Jacob Barnes and Richard Lovelady have been given the final two spots in the Blue Jays bullpen, per manager John Schneider
Jacob Barnes and Richard Lovelady win final two spots in the Blue Jays bullpen
Photo credit: © Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Mar 23, 2025, 14:15 EDTUpdated: Mar 23, 2025, 14:18 EDT
The Toronto Blue Jays bullpen is set.
During Sunday’s broadcast, Blue Jays manager John Schneider broke the news that the final two bullpen spots belong to Richard Lovelady and Jacob Barnes. That doesn’t only set the bullpen but the 26-man roster is now set as well.
Due to Tommy Nance not having options and failing to make the 26-man roster, he’ll be designated for assignment whenever the roster moves becomes official. Moreover, left-handed pitcher Ryan Yarbrough is set to opt out of his contract.
The Blue Jays are not adding Ryan Yarbrough, who was slated to pitch today, but packed up his locker and left the PDC. He'll become a free agent at 2 pm ET.
With the news that Will Wagner, Alan Roden, Nathan Lukes, and Myles Straw made the roster on Sunday, as well as Davis Schneider and Tyler Heineman, being told they made the roster on Saturday, the 26-man roster is now set and is as follows:
Catchers: Alejandro Kirk, Tyler Heineman
Infielders: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Andrés Giménez, Bo Bichette, Ernie Clement, Will Wagner
Outfielders: Anthony Santander, George Springer, Alan Roden, Myles Straw, Nathan Lukes, Davis Schneider
Starters: José Berríos, Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt, Bowden Francis, Max Scherzer
Relievers: Jeff Hoffman, Chad Green, Yimi García, Nick Sandlin, Yariel Rodríguez, Brendon Little, Richard Lovelady, Jacob Barnes
Barnes didn’t have a great Spring Training, posting a 6.75 ERA and a 5.64 FIP in 5.1 innings pitched. Lovelady didn’t fare much better, as he had a 6.48 ERA and an 8.68 FIP in 8.1 innings pitched. As for Nance, who’ll be DFA’ed, he had a 5.06 ERA and an 8.08 FIP. There are a handful of pitchers on the injured list, Ryan Burr, Zach Pop, and Erik Swanson, while the Jays have Nick Robertson, Josh Walker, Dillon Tate, and Easton Lucas in the minor leagues and on the 40-man roster.
Still, it’s a little confounding the Jays took Lovelady and Barnes over Yarbrough and a pitcher like Mason Fluharty. Yarbrough had a 4.05 ERA and a 1.81 FIP in 6.2 innings pitched while Fluharty had a 1.29 ERA and a 2.34 FIP in seven innings pitched.
The Blue Jays’ regular season starts on Thursday as they start with a series against the Baltimore Orioles.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. They can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.