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Spencer Miles makes Blue Jays’ Opening Day roster, Leo Jiménez DFA’ed
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Photo credit: © Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Mar 25, 2026, 14:15 EDTUpdated: Mar 25, 2026, 14:19 EDT
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The last two roster spots have been determined. 
On Wednesday afternoon, The Athletic’s Mitch Bannon reported that the Toronto Blue Jays have decided to keep Spencer Miles on the 26-man roster.  
Furthermore, Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi reported that Leo Jiménez has been designated for assignment. With these two moves, it appears Chase Lee will be optioned and begin his season with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, while Davis Schneider nabs the final bench spot. 
Neither move is particularly surprising. Starting with the bullpen spot, Miles was selected in the 2025 Rule 5 draft. Had he not made the Jays’ Opening Day roster, he would have been placed on waivers and if he cleared, offered back to the San Francisco Giants. That will happen with 2024 Rule 5 draftee Angel Bastardo, who was told he won’t make the team’s roster. Of course, the Jays could always trade for Bastardo.
Because of his Rule 5 status, Miles will have to be on the Blue Jays’ 26-man roster for the entirety of the 2026 season. The 25-year-old cannot be optioned, but if he suffers an injury, there is a way to cheat the system if he spends at least 90 days on the active roster. If he reaches the 90-day mark and does end up on the IL to en, he’ll be optionable for the 2027 season. That happened with Elvis Luciano in 2019.
Lee outperformed Miles in Spring Training, finishing with a 0 ERA and 3.34 FIP in six and one-third innings, while Miles had a 3.72 ERA and 5.93 FIP in nine and two-thirds. Prior to being selected, Miles had only pitched 14.2 innings in affiliate ball since being drafted in 2022, but hopefully he can stay healthy. Lee will be back with the Blue Jays at some point in 2026.
As for the battle for the final bench spot, Jiménez was out of options, so it was either make the roster or be designated for assignment. It was the latter, as Jiménez had a rough Spring Training and didn’t perform well when healthy in 2025. Jiménez only had 99 minor league and 32 big league plate appearances last season.
Schneider actually performed worse than Jiménez in Spring Training, but he’s a more established big leaguer and deserved his spot on the team thanks to a strong end to his 2025 season. The Jays could’ve kept both players with the inverse move, as Schneider has options, but they ultimately picked what they feel as the better bench option.
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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