The Toronto Blue Jays haven’t added much to the bullpen this winter in terms of quantity, but the major signing this winter for the relief corps is sure to fill a need on the roster.

The Jays inked right-hander submariner Tyler Rogers to a three-year deal, bringing in the groundball specialist to help shore up the bullpen. Across eight seasons in the big leagues, Rogers owns a 2.76 ERA and a 3.31 FIP across 424 innings. He doesn’t punch out a ton of bats – 306 K’s and a 6.5 K/9 – but he rarely walks opposing bats (1.6 BB/9), and his groundball rate is well above the MLB average (56.6 % vs. 42.3%).

Speaking with the 6ix Inning Stretch Podcast, Rogers discussed the deal that came to fruition with the Blue Jays.

“This will be my first spring training, not only with a different team, but not in Arizona,” explained Rogers. “So, Florida will be it will be new to me as well… I kind of went into the free agency with an open mind. I didn’t really have any wants or needs. I was just kind of going to listen and see what happened. And the first day of first day free agency opens, we hear from the Blue Jays straight out. And, you know that that leaves an impression on you, the first team that you hear from. And, just going through after that, they just always seem to be calling and checking in, and they just seem like the frontrunners from the beginning.

“So, and then it just kind of came down to, we got an offer. I’m like, that sounds pretty good. Let’s do it. So it was, it was really, not too crazy a thing, but I’m happy I landed in Toronto.”

The Mets were one team that was interested in Rogers, who employed the Colorado product for the back half of the 2025 season. Previously, Rogers had spent the past seven years in the Bay Area with the Giants, where he became known for his submarine style.

Another interesting point is how Rogers compares to some of the current Blue Jays pitchers in terms of release point.

The club employs one of the highest pitching release points in Trey Yesavage, who throws over the top in a Tim Lincecum-style motion, which is almost the complete opposite of Rogers. There’s a 5.8-foot gap between their respective release points, with Yesavage coming in at 7.1 feet and Rogers at 1.3 feet.

This difference has led fans to believe that a tandem could be brewing in the Jays’ clubhouse when it comes to pitcher usage and changing the hitter’s eye level, something Rogers acknowledged.

“Yeah, I mean, that’s been brought to my attention,” said Rogers. “I’ve seen the little video on it. And, you know, if it works out as great as it seems, it’s going to be then, and we’ll have something going. But, you know, I don’t really think too much about my release point when I’m out there. When I’m going to the game, it’s not like I’m thinking about that. I’m thinking about the same things all pitchers are, and that’s trying to get ahead, stay in the zone, and what’s the situation. Little things like that.

“In my mind, I throw it as hard as I can every time. It’s not like I’m trying to be deceptive or anything like that. I’m just going right after guys and trying to hold count, leverage.”

With this mindset and spending spring training with a new club, Rogers has already been hard at work this offseason, getting ready to impress with his new team.

It will be unfamiliar territory for the submariner in Florida and then North of the border when the spring starts, but Rogers is ready to tackle whatever the Blue Jays throw his way in 2026.

“Yeah, always trying to gain strength is probably the biggest in the off-season,” explained Rogers. “I think if you gain strength, you can maybe gain some velocity, and I think I did throw the hardest I’ve ever thrown last season. So maybe I’m on the right path, but I’m also a 35-year-old reliever. Like, I’m not coming out with a new pitch. This is what I am. I’ve spent seven years in the Major Leagues trying to find a change-up, trying to find a cutter, all kinds of things. And there’s a reason I don’t throw those anymore.

“So this is what I am. See, I’ll just try and be the same guy, and with the Blue Jays, you guys know they don’t need much help. They almost got to the top of the mountain last season. So I’m just going to try and fit in where I can and just help this ballclub.”

Love baseball? Don’t miss The 6ix Inning Stretch — the brand new podcast from The Nation Network, presented by Betway. Hosted by Toronto sports reporter Lindsay Dunn and 3-time MLB All-Star Whit Merrifield, this weekly show delivers insider stories, unfiltered Jays talk, player interviews, and expert analysis from around the majors. New episodes drop every Wednesday — listen on your favourite podcast platform or watch on the Bluejaysnation YouTube channel.