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Blue Jays sign Jorge Alcalá to minor league deal
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Photo credit: © Aaron Doster-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Dec 19, 2025, 08:00 ESTUpdated: Dec 19, 2025, 08:25 EST
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As they say, no minor league signing is a bad one.
On Thursday evening, 7News’ Ari Alexander reported that the Toronto Blue Jays have signed right-handed relief pitcher Jorge Alcalá.
Last season, the 30-year-old split the year with three different teams. Beginning the season with the Minnesota Twins, he had an 8.88 ERA and 5.48 FIP in 24.1 innings pitched. In June, he was traded to the Boston Red Sox, where he had a 3.31 ERA and 5.58 FIP in 16.1 innings pitched, but was designated for assignment. Alcalá finished his season with the St. Louis Cardinals, where he had a 5.02 ERA and 6.14 FIP in 14.1 innings pitched.
As rough as the 30-year-old’s 2025 season was, he’s had some good ones in the past. His first full season was in 2021 with the Twins, where Alcalá had a 3.92 ERA and 4.06 FIP in 59.2 innings pitched, with a 26.6 K% and 5.7 BB%. After missing most of 2022 and 2023 due to injury, Alcalá posted a 3.24 ERA and 4.14 FIP in 58..1 innings pitched in 2024, also with the Twins.
There are some encouraging signs when looking under the hood. The 30-year-old’s fastball averaged 94.7 mph in 2025 and even harder in 2024, clocking in at an average of 98 mph. Alcalá has always done a solid job avoiding hard contact, but was barreled up quite a bit in 2025 and struggled with walks. Still, the fastball velocity and two good seasons in his past are good building blocks.
Alcalá also received an invite to Spring Training, meaning that he’ll at least contend for a spot in the Blue Jays’ bullpen. It’s possible that he earns a spot, as both Jacob Barnes and Richard Lovelady made the 2025 Opening Day roster after signing minor league deals. At the end of April, the Jays selected the contract of Eric Lauer as well, who had signed a minor league deal in December 2024.
The Blue Jays have a whole lot of relievers contending for just eight spots. Jeff Hoffman, Tyler Rogers, Braydon Fisher, Yimi García, and Louis Varland are all but locks for the next season’s bullpen. Eric Lauer, Brendon Little, and José Berríos all have strong shots of starting the year in the bullpen as well, meaning that Spencer Miles, Angel Bastardo, Mason Fluharty, Chase Lee, and Tommy Nance could be on the outside looking in. Simply put, there’ll be a ton of competition for those roster spots in Spring Training.
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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