logo
Outside a big bat, the Blue Jays’ biggest need is a left-handed leverage reliever
alt
Photo credit: © Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Jan 9, 2026, 12:00 ESTUpdated: Jan 9, 2026, 05:24 EST
Comments
Coming into the off-season, the Toronto Blue Jays had several needs.
One is still prevalent, and that is the fact that they’ll need to find Bo Bichette’s replacement in the lineup. It could be a returning Bichette, or hopefully, adding Kyle Tucker to the mix because that fit is just so perfect.
Most of their other needs have been dealt with. Adding a starter pitcher? Check, plus the bonus of Shane Bieber opting into his player option. High-leverage reliever? Check, they signed Tyler Rogers, who has consistently been one of the best relievers in baseball in the 2020s. For good measure, the Jays added Kazuma Okamoto, a third baseman who can also play first base and left field.
That pressing need of adding an impact bat still has to be addressed, but there is another under-the-radar type of need: Acquiring a high-leverage left-handed reliever. As it stands, Brendon Little is their go-to option, which isn’t ideal.
Overall, Little had a pretty good season, finishing with a 3.03 ERA and 2.92 FIP in 68.1 innings pitched, appearing in 79 regular season games. Command was a massive problem for the 29-year-old in 2025, but he struck out 30.8% of batters he faced, while also giving up just two home runs. The lefty also did a good job of keeping the ball on the ground, as he had a 59% ground ball percentage.
Little’s stats are propped up by a strong first two months to the season, where he had a 1.37 ERA and 2.41 FIP in 26.1 innings pitched. But from June until the end of the season, Little had a 4.07 ERA and 3.23 FIP in 42 innings pitched, with a 17.1 BB%. Don’t get me wrong, Little is still good enough to be in a big league bullpen, but not as a high-leverage option.
It was a glaring issue in the playoffs. He gave up an earned run in the Blue Jays 9-6 loss in Game 3 of the American League Divisional Series, but rebounded with a scoreless inning in the series-clinching Game 4. All was going okay until Game 5 of the American League Championship Series, where he gave up a game-tying home run, then walked the next two batters. He was tagged with the loss, as Seranthony Domínguez gave up a grand slam to push the Jays’ backs against the wall.
Little himself gave up a game-winning home run in Game 3 of the World Series. After pitching a scoreless inning in the bottom of the 17th, he gave up a lead-off home run to Freddie Freeman, as the Dodgers won 6-5. It’s kind of hard to blame him for this one, as poor bench management was the reason the Jays didn’t win that game.
One thing that makes Little valuable in 2026 is the fact he has an option year, meaning he can be sent down to Triple-A without needing to clear waivers. That said, he deserves a spot on the 26-man roster, even if the Jays added a high-leverage left-handed reliever.
The bad news is that there aren’t many options available in free agency. Danny Coulombe is probably the best of the bunch, but he’s pitched more than 50 innings in a season just twice in his career. Last season, he had a 2.30 ERA and 3.30 FIP in 43 innings pitched, so he isn’t a bad option.
Other options on the free agent market include Andrew Chafin, Jalen Beeks, and, well, that’s pretty much it. That means that unless they add one of those three relievers, two of which aren’t better options than Little, they’ll have to acquire a left-handed relief pitcher internally or through trade. To that, I offer two suggestions.
If they look internally, Ricky Tiedemann’s stuff would be insane out of the bullpen. The lefty features a fastball that touches the upper 90s as a starter, at least pre-Tommy John surgery. The 23-year-old also has excellent secondaries. Ideally, Tiedemann returns to form as a starter, but if he ever has to move to the bullpen, watch out.
Through trade, JoJo Romero is a good option. The St. Louis Cardinals’ reliever had a 2.07 ERA and 3.28 FIP in 61 innings pitched, with a 21.6 K% and an 11.4 BB%. He generates a ton of ground balls (57.1 GB%), but also pitched in over 20 innings of high-leverage last season, picking up 24 holds and eight saves. Who knows what the cost will be, but if the Jays somehow get Tucker, they’ll have a surplus of outfielders.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

Featured

Editorials

Breaking News