This offseason and even up to the spring training, numerous veteran major leaguers have opted to sign minor league deals, hoping to bet on themselves for the 2025 season. There are certainly some players who aren’t uncertain about their future in the majors, but there are players who are hoping to find a spot on an Opening Day roster and continue their careers in the big leagues. 
The Toronto Blue Jays have signed some veteran players like Christian Bethancourt and Richard Lovelady to MiLB deals but have missed out on some they could have counted on. 
Below are three players that the Blue Jays could have pushed for this offseason for better bench depth in the system on a minor league deal. 
<h2>Mark Canha &#8211; OF</h2>
Signed MiLB deal with the Milwaukee Brewers
In the past couple of seasons, 36-year-old Mark Canha has consistently recorded reasonable slash lines. He did experience some minor regression in 2024, slashing .242/.344/.346 in 125 games he played for the Detroit Tigers and the San Francisco Giants but overall, Canha has been excellent at keeping his strikeout lower than the league average, and his RBIs remained in the 60s range from 2021 to 2023. 
There is still potential for Canha to offer the offensive pop to a major league team. However, some of this 2024 regression can likely be attributed to his playing time in San Francisco, which can be a more challenging park for hitters to get adjusted to. 
Although his defensive metrics aren’t the strongest, Canha would have provided the cushion the Blue Jays needed in the outfield as a reserve outfielder should there be any injuries or long-term absences and provided some pop in the DH spot from time to time, having collected double digit home runs (excluding COVID) from 2018 through 2023. 
<h2>Andrew Chafin &#8211; LHP</h2>
Signed MiLB deal with the Detroit Tigers
Left-handed reliever Andrew Chafin has been a consistent reliever for multiple teams throughout his career. With a career 3.42 ERA, 3.29 FIP and 7.3 bWAR, he’s appeared in 60+ games eight times and is coming off a 2024 campaign where he surpassed 56 1/3 innings. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
The Tigers have signed LHP Andrew Chafin to a Minor League contract. He will join Major League spring training as a non-roster invitee. <a href="https://t.co/LiaCbQ8F8s">pic.twitter.com/LiaCbQ8F8s</a>
&mdash; Tigers PR (@DetroitTigersPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/DetroitTigersPR/status/1894145368922767451?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The now 34-year-old pitcher managed to produce respectable results in the 2024 season with a 3.51 ERA, 3.54 FIP, and 1.47 WHIP and he is now projected for a 3.92 ERA, 3.95 FIP and 1.34 WHIP for the upcoming season with the Tigers. While the reliever may have signed a minor league contract with Detroit, he could easily become a weapon out of their bullpen and stands a good chance of making the Opening Day roster in a few weeks. 
If there is anything else notable, his LOB% has been consistently above 60% in the last few seasons and he recorded a 75.3% in 2024, indicating that he is still a specialist in getting teams out of any troubles. Pitchers like Chafin could have offered more versatility and consistency in the Blue Jays’ bullpen, especially given that Toronto could have used more of both last season. 
<h2>Josh Staumont &#8211; RHP</h2>
Signed MiLB deal with the Cincinnati Reds
As a longtime Kansas City Royal, right-hander Josh Staumont had an impressive start to his career, authoring a 159 ERA+ and a 2.93 ERA through 2019 to 2021. But his fortunes turned when he recorded 6.45 ERA and 5.40 ERA in 2022 and 2023, respectively, and missed time with various injuries. 
His stock went down as a pitcher but he did manage to turn things around in Minnesota last year by yielding a 3.70 ERA, 3.54 FIP and 1.27 WHIP in 25 games pitched during the 2024 season as he rode the options bus between triple-A and the Majors. The 31-year-old hasn’t pitched many games in a single season and his peak is 64 games in 2021. While the right-handed reliever may not become an innings-eater, he will become a serviceable option for any team that needs a bullpen relief.
By and large, Staumont has a career 3.97 ERA, 3.94 FIP and 1.7 bWAR, and this isn’t a bad number to bet on for a minor league deal. The right-hander will have to showcase his value with the Cincinnati Reds for the 2025 season and whether he will become an effective major league call-up remains to be seen (he has minor league options).
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This offseason and even up to the spring training, numerous veteran major leaguers have opted to sign minor league deals, hoping to bet on themselves for the 2025 season. There are certainly some players who aren’t uncertain about their future in the majors, but there are players who are hoping to find a spot on an Opening Day roster and continue their careers in the big leagues. 

The Toronto Blue Jays have signed some veteran players like Christian Bethancourt and Richard Lovelady to MiLB deals but have missed out on some they could have counted on. 

Below are three players that the Blue Jays could have pushed for this offseason for better bench depth in the system on a minor league deal. 
<h2>Mark Canha - OF</h2>
Signed MiLB deal with the Milwaukee Brewers

In the past couple of seasons, 36-year-old Mark Canha has consistently recorded reasonable slash lines. He did experience some minor regression in 2024, slashing .242/.344/.346 in 125 games he played for the Detroit Tigers and the San Francisco Giants but overall, Canha has been excellent at keeping his strikeout lower than the league average, and his RBIs remained in the 60s range from 2021 to 2023. 

There is still potential for Canha to offer the offensive pop to a major league team. However, some of this 2024 regression can likely be attributed to his playing time in San Francisco, which can be a more challenging park for hitters to get adjusted to. 

Although his defensive metrics aren’t the strongest, Canha would have provided the cushion the Blue Jays needed in the outfield as a reserve outfielder should there be any injuries or long-term absences and provided some pop in the DH spot from time to time, having collected double digit home runs (excluding COVID) from 2018 through 2023. 
<h2>Andrew Chafin - LHP</h2>
Signed MiLB deal with the Detroit Tigers

Left-handed reliever Andrew Chafin has been a consistent reliever for multiple teams throughout his career. With a career 3.42 ERA, 3.29 FIP and 7.3 bWAR, he’s appeared in 60+ games eight times and is coming off a 2024 campaign where he surpassed 56 1/3 innings. 

https://twitter.com/DetroitTigersPR/status/1894145368922767451

The now 34-year-old pitcher managed to produce respectable results in the 2024 season with a 3.51 ERA, 3.54 FIP, and 1.47 WHIP and he is now projected for a 3.92 ERA, 3.95 FIP and 1.34 WHIP for the upcoming season with the Tigers. While the reliever may have signed a minor league contract with Detroit, he could easily become a weapon out of their bullpen and stands a good chance of making the Opening Day roster in a few weeks. 

If there is anything else notable, his LOB% has been consistently above 60% in the last few seasons and he recorded a 75.3% in 2024, indicating that he is still a specialist in getting teams out of any troubles. Pitchers like Chafin could have offered more versatility and consistency in the Blue Jays’ bullpen, especially given that Toronto could have used more of both last season. 
<h2>Josh Staumont - RHP</h2>
Signed MiLB deal with the Cincinnati Reds

As a longtime Kansas City Royal, right-hander Josh Staumont had an impressive start to his career, authoring a 159 ERA+ and a 2.93 ERA through 2019 to 2021. But his fortunes turned when he recorded 6.45 ERA and 5.40 ERA in 2022 and 2023, respectively, and missed time with various injuries. 

His stock went down as a pitcher but he did manage to turn things around in Minnesota last year by yielding a 3.70 ERA, 3.54 FIP and 1.27 WHIP in 25 games pitched during the 2024 season as he rode the options bus between triple-A and the Majors. The 31-year-old hasn’t pitched many games in a single season and his peak is 64 games in 2021. While the right-handed reliever may not become an innings-eater, he will become a serviceable option for any team that needs a bullpen relief.

By and large, Staumont has a career 3.97 ERA, 3.94 FIP and 1.7 bWAR, and this isn’t a bad number to bet on for a minor league deal. The right-hander will have to showcase his value with the Cincinnati Reds for the 2025 season and whether he will become an effective major league call-up remains to be seen (he has minor league options).

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Three players the Blue Jays should have pursued harder in free agency on a MiLB deal

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