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Looking at which relievers would pitch in a healthy Blue Jays’ bullpen
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Photo credit: © Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Jul 6, 2025, 13:00 EDTUpdated: Jul 6, 2025, 05:46 EDT
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The Toronto Blue Jays are winning despite injuries to key players.
Their winning ways have led them to first in the American League East with a three-game cushion. It’ll also lead them to be buyers at the trade, where they’ll get a high-leverage reliever or two, as well as a starting pitcher.
Assuming every pitcher is healthy, what would the Blue Jays’ bullpen look like?

The best possible bullpen

As it stands, the Blue Jays’ bullpen is comprised of Jeff Hoffman, Yariel Rodríguez, Brendon Little, Braydon Fisher, Nick Sandlin, Chad Green, Lázaro Estrada, and Robinson Piña, the latter being called up after Yimi García was placed on the 15-day Injured List.
On top of García, other pitchers on the Injured List are Ryan Burr (60-day IL), Paxton Schultz (15-day IL), Angel Bastado (60-day IL), Bowden Francis (15-day IL), and Alek Manoah (60-day IL).
In the minor leagues and on the 40-man roster, Adam Macko and Easton Lucas are the healthy starters who’ll pitch this season, while Mason Fluharty and Justin Bruihl are the two relievers. Other notable relievers in the minor leagues are Jacob Barnes, Amir Garrett, Dillon Tate, and Tommy Nance. There’s also a chance Ricky Tiedemann will be back by the end of the season, although he probably won’t factor in the Blue Jays’ bullpen.
Let’s assume all of these pitchers are healthy. Of the players listed, Hoffman, Rodríguez, Green, García, and Burr don’t have options, meaning they would have to be designated for assignment if they don’t make one of the eight spots in the bullpen. Additionally, Bastardo is a Rule 5 pick, meaning he’ll have to spend the rest of the season on the 26-man roster after he recovers from Tommy John surgery or be returned to the Boston Red Sox.
Hoffman, Rodríguez, Green, and García will, without a doubt, be on the Jays’ 26-man roster if healthy. Green has struggled at points this season but has given up just one run in his last nine outings for a 1.04 ERA in 8.2 innings.  On top of those four players, Little and Fisher have done enough to earn a permanent spot in the bullpen. Sandlin is another pitcher who’ll more than likely maintain a permanent spot in the rotation.
As for Burr, he’s the wild card as he hasn’t pitched all season in the big leagues, but finished with a 33.6 K% last season with the Jays. Realistically, there will be one spot up for grabs for Burr, Estrada, Piña, Bastardo, Francis, Manoah, Schultz, Fluharty, and Burihl. It’s worth noting that the Jays can add another pitcher in September, as the roster expands to 28.
The six players who’ll be main stays in a healthy Blue Jays system is: Hoffman, García, Green, Rodríguez, Little, Fisher, and one of Burr/Fluharty/Piña, along with one of Manoah/Schultz/Estrada/Francis. However, the answer is a little murkier when you add in the trade deadline.
The Blue Jays’ pitching has not been good this season. Collectively, the Blue Jays’ pitching has a 4.24 ERA, the ninth-worst in the league, while their 4.31 FIP ranks tied for seventh-worst. Their starters have posted a 4.65 ERA and 4.60 FIP, both the sixth-worst in the league. Toronto’s relievers have been better, posting a 3.70 ERA, 11th-best in the league.
That said, there’s a good chance the Blue Jays add a starter and one reliever, possibly even two. In that case, Eric Lauer would move to the rotation to the bullpen, taking one of the eight spots, probably as a long man. Assuming the reliever the Jays acquire at the deadline is high leverage, the two most obvious candidates he’d replace are Burr or Sandlin. The latter is the better option, as Sandlin has options and can be called up when the rosters expand in September.
All of this is to say that the Blue Jays’ bullpen, which is already nearly a top-10 bullpen in the league, will have a ton of depth when/if they return to full health. Add in a handful of arms at the trade deadline, and this will be a strength heading into the stretch drive for the postseason.
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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