Last season, the Toronto Blue Jays were bad.

More specifically, their bullpen was bad. In 2023, it was a top 10 bullpen in most stats but finished with an American League-worst 4.82 ERA and a league-worst 4.84 FIP. The Jays bullpen also had a 20.7 K%, the second-lowest in the league while posting a 1.46 HR/9, by far the worst in the league.
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That issue was a catalyst for their 74-88 season, leading them to sell at the trade deadline. Throughout the season, especially after their postseason fate was sealed, the Blue Jays acquired quite a handful of relievers either through small trades or by claiming them off waivers.
In total, 11 players fit this criteria, with six players remaining on the 40-man roster. Of those six, only one doesn’t have an option year in 2025.
Ealy in the 2023-24 off-season, the Blue Jays traded cash considerations to the Chicago Cubs for Brendon Little. Although he didn’t start the season on the 26-man roster, the left-handed pitcher became somewhat of a regular, posting a 3.74 ERA and a 4.90 FIP in 45.2 innings pitched, the most of any player on this list. Little had the third-highest ground ball percentage (70.9%) in the league in 2024 and has two option years remaining. He’s also their only projected left-handed reliever in the bullpen for now.
Ryan Burr fits a similar boat, as the Blue Jays hadn’t fully committed to selling, but Burr wasn’t on the Blue Jays 26-man roster to start the season. They acquired him on May 30 from the Philadelphia Phillies for cash considerations and he finished with a 4.13 ERA and a 3.07 FIP in 32.2 innings pitched, with the second-highest K% on the team (33.6%). Like Little, he has an option year in 2025, meaning he provides the Jays with valuable depth.
Not all reliever additions help though. On Jun. 23, the Blue Jays claimed José Cuas from the Chicago Cubs, getting the call-up on Jun. 29 to replace the departing Tim Mayza. In his first appearance, <a href="https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/blue-jays-jose-cuas-throws-three-pitches-makes-history/">Cuas allowed three runs on just three pitches</a>, becoming the first pitcher in modern history to hit two batters in three pitches. Cuas was DFA&#8217;ed on Sep. 5.
On Jun. 30, the Blue Jays traded 2023 draft prospect Josh Mollerus to the Texas Rangers for the recently DFA’ed Yerry Rodríguez. The 27-year-old didn’t do too well in his four appearances with the Blue Jays, giving up eight earned runs in 4.2 innings pitched for a 15.43 ERA. He was DFA’ed on Sep. 12.
Another pitcher who did well acclimating to the Blue Jays bullpen was Tommy Nance. Acquired in a trade with the San Diego Padres on Aug. 7, Nance posted a 4.09 ERA and a 3.98 FIP in 22 innings pitched with a 20.4 K% and a 9.7 BB%. His Stuff+ of 134 ranked tied for 14th in 2024, but he is out of option years in 2025, meaning he has to make the team’s roster.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
the 50 pitchers with the nastiest stuff in baseball last season (stuff+) <a href="https://t.co/Y0wevUwcAY">pic.twitter.com/Y0wevUwcAY</a>
&mdash; BrooksGate (@Brooks_Gate) <a href="https://twitter.com/Brooks_Gate/status/1884283041251746009?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Luis Frías didn’t work out for the Jays, unfortunately. Claimed by the Jays on Aug. 10 from the Arizona Diamondbacks, he gave up eight earned runs in 3.1 innings pitched for a 21.60 ERA. Last season with the National League pennant-winning Diamondbacks, he finished with a 4.06 ERA and a 4.67 FIP. He was DFA’ed on Nov. 4 and elected free agency, signing with the Cleveland Guardians in early January.
Easton Lucas is another pitcher still on the Blue Jays 40-man roster. Claimed from the Detroit Tigers on Aug. 19, Lucas struggled in the big leagues, posting an 11.57 ERA in 4.2 innings with the Jays. However, his tenure with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons was encouraging, as he had a 1.37 ERA and a 2.50 FIP, starting the final three games he appeared in. With two option years remaining, he gives the Jays potentially a depth starter or another LHP for their bullpen.
At the start of September, the Blue Jays claimed Dillon Tate off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles. He had an impressive 2022 with a 3.05 ERA and a 3.48 FIP in 73.2 innings pitched but put up mediocre numbers with the Orioles in 2024. With the Jays, he pitched just 3.1 innings with a 5.40 ERA and a 3.47 FIP. He was non-tendered before the deadline.
Brett de Geus was claimed less than two weeks later on Sep. 12. Like many other relievers already covered, he’s no longer on the 40-man, as he struggled by giving up four earned runs in 2.1 innings pitched. He was DFA’ed on Jan. 10 and claimed by the Pirates.
Their last in-season waiver claim was Nick Robertson, claiming the 26-year-old on Sep. 17 from the Los Angeles Angels. He pitched a scoreless inning on the final day of the season. He was involved in two sizable trades in the past year and a half, first going to the Boston Red Sox for Enrique Hernández at the 2023 trade deadline, before being traded to the Cardinals for Tyler O’Neill before the start of the 2024 season. He has an option year for 2025.
Lastly, Michael Petersen was claimed on Nov. 5 from the Miami Marlins. The 30-year-old finally made the big leagues in 2024 after playing in the minor leagues since 2015. It wasn’t a great year for him, as he posted a 5.95 ERA and a 5.56 FIP in 19.2 innings pitched with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Marlins. However, his numbers in Triple-A were encouraging, as he had a 1.64 ERA and a 2.29 FIP in 33 innings pitched with the Dodgers’ Triple-A team. His fastball sat 97 mph and he has two option years remaining.
The Jays have drastically improved their bullpen this off-season, signing Jeff Hoffman, bringing back Yimi García, and trading for Nick Sandlin. With the Blue Jays signing Max Scherzer on Thursday, they can push Yariel Rodríguez to the bullpen as the long-man/spot starter. There’ll be a handful of intriguing relievers &#8211; Easton Lucas, Brendon Little, Ryan Burr, Tommy Nance, Nick Robertson, and Michael Petersen &#8211; who fill out their depth nicely.
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As always, you can follow me on Bluesky @ryleydelaney.bsky.social.
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Last season, the Toronto Blue Jays were bad.



More specifically, their bullpen was bad. In 2023, it was a top 10 bullpen in most stats but finished with an American League-worst 4.82 ERA and a league-worst 4.84 FIP. The Jays bullpen also had a 20.7 K%, the second-lowest in the league while posting a 1.46 HR/9, by far the worst in the league.
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That issue was a catalyst for their 74-88 season, leading them to sell at the trade deadline. Throughout the season, especially after their postseason fate was sealed, the Blue Jays acquired quite a handful of relievers either through small trades or by claiming them off waivers.

In total, 11 players fit this criteria, with six players remaining on the 40-man roster. Of those six, only one doesn’t have an option year in 2025.

Ealy in the 2023-24 off-season, the Blue Jays traded cash considerations to the Chicago Cubs for Brendon Little. Although he didn’t start the season on the 26-man roster, the left-handed pitcher became somewhat of a regular, posting a 3.74 ERA and a 4.90 FIP in 45.2 innings pitched, the most of any player on this list. Little had the third-highest ground ball percentage (70.9%) in the league in 2024 and has two option years remaining. He’s also their only projected left-handed reliever in the bullpen for now.

Ryan Burr fits a similar boat, as the Blue Jays hadn’t fully committed to selling, but Burr wasn’t on the Blue Jays 26-man roster to start the season. They acquired him on May 30 from the Philadelphia Phillies for cash considerations and he finished with a 4.13 ERA and a 3.07 FIP in 32.2 innings pitched, with the second-highest K% on the team (33.6%). Like Little, he has an option year in 2025, meaning he provides the Jays with valuable depth.

Not all reliever additions help though. On Jun. 23, the Blue Jays claimed José Cuas from the Chicago Cubs, getting the call-up on Jun. 29 to replace the departing Tim Mayza. In his first appearance, <a href="https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/blue-jays-jose-cuas-throws-three-pitches-makes-history/">Cuas allowed three runs on just three pitches</a>, becoming the first pitcher in modern history to hit two batters in three pitches. Cuas was DFA'ed on Sep. 5.

On Jun. 30, the Blue Jays traded 2023 draft prospect Josh Mollerus to the Texas Rangers for the recently DFA’ed Yerry Rodríguez. The 27-year-old didn’t do too well in his four appearances with the Blue Jays, giving up eight earned runs in 4.2 innings pitched for a 15.43 ERA. He was DFA’ed on Sep. 12.

Another pitcher who did well acclimating to the Blue Jays bullpen was Tommy Nance. Acquired in a trade with the San Diego Padres on Aug. 7, Nance posted a 4.09 ERA and a 3.98 FIP in 22 innings pitched with a 20.4 K% and a 9.7 BB%. His Stuff+ of 134 ranked tied for 14th in 2024, but he is out of option years in 2025, meaning he has to make the team’s roster.

https://twitter.com/Brooks_Gate/status/1884283041251746009

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Luis Frías didn’t work out for the Jays, unfortunately. Claimed by the Jays on Aug. 10 from the Arizona Diamondbacks, he gave up eight earned runs in 3.1 innings pitched for a 21.60 ERA. Last season with the National League pennant-winning Diamondbacks, he finished with a 4.06 ERA and a 4.67 FIP. He was DFA’ed on Nov. 4 and elected free agency, signing with the Cleveland Guardians in early January.

Easton Lucas is another pitcher still on the Blue Jays 40-man roster. Claimed from the Detroit Tigers on Aug. 19, Lucas struggled in the big leagues, posting an 11.57 ERA in 4.2 innings with the Jays. However, his tenure with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons was encouraging, as he had a 1.37 ERA and a 2.50 FIP, starting the final three games he appeared in. With two option years remaining, he gives the Jays potentially a depth starter or another LHP for their bullpen.

At the start of September, the Blue Jays claimed Dillon Tate off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles. He had an impressive 2022 with a 3.05 ERA and a 3.48 FIP in 73.2 innings pitched but put up mediocre numbers with the Orioles in 2024. With the Jays, he pitched just 3.1 innings with a 5.40 ERA and a 3.47 FIP. He was non-tendered before the deadline.

Brett de Geus was claimed less than two weeks later on Sep. 12. Like many other relievers already covered, he’s no longer on the 40-man, as he struggled by giving up four earned runs in 2.1 innings pitched. He was DFA’ed on Jan. 10 and claimed by the Pirates.

Their last in-season waiver claim was Nick Robertson, claiming the 26-year-old on Sep. 17 from the Los Angeles Angels. He pitched a scoreless inning on the final day of the season. He was involved in two sizable trades in the past year and a half, first going to the Boston Red Sox for Enrique Hernández at the 2023 trade deadline, before being traded to the Cardinals for Tyler O’Neill before the start of the 2024 season. He has an option year for 2025.

Lastly, Michael Petersen was claimed on Nov. 5 from the Miami Marlins. The 30-year-old finally made the big leagues in 2024 after playing in the minor leagues since 2015. It wasn’t a great year for him, as he posted a 5.95 ERA and a 5.56 FIP in 19.2 innings pitched with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Marlins. However, his numbers in Triple-A were encouraging, as he had a 1.64 ERA and a 2.29 FIP in 33 innings pitched with the Dodgers’ Triple-A team. His fastball sat 97 mph and he has two option years remaining.

The Jays have drastically improved their bullpen this off-season, signing Jeff Hoffman, bringing back Yimi García, and trading for Nick Sandlin. With the Blue Jays signing Max Scherzer on Thursday, they can push Yariel Rodríguez to the bullpen as the long-man/spot starter. There’ll be a handful of intriguing relievers - Easton Lucas, Brendon Little, Ryan Burr, Tommy Nance, Nick Robertson, and Michael Petersen - who fill out their depth nicely.

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As always, you can follow me on Bluesky @ryleydelaney.bsky.social.

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Blue Jays have improved their bullpen depth drastically with small acquistions

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