This offseason, the Toronto Blue Jays have very few needs. The focus is on whether they can re-sign Bo Bichette or pursue another top-tier bat. Another need is adding a bullpen arm. They just signed Cody Ponce from the Korean Baseball Organization, addressing the team’s fifth starter question. This move will likely bump Eric Lauer into a long-relief role. However, José Berríos’s status could determine Lauer’s role.
They could still use an upgrade in the bullpen, either at closer or middle relief. The team could address this need by trading one of their surplus outfielders, especially with the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays need outfield help. MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand wrote that the Rays’ perfect free agent is Mike Yastrzemski, a 35 year-old outfielder, which would be a fine addition, but Toronto has younger options. If the Blue Jays bring back Bichette or sign Kyle Tucker, Addison Barger will move to the outfield, which will further muddy their outfield depth.
Anthony Santander will return after missing most of last season due to injury. Hopefully, he can find his 2024 self, when he hit 44 home runs with the Baltimore Orioles. The Blue Jays will also have Daulton Varsho and George Springer, who will likely be the designated hitter. Nathan Lukes, Myles Straw, and Davis Schneider are on the 26-man roster at the moment as well. The team also has Joey Loperfido and Jonatan Clase, both with MLB experience, waiting in Triple-A. Either of these players could bring a high-quality reliever in a trade.
There are three different tiers the Blue Jays could target in a trade with the Rays.
Closer Tier:
Garrett Cleavinger – LHP
Cleavinger is 31 and under team control through 2027. He had his best season last year with the Rays. Although he had a 2-6 record, he posted a 2.35 ERA, an 82:18 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and 21 holds over 61.1 innings.
According to Baseball Savant, Cleavinger ranked in the 97th percentile for whiff rate (36 percent) and 96th for strikeout percentage (33 percent). Being a lefty is beneficial. It eases the workload of Brendon Little, Mason Fluharty and Lauer.
Edwin Uceta – RHP
Uceta is 27 and under team control through the 2029 season. The team control means he would require more compensation to acquire. The righty had a 10-3 record, a 3.79 ERA, a 103:27 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and 21 holds over 76 innings. He excels at making batters miss. He ranks in the 93rd percentile for chase percentage (33 percent) and 96th for whiff percentage (35 percent).
Middle relievers:
Cole Sulser – RHP
Sulser is 35 and signed for $1.05 million this season, and becomes a free agent going into 2027. He struggled with injuries during the 2022 and 2023 seasons, which led to ERAs of 5.29 and 6.75 as he threw a combined 39.1 innings with the Miami Marlins and Arizona Diamondbacks.
Sulser has spent the last two seasons stuck in the minors, pitching only 39 combined innings at the major league level. In those two years, he recorded ERAs of 2.76 and 1.99. Given Sulser’s age and cheap contract, the Blue Jays could avoid giving up one of their more experienced outfielders to acquire him.
Griffin Jax – RHP
Jax is 31 and under team control through 2027. He’s been a reliable late-game reliever in the last four MLB seasons (he was a starter primarily in his rookie season). He had sub-3.00 ERAs in 2022 and 2023, with a career-best 2.03 ERA in 2024. He took a step back last season with a 4.23 ERA; however, he posted a 3.60 ERA after coming to the Rays at the trade deadline.
He had a combined 28 holds and a 99:21 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 66 innings. This success makes him a potential high-leverage arm late in games, in front of whoever is the closer in Toronto.
The righty outperformed Cleavinger and Uceta by posting a 99th percentile chase percentage (38 percent) and 98th percentiles in both whiff percentage (37 percent) and strikeout percentage (35 percent).
Prospects:
Joe Rock – LHP
Rock has struggled at Double-A and Triple-A, never posting an ERA below 4.50 and twice reaching 10.13. Yet, he excelled in 7.2 MLB innings last season with a 2.35 ERA and 11:2 strikeout-to-walk ratio. At 25, a lefty in pre-arbitration, he’s a prime package deal target.
Any of these pitching options would be a welcome addition if the Blue Jays can work out a deal. They have outfielders in their prime stuck in a logjam, especially if Tucker or another outfielder is added. The team can leverage one of these players to get better in the bullpen.
This improvement should scare the rest of MLB, as the team that finished runner-up in the Fall Classic is still very much intact. The Winter Meetings may be quiet for the Blue Jays since they don’t have many needs, but they could make a jaw-dropping move or two to get fans even more excited for next season.
