Toronto Blue Jays News

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Patrick Corbin • SP • Blue Jays

Blue Jays Add Patrick Corbin on One-Year Deal

The Toronto Blue Jays announced on Friday that they signed free-agent left-hander Patrick Corbin to an undisclosed one-year deal. The team then optioned Corbin to Single-A Dunedin. Corbin, 36, will give the Jays some experienced starting pitching depth as they try to weather the rash of injuries that have hit their starting staff early on in 2026. Right now, Shane Bieber (elbow), Jose Berrios (elbow), Trey Yesavage (shoulder), and Cody Ponce (knee) are all on the shelf. Corbin will bide his time in the minors and get stretched out, but there's still no guarantee he'll make it into Toronto's rotation this year. Corbin went 7-11 in 155 1/3 innings over 31 outings (30 starts) with the Texas Rangers in 2025 and held a 4.40 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and 131:51 K:BB in his 13th big-league season. He hasn't had an ERA under 4.00 since 2019 with the Washington Nationals, so it's unlikely he'll suddenly become an asset in Toronto in hitter-friendly Rogers Centre if he gets a shot to start.

18 hours ago

Alejandro Kirk • C • Blue Jays

Alejandro Kirk Having X-Rays on his Thumb

Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk (thumb) is going for X-rays on his thumb, manager John Schneider told Mitch Bannon of The Athletic. If the Blue Jays need another catcher, it's likely to be Brandon Valenzuela. Kirk left Friday's game early against the Chicago White Sox after he was hit in the left thumb by a foul tip behind the plate. Before leaving, he went 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI. The injury occurred in the bottom of the 10th inning. The 27-year-old came into Friday's game struggling in the early portion of the 2026 season, going 2-for-16 (.125) with a solo home run and two runs scored in the first four games. For now, fantasy managers should consider Kirk day-to-day and check back on Saturday to see if he's available to return to action. Tyler Heineman is the only other catcher on Toronto's big-league roster, so he'll likely get the start on Saturday behind the dish if Kirk is unavailable to play.

19 hours ago

Trey Yesavage • SP • Blue Jays

Trey Yesavage Set for Rehab Game on Friday

Toronto Blue Jays right-handed pitching prospect Trey Yesavage (shoulder) is scheduled to throw three innings for Single-A Dunedin on Friday, according to Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet. Manager John Schneider estimated that Yesavage would be back in the majors first, followed by right-handers Jose Berrios (elbow) and Shane Bieber (elbow, forearm). The Blue Jays proceeded cautiously with the 22-year-old in spring training after he made a quick rise all the way to the big leagues at the tail end of last season. He put his high-end arsenal on display in the postseason, too, even striking out 12 Los Angeles Dodgers batters in the World Series. Yesavage didn't pitch in any Grapefruit League games before being shut down with a right-shoulder impingement that isn't considered serious. Barring a setback, he should be ready to rejoin the Jays' rotation before the end of April, but his fantasy upside will likely be limited initially as Toronto eases him back and limits his innings.

Yesterday

Addison Barger • 3B • Blue Jays

Addison Barger Sees Slump Continue, Quickly Losing Fantasy Value

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Addison Barger is off to a rough start to the 2026 season, as he's yet to record a hit across 16 plate appearances. The left-handed hitting Barger has also been out of Toronto's starting lineup each of the team's first two games against left-handed starting pitchers. Barger had a breakout year in 2025, hitting .243/.301/.454 with 21 home runs, 74 RBI, 61 runs scored, and four stolen bases across 502 plate appearances. The 26-year-old posted an excellent 50.9% hard-hit rate and slugged .480 against right-handed pitching. Early in 2026, Barger has struck out in 37.5% of his plate appearances and owns a hard-hit rate of just 25%. While it's obviously still very early in the season, Barger could be at risk of losing even more playing time given the presence of quality bench outfielders Davis Schneider and Nathan Lukes in Toronto.

Yesterday

Kevin Gausman • SP • Blue Jays

Kevin Gausman Strikes Out Double-Digit Batters for Second-Straight Game

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Kevin Gausman has been sharp through two outings this season. During Tuesday's start against the Colorado Rockies, he allowed two hits and zero walks over six shutout innings. He also struck out 10 batters along the way. Gausman has been spectacular so far in the 2026 campaign, albeit over a small sample size. He has allowed just one run, zero walks, and three hits through two starts (12.1 innings) while striking out 21 batters. The right-hander has continued to prove himself as one of the most effective starters in baseball, even at 35 years old. He has kept his FIP below 4.00 every season since 2018, and he's certainly on track to extend that streak in 2026. As it stands, he ranks #25 among starters in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings. However, he has top-five upside if he continues to pitch at an elite level.

2 days ago

Cody Ponce • SP • Blue Jays

Cody Ponce To Visit Dr. Neal ElAttrache On Monday

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Cody Ponce (knee) will visit Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles on Monday, per Mitch Bannon of The Athletic. The visit is scheduled one week after Ponce injured his knee during his March 30 start against the Colorado Rockies. While attempting to field a ground ball in the third inning, Ponce came up limp and, after a few steps, fell to the dirt in noticeable pain. He had to be carted off in what was his first MLB start since 2021. In 2.1 innings pitched, Ponce allowed one hit, one run, one walk, and recorded three strikeouts. His current diagnosis is a sprained right ACL. The 31-year-old's evaluation by Dr. ElAttrache should determine if surgery will be required and help to establish a timeline for recovery. Manager John Schneider said on Tuesday that Ponce can be expected to miss "a significant chunk of time." Ponce was placed on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday.

3 days ago

Addison Barger • 3B • Blue Jays

Addison Barger on the Bench Again on Tuesday

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Addison Barger is on the bench again for Tuesday's game against the visiting Colorado Rockies at the Rogers Centre, according to MLB.com. Barger will begin on the bench for the second time in the team's five games to begin the 2026 season, and he's currently hitless in his first 15 plate appearances of the year with two RBI, two walks, and five strikeouts in four games played. Nathan Lukes will get the start in right field and will bat fifth for Toronto against Rockies right-hander Ryan Feltner. It's not time to panic just yet for Barger's fantasy managers, but it's a pretty rough start. In his first full major-league season in 2025, Barger hit .243/.301/.454 with a .756 OPS, 21 home runs, 74 RBI, and 61 runs scored in 135 games. He was outstanding in 17 postseason games, going 22-for-60 (.367) with three homers and nine RBI, perhaps inflating his 2026 fantasy value in redraft leagues. Lukes has never faced Feltner in his career.

3 days ago

Cody Ponce • SP • Blue Jays

Cody Ponce Diagnosed With ACL Sprain, to Miss "Significant Time"

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Cody Ponce (knee) has been diagnosed with a right ACL sprain after having to be carted off the field in his 2026 season debut on Monday night against the Colorado Rockies, according to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. More doctors will review Ponce's MRI results to see if there's a full tear for the final diagnosis. Manager John Schneider said the team is "holding onto" hope that he can pitch again this year, but regardless, he's going to miss "significant time." It's a tough break for the 31-year-old veteran, who was making his first start back in the big leagues on Monday since 2021 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Before leaving with his knee injury, Ponce allowed an earned run while walking one and striking out three in 2 1/3 innings of work. He'll likely be placed on the 15-day injured list in the coming days, adding further stress to an already thinned-out Blue Jays starting rotation early on in 2026. UPDATE: Ponce was officially placed on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday.

3 days ago

Cody Ponce • SP • Blue Jays

Cody Ponce Carted Off on Monday With Knee Discomfort

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Cody Ponce (knee) injured his right knee while fielding a ground ball in his first outing of the 2026 season on Monday against the Colorado Rockies, according to Blake Murphy of Sportsnet. Ponce was able to get up and limp around, but he was ultimately carted from the field. The team announced that he has "right-knee discomfort." We won't know more about the severity of his knee injury until he undergoes tests. Hopefully, the 31-year-old can avoid a serious injury in his return to the big leagues. In his first two major-league seasons in 2020 and 2021 with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Ponce struggled to a 5.86 ERA and 1.54 WHIP with 48 strikeouts and 17 walks in 55 1/3 innings pitched over 20 appearances (five starts). He spent three years in Japan and one year in Korea before signing with Toronto in the offseason. Ponce only lasted 2 1/3 innings before getting hurt, allowing an earned run on one hit while walking one and striking out three. UPDATE: Ponce will undergo an MRI exam on Tuesday, according to Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.

4 days ago

Shane Bieber • SP • Blue Jays

Shane Bieber to Throw Off a Mound on Saturday

The Athletic's Mitch Bannon reports that Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Shane Bieber (elbow) will throw off a mound for the first time on Saturday. Bieber didn't throw off a mound all spring due to elbow/forearm issues. The Blue Jays aren't going to take any chances with the 30-year-old veteran, especially after he didn't make his season debut in 2025 until August after recovering from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. The former American League Cy Young and two-time All-Star had a 3.57 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and 37:7 K:BB in seven regular-season starts for the Blue Jays last year before posting a 3.86 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, and 18:6 K:BB in 18 2/3 playoff innings. Bieber can still be useful (when healthy) as starting rotation depth in deep-mixed leagues, but he's no longer as dominant as he once was after giving up plenty of loud contact in his return in 2025. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect Bieber to be an option to come off the 15-day injured list until May.

4 days ago

Trey Yesavage • SP • Blue Jays

Trey Yesavage to Throw Sim Game on Friday

Toronto Blue Jays right-handed pitching prospect Trey Yesavage (shoulder) is scheduled to throw a three-inning/45-pitch simulated game on Friday, according to Mitch Bannon of The Athletic. Yesavage was held back on purpose in spring training and then landed on the 15-day injured list to begin the 2026 regular season due to a right-shoulder impingement. The 22-year-old will be given plenty of time to build up his workload as he looks to rejoin Toronto's starting rotation. Yesavage made a quick ascent to the big leagues in 2025 and only made three regular-season starts before hurling 27 2/3 innings over six outings (five starts) in the postseason, which included an epic 12-strikeout performance in the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He struck out 39 batters and walked 11 in the postseason, putting his high-end upside on full display. Control can be an issue for Yesavage, though, and his redraft upside could be capped in 2026 with the Blue Jays handling him with extreme care to ensure his long-term health.

4 days ago

Dylan Cease • SP • Blue Jays

Dylan Cease Featuring New Changeup in Pitch Mix

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Dylan Cease looked amazing in his first start with Toronto over the weekend, striking out 12 hitters in 5 1/3 innings (one run allowed) versus the Athletics. His 12 K's were a franchise record for a Blue Jays starter in their debut. Per The Athletic's Mitch Bannon, Cease's goal this spring was to incorporate a new changeup, mostly against left-handed hitters, to complement his fastball/slider mix. The new changeup is faster than Cease's previous version and has more arm-side movement. "I'm going to keep fine-tuning it," Cease said. "Trying to find a little more consistency with command, but I like where it's at." The new changeup isn't an excellent pitch, but it could keep hitters more off balance and generate weak contact, especially late in games. Fantasy managers won't argue with the results in Cease's 2026 debut in his new digs. He threw eight changeups against the A's and got eight whiffs.

5 days ago

Jeff Hoffman • RP • Blue Jays

Jeff Hoffman Bounces Back to Record First Save of 2026 on Sunday

Toronto Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman picked up his first save of the 2026 season on Sunday, pitching a scoreless ninth inning with two strikeouts in his team's 5-2 win over the Athletics. The steady outing is a welcome sign for fantasy managers after Hoffman blew his first save chance of the year on Friday, allowing a game-tying solo home run to Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers. Hoffman is coming off an up-and-down season with the Blue Jays in 2025. The 33-year-old recorded 33 saves and a 29.3% strikeout rate, but he also pitched to an elevated 4.37 ERA thanks to his 1.99 HR/9. Hoffman still appears to be secure in the closer role in Toronto for the time being, but he may not have the longest leash, particularly if his home run issues persist.

5 days ago

Mason Fluharty • RP • Blue Jays

Mason Fluharty Hit by Back-to-Back Comebackers, has Right-Knee Contusion

Toronto Blue Jays left-handed pitcher Mason Fluharty (knee) was hit by two consecutive comebackers during Saturday's game against the Athletics. Fluharty exited the game after the second occurrence. He was diagnosed with a right knee contusion, but his X-rays came back negative, according to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. The 24-year-old is reportedly "feeling good," and although he might be a little sore on Sunday, the team doesn't expect the injury to be anything serious. It sounds like he'll avoid landing on the injured list and could possibly return to game action within the next few days. Fluharty had a 4.44 ERA as a rookie last year, with opponents hitting just .193 against him.

6 days ago

Dylan Cease • SP • Blue Jays

Dylan Cease Fans 12 in Blue Jays Debut on Saturday

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Dylan Cease looked excellent in his debut for the team in Saturday's 8-7 win in 11 innings over the Athletics for their second walk-off win in the first two games of the 2026 season. Cease was on point for a great first impression for the home faithful, allowing just one earned run on three hits in 5 1/3 innings pitched while walking only two and striking out 12. Fantasy managers would have loved the win on top of it, but they don't really have anything to complain about in Cease's first outing of the year in his new digs at hitter-friendly Rogers Centre. He threw 61 of his 90 pitches for strikes, and his fastball velocity was up a tad from last year. At one point in the game, Cease struck out seven straight batters. Cease could be money once again for his fantasy managers in his second start with Toronto, which is scheduled to come next Sunday against his former team, the Chicago White Sox. It's a very encouraging start for Cease in his move back to the American League.

6 days ago

Kazuma Okamoto • 3B • Blue Jays

Kazuma Okamoto Moved Up to the Cleanup Spot Against Lefty on Saturday

Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Kazuma Okamoto has been moved up to the cleanup spot in his team's lineup for Toronto's matchup on Saturday against the Athletics and left-handed starting pitcher Jeffrey Springs. Okamoto batted seventh for the Blue Jays' opener on Friday with the A's throwing right-handed starting pitcher Luis Severino. Okamoto performed well in his MLB debut, going two-for-three with a walk and two runs scored. The 29-year-old is expected to play a key role as the Blue Jays' everyday third baseman in 2026 after the team brought him over from Japan on a four-year, $60 million contract. Okamoto's prominent spot in the lineup against left-handers should help him rack up counting stats for fantasy managers, and could be an indicator of his potential to move up in the lineup against righties if he proves he can handle MLB pitching.

7 days ago

Andrés Giménez • 2B • Blue Jays

Andres Gimenez a Sneaky Waiver-Wire Addition After Three-RBI Game?

Toronto Blue Jays infielder Andres Gimenez was the hero for the Blue Jays on Friday in their 3-2 Opening Day win over the visiting Athletics on Friday, driving home the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning. Gimenez finished the game 2-for-3 with a two-run triple, an RBI single, and a walk out of the nine-hole. The 27-year-old, who is now playing shortstop for the Blue Jays with Bo Bichette no longer in town, has been riding high of late, also helping Team Venezuela win the World Baseball Classic this spring. Gimenez was an All-Star back in 2022 with the Cleveland Guardians and had 70 total stolen bases from 2022 to 2024, but he's still mostly useful to Toronto for his defensive prowess up the middle. He has a .254/.317/.383 career slash line in 670 career games, and has never reached the 20-home run mark. Offensive performances like Friday night will probably be few and far between for Gimenez, but his speed can be useful in deeper leagues.

7 days ago

Jeff Hoffman • RP • Blue Jays

Jeff Hoffman Blows First Save Chance of 2026, Picks Up Win

Toronto Blue Jays right-handed closer Jeff Hoffman, who famously blew the save in Game 7 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers last fall, blew his first save opportunity of the 2026 season as well on Opening Day on Friday against the Athletics. Hoffman entered in the top of the ninth inning with a 2-1 lead and allowed a solo shot to catcher Shea Langeliers, his second of the day, to even the score. Luckily for the veteran right-hander, the Blue Jays scored in the bottom of the ninth to walk it off and give Hoffman his first win of the season. In his inning of work, the 33-year-old struck out four batters (one reached on a wild pitch). Hoffman should have a longer leash at the back end of the Blue Jays' bullpen early this season with Yimi Garcia (elbow) on the injured list, but if he continues to struggle, either Garcia or Louis Varland could get some closing opportunities for Toronto. Hoffman had a career-high 33 saves in 2025, but he also had a shaky 4.37 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 68 regular-season innings. It's just one blown save, but more struggles could quickly put him on the hot seat as the Jays' closer in 2026.

7 days ago

Kevin Gausman • SP • Blue Jays

Kevin Gausman Picks Up No-Decision But Strikes Out 11 on Opening Day

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman didn't end up picking up his first win of the 2026 season in the team's 3-2 Opening Day win over the Athletics on Friday, but he was a beast nevertheless for his fantasy managers in his first start of the year. Gausman was in midseason form, allowing just one earned run on a solo home run to catcher Shea Langeliers while walking none and striking out 11 in six innings of work. The 35-year-old was nearly perfect in his 2026 debut and struck out seven of the first 10 batters he faced. His signature sinker was on point and dipping under A's hitters' bats all night. Despite not having high-end velocity for a starting pitcher, Gausman continues to be effective as an ace for the Blue Jays. The two-time All-Star will be a must-start for fantasy managers in his second game of the season next week against the Colorado Rockies at home, where he'll have a pretty good shot to pick up his first win of 2026.

7 days ago

José Berríos • SP • Blue Jays

Jose Berrios Throws 25 Pitches on Friday

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Jose Berrios (elbow) threw 25 pitches in a bullpen session in camp on Friday, manager John Schneider told Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. Berrios is on the 15-day injured list to begin the 2026 regular season after being diagnosed with a stress fracture in his right elbow last week. The Blue Jays are hoping that the 31-year-old can continue to pitch through it, but the problem is that he hasn't appeared in a spring training game in three weeks, so he needs to build his arm back up. The veteran Puerto Rican doesn't have a timetable for when he might make his season debut in Toronto, but barring a setback, it could be possible for him to rejoin the Blue Jays before the end of April. Berrios went 9-5 in 2025 in his fourth full season with the Jays, recording a 4.17 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and 138:56 K:BB in 166 innings pitched. Since the start of the 2019 season, Berrios has more innings on his arm than any other pitcher, and all the tread on his tires appears to be catching up with him. Don't be surprised if Toronto moves him into a long-relief role sooner than later in 2026.

7 days ago

Toronto Blue Jays News

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