of the 11th inning. General manager Ross Atkins said Monday that Bieber is "in a strong position" and the righty being ready for Opening Day is "a very realistic outcome." While the concern for Bieber doesn't currently seem to be high, the forearm issue and past Tommy John surgery surely weighed into the pitcher's decision to exercise a $16 million player option rather than test the open market. More should be known about Bieber's health status during spring training. |
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Anthony Santander Anthony Santander Healthy after shoulder/back issues
Tue, Dec 9, 2025, 1:19 PM
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Tuesday that Santander's left shoulder and back "finally feel normal" again, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Santander was limited to only 54 games in 2025 due to a shoulder subluxation and also a nagging lower-back issue. He slashed just .175/.271/.294 in those contests and saw his strikeout rate spike to 27.6 percent. It appears Santander is healthy now, though, and Schneider believes the 31-year-old "is going to be huge for us." Santander split his time between the outfield and designated hitter in 2025 and could do the same in 2026. |
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Yariel Rodriguez Yariel Rodriguez Sticking in bullpen
Mon, Dec 8, 2025, 7:55 PM
Rodriguez will remain a reliever heading into the 2026 season, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: The Blue Jays hope Rodriguez can continue to improve his command out of the bullpen after he excelled in a relief role down the stretch of the 2025 regular season. Free passes became an issue for him during the postseason, issuing four walks in 2.2 frames. Rodriguez was booted from the 40-man roster earlier this month, though he'll have a chance to win his spot back if he puts together a strong spring camp. |
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Shane Bieber Shane Bieber Workload could be eyed this spring
Mon, Dec 8, 2025, 5:40 PM
Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said Monday that the team could monitor Bieber's workload during spring training, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: Bieber isn't dealing with any known injury, but the Blue Jays will be careful with him in his first full season back from Tommy John surgery. The 30-year-old threw a total of 88 innings in 2025 after handling only 12 innings in 2024. Bieber exercised his $16 million player option for 2026 last month to remain with the Blue Jays rather than test the open market. |
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Trey Yesavage Trey Yesavage No hard innings cap in 2026
Mon, Dec 8, 2025, 4:47 PM
Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said Monday that Yesavage will be in the team's rotation in 2026 and will not have a strict innings limit, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: Between the minors, regular season and postseason, Yesavage threw a total of 139.2 innings in 2025 in his first professional season. While the Blue Jays will no doubt keep an eye on the right-hander's workload, particularly early on in the season, he will not be working with a strict innings cap. Yesavage posted a 3.21 ERA and 16:7 K:BB over 14 regular-season innings and a 3.58 ERA and 39:11 K:BB across 27.2 postseason frames for Toronto. |
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Louis Varland Louis Varland Will remain in bullpen
Mon, Dec 8, 2025, 4:25 PM
Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said Monday that Varland will remain in a bullpen role in 2026, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: Varland excelled in a full-time move to a relief role in 2025, posting a 2.97 ERA and 75:22 K:BB over 72.2 regular-season innings between the Blue Jays and Twins. The 28-year-old has a career 5.18 ERA over 23 starts at the major-league level, and it does not appear the Blue Jays have interest in giving Varland another chance to start anytime soon. He's likely to begin the 2026 campaign in a setup role. |
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Yariel Rodriguez Yariel Rodriguez Outrighted to Buffalo
Sat, Dec 6, 2025, 1:53 PM
Rodriguez cleared waivers Saturday and was sent outright to Triple-A Buffalo, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: Rodriguez's performance improved considerably upon moving to the bullpen in 2025, as he finished the regular season with a 3.08 ERA and 1.15 WHIP through 73 innings. Despite his strong numbers, he became the roster casualty necessary to make room for Cody Ponce, who signed with the Jays on Tuesday. None of the other 29 clubs were willing to pay Rodriguez the $17 million he's owed over the next three seasons, so the right-hander will remain in the organization without a spot on the 40-man roster and attempt to win it back during spring training. |
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Cody Ponce Cody Ponce Returning to MLB
Tue, Dec 2, 2025, 5:49 PM
Ponce signed a three-year, $30 million contract with the Blue Jays on Tuesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Ponce will return to Major League Baseball for the first time since 2021 after playing three seasons in Japan, followed by one year in Korea. He was dominant this past season in the KBO, turning in a 1.89 ERA and 0.94 WHIP across 180.2 innings and taking home the league's MVP award. He'll now join a Blue Jays squad that is putting a clear emphasis on adding rotation talent after also signing Dylan Cease earlier in the offseason. |
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Dylan Cease Dylan Cease Lands with Blue Jays
Wed, Nov 26, 2025, 5:35 PM
Cease signed a seven-year, $210 million contract with the Blue Jays on Wednesday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Analysis: Cease will join the reigning American League champions and further bolster a rotation that already features Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber and top prospect Trey Yesavage. The 29-year-old Cease was fairly underwhelming this past season, finishing with a 4.55 ERA and 1.33 WHIP across 168 regular-season innings. However, he's made at least 32 starts and struck out more than 210 batters every year since 2021, which helps to keep his fantasy appeal relatively high entering 2026. |
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Rodolfo Castro Rodolfo Castro Grabs NRI from Toronto
Tue, Nov 25, 2025, 8:29 AM
The Blue Jays signed Castro to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training, Ari Alexander of WHDH 7News in Boston reports.
Analysis: Castro spent the 2025 campaign at Triple-A Lehigh Valley in the Phillies organization, slashing .235/.324/.421with 19 homers and 18 steals over 133 contests. The 26-year-old utility infielder last appeared in the majors in 2023 and is likely to begin next season at Triple-A Buffalo. |
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Nick Sandlin Nick Sandlin Removed from 40-man
Sat, Nov 15, 2025, 11:41 AM
Sandlin (elbow) cleared waivers Saturday and was sent outright to Triple-A Buffalo, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: Sandlin was effective in the big leagues in 2025, turning in a 2.20 ERA and 1.16 WHIP across 16.1 regular-season innings with the Jays. However, right elbow inflammation sent him to the injured list in early July, and multiple setbacks in his recovery prevented him from returning. The 28-year-old righty will likely elect free agency and could attract significant attention after posting a 3.19 ERA through his first five MLB seasons. |
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Jeff Hoffman Jeff Hoffman Closer job not guaranteed in 2026
Sat, Nov 8, 2025, 4:44 PM
General manager Ross Atkins said Thursday that the Blue Jays aren't committed to using Hoffman as their primary closer in 2026, Rob Longley of The Toronto Sun reports.
Analysis: Although he finished 2025 with a career-high 33 saves, Hoffman's first year in Toronto was met with struggles. He posted a 4.37 ERA and 1.19 WHIP over 68 innings during the regular season and, most notably, blew a save during Game 7 of the World Series. Atkins brought up Yimi Garcia (elbow) and Louis Varland as potential options to work the ninth inning next season instead of Hoffman and didn't rule out the possibility of acquiring someone in the offseason to fill the role. |
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