All articles tagged with #blue jays
The Toronto Blue Jays placed right-hander Dylan Cease on the 15-day injured list with a mild left hamstring strain, his first true IL stint. Cease had been solid this season (11 starts, 62 innings, 3.05 ERA) and the rotation will rely on Kevin Gausman to front the staff while Cease is out, as Toronto navigates a slew of rotation injuries and uncertainty.
Blue Jays ace Dylan Cease exited with mild left hamstring discomfort and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. left after being hit on the elbow in a 4-1 loss to the Pirates; Cease will undergo an MRI and Guerrero’s elbow X-ray was negative for fracture, keeping a potential quick return in play for both as Toronto battles a growing injury list and contends with rotation depth questions.
Blue Jays pitcher Jose Berrios will undergo surgery on a stress fracture in his right elbow, with Dr. Keith Meister performing the procedure. A potential ligament issue could complicate the surgery and extend recovery, so return timing for 2026 will depend on the surgery outcome and further assessment.
Toronto designated left-hander Eric Lauer for assignment to clear a roster spot for Yariel Rodríguez and placed Addison Barger on the 10-day injured list with right elbow inflammation, recalling Yohendrick Pinango. Lauer has been in and out of the rotation this year, posting a rough 6.69 ERA across eight appearances after a solid 2025, prompting the DFA as Toronto navigates a crowded rotation and ongoing injuries; the club will explore internal and external options while Barger’s absence tests their outfield depth.
The Blue Jays activated Addison Barger from the 10-day IL and optioned Yohendrick Pinango after a brief, productive audition, with Barger returning to mostly right field while Kazuma Okamoto remains at third. Pinango could earn another look in 2026. On the injury front, Alejandro Kirk is throwing again after thumb surgery and Nathan Lukes is running drills after a hamstring strain. Pitching updates include Shane Bieber set to throw a live bullpen and Yimi Garcia beginning a minor-league rehab. Jose Berrios’ elbow MRI shows inflammation and changes to a prior stress fracture, delaying his return, while Max Scherzer is on the 15-day IL with left ankle inflammation and forearm tendinitis, with a possible late-May return if progress continues.
Toronto reinstates George Springer from the IL and designates Eloy Jiménez for assignment; Jiménez, a bat-only player, hit .290/.343/.290 with 82 wRC+ in 35 plate appearances and didn’t play the field, so Springer’s return at DH shrinks Jiménez’s roster role. Jiménez now heads to DFA waivers or release as Toronto, dealing with injuries and a 13-16 start, seeks stability.
The Toronto Blue Jays have removed Jeff Hoffman from the closer role after three blown saves and a rough start, shifting to a closer-by-committee approach with Louis Varland, Tyler Rogers, and Braydon Fisher in line for save chances. Varland, who has a 7.59 ERA through 10 2/3 innings this season, combines elite strikeouts with control issues and may be relegated to a fireman role in some games; Rogers and Fisher offer other late-inning options. Hoffman previously excelled with a 2.28 ERA in 118 2/3 innings for 2023–24, but struggled in 2025, including aGame 7 game-tying homer that tempered that success. The Jays signed Hoffman to a three-year, $33 million deal in the 2024–25 offseason, and are now aiming for stability by mixing their bullpen for saves.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. could rejoin the Diamondbacks this weekend after tearing his ACL last Sept., with manager Torey Lovullo signaling a near return. He’s been ramping up in Arizona, walking and doubling in four plate appearances with Double-A Amarillo and then homering in the next game, suggesting a quicker-than-expected recovery that could see him in the outfield (not just as DH) as the team weighs his workload, potentially for a weekend matchup against his former team, the Blue Jays.
April injuries hit the AL East hard: the Blue Jays juggle a rotation with Yesavage, Berrios, Bieber, and Ponce sidelined or limited, plus Springer and Barger dealing with toe/ankle issues; Baltimore navigates Holliday’s hamate fracture and Rutschman’s ankle while O’Neill remains out with a concussion; Tampa Bay’s Edwin Uceta is shut down with shoulder issues as Lux works back from a shoulder injury; and Boston abroad updates include Crawford elbow soreness, Slaten oblique, Sandoval UCL rehab, Uberstine shoulder, and Romy Gonzalez shoulder surgery, all signaling a whack of rehab starts and callups as teams chase depth.
Toronto Blue Jays acquire Lenyn Sosa from the Chicago White Sox for minor league outfielder Jordan Rich and a player to be named later or cash, and move Shane Bieber to the 60-day injured list to clear a 40-man spot. Sosa, 26, hit 22 homers in 2025 but has a low on-base skill and limited defensive value, and is out of options, so he’ll need an active roster spot when he reports. The addition gives Toronto a right-handed-hitting, versatile infield/DH option amid the Jays’ early-season injuries, while Chicago receives a lottery-ticket prospect and future considerations. Bieber’s gradual ramp-up means his return won’t be immediate.
The Toronto Blue Jays placed George Springer on the 10-day injured list with a fracture in his left big toe, promoting Eloy Jimenez to take his roster spot. Jimenez will serve as the designated hitter (and could see time at first base) while Springer recovers, with manager John Schneider noting the move is precautionary and could be a minimal 10-day absence for the veteran.
Blue Jays outfielder George Springer exited the game with a probable left big toe fracture after fouling a pitch; he finished the at-bat but left in the 6th as a CT scan was planned to determine severity, leaving his return uncertain and potentially triggering an injured-list stint for a club already dealing with a string of injuries.
Blue Jays starter Cody Ponce exited his season debut in the third inning with right knee discomfort after stumbling on a chopper, was carted off and will undergo imaging to determine ligament damage and a likely 15-day injured list stint; Louis Varland relieved, and Toronto faces rotation depth questions as they await official assessments and a timetable.
Toronto designated infielder Leo Jiménez for assignment (he’s out of options) after he didn’t win the final bench spot, and Angel Bastardo was also DFA’d. Rule 5 pick Spencer Miles earned the last middle-relief slot and will be on the Opening Day roster, while Davis Schneider is expected to fill the bench role. Jiménez is likely to land with another organization via trade or waivers, and Bastardo will go through waivers as Toronto trims its roster.
Toronto rewarded GM Ross Atkins with a five-year extension through 2031 and manager John Schneider with a two-year deal through 2028 after a landmark playoff run, with ownership backing Mark Shapiro and signaling continued long-term planning around core players like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and other rising talents, including pursuing Dylan Cease and additional extensions for key veterans in the coming years.