The Blue Jays added two starting pitchers early in the off-season, when they signed arguably the best one on the market in Dylan Cease to a seven-year $210 million dollar deal.
Toronto quickly followed up the Cease deal with a great under the radar signing of KBO MVP Cody Ponce to a three-year $30 million dollar contract.
A pursuit of the consensus top free agent on the market is going to draw plenty of headlines and attention, but the next move the Blue Jays make could easily be in the bullpen.
Relievers are coming off the board quickly. Five bullpen arms have already received eight-figure contracts, headlined by Devin Williams’ $51-million deal signed earlier this week.
Which teams are in the mix to sign a late-inning free agent reliever? Jon Morosi
mentions the Blue Jays, Tigers, Phillies, Cubs and Angels.
mentions the Blue Jays, Tigers, Phillies, Cubs and Angels.
If the Blue Jays want a proven, high-leverage arm, they are running short on options, but there are still a few relievers remaining who could help them in the late innings.
Blue Jays have already been linked to a few top free agent relievers
The biggest free-agent reliever is obviously New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz, who the Blue Jays already met with during the general managers meetings in Las Vegas.
Now that the Mets signed Devin Williams away from the Yankees, a Diaz reunion with New York seems less likely now.
The Blue Jays’ pursuit of Jeff Hoffman last off-season showed a newfound open-mindedness about big-money bullpen arms.
His 2025 stats are impressive: 9.00 K/9, 2.43 BB/9 and 0.61 HR in 74 IP with a 2.31 ERA, 2.96 xERA and 3.07 FIP for 1.4 fWAR
In the past four seasons, Diaz has posted an ERA below 1.75 twice and fWAR over two twice. He brings the total value of a starter while delivering in a game’s biggest moments.
Edwin Diaz, K’ing the Side. 🎺🎺🎺
Former Tampa Bay Rays closer Pete Fairbanks has also been loosely linked to the Blue Jays.
Fairbanks consistency is appealing, as is his average velocity of 97.3 m.p.h. His fastball-slider combo works slightly better against right-handers, but his career platoon splits are fairly neutral, and he has extensive experience as a closer, meaning there are very few late-game situations he’d be uncomfortable in.
Fairbanks 2025 stats are consistent: 8.80 K/9, 2.69 BB/9 and 1.04 HR in 60.1 IP with a 2.83 ERA, 3.04 xERA and 3.63 FIP for 1.0 fWAR
Performance volatility is unavoidable with relievers, but Fairbanks has managed to avoid an off year since a rough first taste of the major leagues in 2019.
Since then, his ERA has been 3.59 or better every season, and he’s produced at least one fWAR in four of the last five years.
Pete Fairbanks ⛽️⛽️⛽️
San Diego Padres reliever Robert Saurez hasn’t been linked to the Blue Jays, but is an ideal arm to join Toronto’s bullpen.
Suarez, who turns 35 in Spring Training, might be the ideal candidate. The length of his deal will be capped by his age and he’s among the best relievers available.
Suarez has posted a sub-3.00 ERA in three of his four seasons since signing with the Padres during the 2021-22 offseason.
That includes a 2.97 mark across a career-high 69 2/3 innings this past season.
He led the National League with 40 saves in 45 tries and has an MLB-high 76 saves over the last two years.
One of the hardest throwers in the sport, Suarez averaged 98.6 MPH on his fastball.
He has dominated hitters from both sides of the plate over the course of his career, as his changeup gives him a weapon against left-handed batters.
He punched out 27.9% of opponents against a career-low 5.9% walk rate this year.
Suarez is projected to receive a three-year, $46 million contract.
A three-year deal should be the ceiling, and it’s not out of the question that he’s limited to two years at a premium annual value.
Robert Suárez, 101mph ⛽️
An under the radar reliever that nobody seems to be talking about is Detroit Tigers reliever Kyle Finnegan.
Now a free agent, Finnegan will be looking to help improve a bullpen for a winning team at a relatively low value.
A year ago at this time, Finnegan was coming off a brutal finish to his 2024 season and was actually non-tendered by the Washington Nationals.
Finnegan bounced back with a solid first four months in D.C., but it was the trade to the Tigers that really seemed to elevate his status.
He’s always thrown hard but never missed bats like one might expect from someone sitting 97 mph with his heater.
The Tigers had Finnegan throw his splitter at career-high rates and slightly raised the horizontal release point on both his four-seamer and splitter.
Kyle Finnegan, Dirty 88mph Splitter. ✌️
He rattled off 18 innings with a 1.50 ERA, 34.8% strikeout rate and 6.1% walk rate.
Finnegan was one of A.J. Hinch’s most trusted relievers both in the regular season and in the playoffs.
