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Examining which relievers have a chance to fill the final spot in the Blue Jays’ bullpen
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Photo credit: © Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Mar 22, 2026, 12:30 EDTUpdated: Mar 22, 2026, 12:09 EDT
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It appears as if the Toronto Blue Jays have just one more bullpen opening ahead of Friday’s season opener.
According to Fangraphs’ roster resource tool, the Blue Jays expected to have Jeff Hoffman as the closer, with Tyler Rogers and Louis Varland setup men. In middle relief,. They list Braydon Fisher, Mason Fluharty, Tommy Nance, and Brendon Little in middle relief, leaving just one spot left.
In time, that spot will hopefully be filled by Yimi García, while Eric Lauer could eventually make his return to the bullpen once one of José Berríos, Shane Bieber, or Trey Yesavage comes off the injured list. Time will tell what happens with the Blue Jays bullpen, but for now, it’s worth it to look at some of the names in the mix for that final spot.
On Saturday, the Blue Jays granted Connor Seabold his release and optioned Lázaro Estrada to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. Both pitchers seemed as potential options for the final spot, as did Adam Macko.
As you likely know, the Blue Jays will need to make a decision regarding two Rule 5 draftees, Angel Bastardo and Spencer Miles. The former was selected in the 2024 Rule 5 draft and missed all of last season, while Miles was selected in December. If they don’t make the Opening Day roster, they’ll be offered back to their original teams, Bastardo to the Boston Red Sox and Miles to the San Francisco Giants.
Neither pitcher has stood out in Spring Training, as both pitchers have had subpar results. They were selected for their potential, but the Jays would have to carry Bastardo on the 26-man roster for 90 days before optioning him, and Miles would need to stay on the 26-man roster for the entire season. They do offer length out of the bullpen, which is something the Jays are looking for.
Chase Lee is one of the favourites to earn the final spot, because not only does he have big league experience, but he’s pitched six and one-third scoreless innings this season. He’s shown the ability to generate whiffs and strikeouts in the past, look no further than his minor league season in 2025, but he only has an 18.2 K% this Spring Training. Lee has options this year, meaning he could be an odd man out.
There are still plenty of non-roster invitees that the Jays will need to make a decision on. They are Jorge Alcala, Tanner Andrews, Chad Dallas, Nate Garkow, Josh Fleming, Ryan Jennings, Joe Mantiply, Michael Plassmeyer, Yariel Rodríguez, and Jesse Hahn.
Only a handful of those players have a realistic chance, namely Rodríguez, Hahn, Mantiply, and Plassmeyer. Rodríguez was a part of the big league team for the last two seasons, but was outrighted following the 2025 season, didn’t pitch particularly well in the World Baseball Classic, and has given up seven earned runs over three innings.
Mantiply has big league experience in the past, even being named as an All-Star in 2022 when he was with the Diamondbacks. After a good 2024 season, he struggled to begin the 2025 season before eventually being designated for assignment and signing a minor league deal with the Jays. This past off-season, Mantiply returned to the Jays on a minor league deal and has a 3 ERA in three innings of work this Spring Training.
Hahn is another pitcher with big league experience, but due to injury, he missed the 2022 and 2023 seasons, and only pitched in the minor leagues in 2024. The 36-year-old returned to the big league last season, throwing just five innings in three outings, and he has a 5.40 ERA and 4.11 FIP in 6.2 innings pitched this Spring Training.
Left-handed pitcher Josh Fleming has gotten a significant number of games this Spring Training, appearing in seven games where he’s pitched eight innings. In that span, he has a 4.50 ERA and 4.66 FIP. Like Hahn, Mantiply, and Rodríguez, Fleming has big league experience, posting a 4.77 ERA and 4.65 FIP in 254.2 big league innings, most recently in 2024 with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
My dark horse to fill the final spot is Plassmeyer. A left-handed pitcher, he’s thrown five and one-third innings this Spring Training, where he has a 3.38 ERA and 1.41 FIP thanks to no free passes and a 25 K%. He offers the Blue Jays length as well, pitching 105.2 innings in the Texas Rangers’ organization last season.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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