CJ Van Eyk elects free agency
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Photo credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images
Michael Coyle
Nov 5, 2026, 13:42 EST
CJ Van Eyk is headed to the open market. 
On Monday, the Toronto Blue Jays announced that Van Eyk cleared outright waivers and was assigned to Triple-A Buffalo. 
Per the Major League Baseball transaction log, Van Eyk elected free agency later that evening and is now free to sign with any team in the league. 
Van Eyk appeared in five games (one start) with the Blue Jays in 2026 and went 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. Van Eyk struck out three batters across 11.2 innings and was hit at a .300 clip. 
Originally drafted by the Blue Jays in the second round of the 2020 MLB draft, Van Eyk spent almost five full seasons in the minors before having his contract selected by Toronto on July 12. 
Van Eyk made his MLB debut on July 17 during a 12-4 loss against the Chicago White Sox. The right-hander turned in a pitching line of 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, and picked up his first MLB strikeout when he got White Sox third baseman Colson Montgomery swinging on a 1-2 curveball. 
After being optioned the following day, Van Eyk returned for two more appearances in July, and finished the month with an 0-1 record, a 4.76 ERA, and a 2.12 WHIP across 5.2 innings pitched. 
Van Eyk made one more relief appearance in August before he was recalled on September 23 to make his first career MLB start during the second half of a double header against the Baltimore Orioles. Van Eyk threw 84 pitches and was charged with the loss after turning in a pitching line of 5.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, in what finished as a 4-2 Blue Jays loss. 
In 24 games (18 starts) with the Bisons this season, Van Eyk went 7-5 with a 4.02 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. The 28-year-old struck out 77 batters across 112 innings and was hit at a .259 clip.

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