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The Blue Jays’ 2026 bullpen is significantly stronger than 2025’s
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Photo credit: © John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Mar 30, 2026, 17:30 EDTUpdated: Mar 30, 2026, 17:37 EDT
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One big area that the Toronto Blue Jays had to address heading into the 2026 season was their bullpen.
Over the course of the 2025 season, the Blue Jays saw 14 different pitchers throw at least 10 innings out of the bullpen, and 30 in total. Heading into the 2026 season, the Blue Jays’ Opening Day roster consists of six returning relievers, a Rule 5 pick, and a big signing.
As good as the team looked in its first series of the season, a sweep of the Athletics, can the Jays bullpen do well enough not to cost them games? Is it better than their bullpen in a year they won the American League pennant? Let’s find out.

Returnees

Last season, Jeff Hoffman threw 68 innings with a 4.37 ERA and 4.90 FIP, third most on the team. Aside from one pitch, Hoffman was nails in the postseason, it just so happens that pitch cost them the World Series.
In his first game since that home run, the Blue Jays had a one-run lead, Hoffman got the first out, then gave up the game-tying home run. Thankfully, the Blue Jays overcame that, wish they had done that on November 1st, but Hoffman really didn’t pitch poorly on Opening Day. It was just a good hit off a good pitch. He’s struck out two thirds of the batters he’s faced this season.
The only relief pitcher on the active roster who pitched more innings than Hoffman was Brendon Little with 68.1. Last year was a tale of two seasons for the left-handed pitcher, starting off great before struggling after the All-Star break. Those struggles continued into the postseason, blowing a lead in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series and giving up a walk-off home run in Game 3 of the World Series.
Little looked like a brand new pitcher in Spring Training, reaching the upper 90s with his new four-seam fastball. However, he inherited two runners (more on that in a bit) in the second game of the season and eventually let both of them and three more runs to come in to score thanks to a grand slam. The leash is short for Little.
Especially since he has Mason Fluharty right behind him. Fluharty’s two inherited runners that eventually came in to score, but both his base runners reached due to back-to-back comebackers. He picked up a key strikeout of Nick Kurtz the following day.
Fluharty didn’t make the Blue Jays’ Opening Day roster in 2025, but pitched 55.2 innings, the fourth-most out of the bullpen. He started well, finished well, and struggled in the middle, finishing with a 4.44 ERA and 3.97 FIP. If Little’s struggles continue, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Fluharty earn more high-leverage opportunities when John Schneider needs a left-handed reliever.
Braydon Fisher was another key reliever who didn’t make the team out of Spring Training. Once he was called up, he went over 20 innings out of the bullpen without giving up an earned run, with the only damage against him coming in his lone start. Fisher finished the 2025 season with a 1.85 ERA and 2.46 FIP in 48.2 innings out of the bullpen.
Despite having option years left, Fisher made the Opening Day roster and has so far been used to get a starter out of the inning. With Dylan Cease leaving with one out and runners on the corner, Fisher was able to get a double play. On Sunday, he entered the game with one out and a runner on first with the top of the Athletics’ lineup, striking out Brent Rooker and getting a groundout from Tyler Soderstrom. It seems like this will be his role in 2026.
Louis Varland was acquired in one of four big deals ahead of the 2025 trade deadline. Post trade, he appeared in 22 games where he had a 5.40 ERA and 3.87 FIP in 21.2 innings pitched. He entered John Schneider’s circle of trust thanks to a strong September, then broke the record for the most pitching appearances (15) in a single postseason. The Blue Jays played just 18 games.
It appears Varland will be a high-leverage reliever for the team this season, pitching the seventh inning in Friday’s win and the 10th inning in Saturday’s victory.
Then you have Tommy Nance. The reliever appeared in 30 games for the Blue Jays, posting a 1.99 ERA and 1.87 FIP in 31.2 innings pitched. He was one of 14 pitchers last season with 30 or more innings pitched and an ERA below 2. Fisher, Eric Lauer, and Trevor Rogers are also on that list.
Nance’s role appears to be clear through the two games he pitched in. In his first outing on Saturday, he appeared with the Jays down four. In his outing on Sunday, the Jays were up three. The veteran is also capable of pitching multiple innings and striking out a ton of batters.

Newcomers

There are two relievers in the Jays bullpen that weren’t on the roster last season, Tyler Rogers and Spencer Miles. The latter is a Rule 5 pick, meaning that Miles will need to stay on the Blue Jays 26-man roster for the duration of the season. Before his big league debut on Saturday, Miles pitched 14.2 innings in affiliate ball and another 8.2 innings in the Arizona Fall League last season. Hopefully, he can stay healthy.
In the off-season, Rogers signed a three-year deal worth $37 million with the Jays. Last season, he was one of the 14 relievers with at least 30 innings pitched and a sub 2.00 ERA, and the submarine reliever has been one of the best in baseball since 2021. Over those five seasons, he has posted  a 2.71 ERA and 3.38 FIP in 378.1 innings, while also notching at least 70 innings or more in that span. The 35-year-old will be the Blue Jays’ setup man this season as he looked to become Major League Baseball’s hold leader.

Departures

Of the 14 pitchers who pitched 10 or more innings out of the bullpen last season, six are currently in the Blue Jays’ bullpen, five are in different organisations, and three don’t fit either category.
Chad Green’s 43.2 innings pitched were the most of any reliever who is no longer in the organisation. They acquired Seranthony Domínguez at the 2025 trade deadline to be their setup man, and he signed with the Chicago White Sox this past off-season. Paxton Schultz was DFA’d and claimed by the Washington Nationals. Nick Sandlin was outrighted and joined the Los Angeles Angels organisation with Alek Manoah and Jordan Romano, and Justin Bruihl was also DFA’d and traded.

Depth

The reliever with the most innings pitched out of the bullpen in 2025 was Yariel Rodríguez, who posted a 2.88 ERA and 4.18. Unfortunately, he struggled in the playoffs and was outrighted this past season. He is one of many notable pitchers who can be as depth if injuries or poor performance happens from the Jays’ eight relievers in the bullpen.
He’d need to be added to the 40-man again, but that isn’t the case for Lázaro Estrada, Chase Lee, and Adam Macko. Lee was the final cut for the team’s bullpen and will pitch for the Jays at some point this season. Macko and Estrada could cover some innings for a doubleheader or if there are further injuries to the bullpen.
That doesn’t even mention their minor league signings from this past off-season, which include Jorge Alcala, Tanner Andrews, Josh Fleming, Joe Mantiply, Michael Plassmeyer, and Austin Voth.
There are a few relief prospects that can move up the ladder quickly as well, such as Javen Coleman, Pat Gallagher, Kai Peterson, Yondrei Rojas, and Nate Garkow. It would not surprise me if Coleman gets a look in the big leagues in 2026.

Injured List

There is a possibility that the Blue Jays’ pitching staff could become a mess in the coming months. Right now, they have five MLB-calibre starters in the rotation, including Cody Ponce and Eric Lauer. But what happens once José Berríos, Trey Yesavage, and Shane Bieber return from their respective injuries? It seems improbable that the Blue Jays run the first ever eight-man rotation, so decisions will need to be made when everyone is healthy.
Yimi García also appears to be progressing well, set to throw a bullpen on Tuesday. When he returns, that’ll give the Blue Jays another reliever capable of pitching in high-leverage spots. There are also a handful of injured prospects who could fill in the bullpen, such as Jake Bloss (for length), Ricky Tiedemann (for length or an electric lefty), and T.J. Brock.
With all their depth, the Jays have been able to deal with their injuries. Once everyone returns, there is an argument that their pitching staff is one of, if not the best in the league. Simply put, this season’s bullpen is significantly stronger than last season’s, even with it not being at full health to begin the season.
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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