New Toronto Blue Jays' side-armer could thrive in Toronto's bullpen
Photo credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
The Toronto Blue Jays have one of the strongest pitching staffs in Major League Baseball.
After pushing the Los Angeles Dodgers to Game 7 of the World Series, the Toronto Blue Jays have positioned themselves as the American League’s team to beat.
However, to maintain that momentum the bullpen will need to take a step forward.
During the 2025 regular season, the Blue Jays posted a 3.98 bullpen ERA—respectable, but middle of the pack compared to the rest of the league. In the postseason, those numbers slipped.
Toronto relievers combined for a 4.44 ERA in October, struggling at times in high-leverage spots.
For a club with championship aspirations, that inconsistency highlighted the need for additional depth.
The front office responded by making several moves, including a trade with the Detroit Tigers to acquire left-hander Chase Lee.
While the deal may not have generated major headlines, Lee could quietly become an important piece of Toronto’s bullpen mix.
Lee provides a different look out of the bullpen, projected to start season in Buffalo
Originally selected by the Texas Rangers in the sixth round of the 2021 MLB Draft, Lee made his MLB debut with Detroit last season.
Known as "The Viper" for his sidearm delivery, Lee began his big-league career on a strong note, tossing over four scoreless innings across his first five appearances.
By season’s end, Lee had appeared in 32 games, logging 37.1 innings with a 4.10 ERA.
He struck out 37 batters while walking just nine, though seven home runs inflated his overall numbers.
One encouraging sign was his effectiveness against left-handed hitters, who batted under .200 against him.
Chase Lee (27) is a sweeper dominant right handed reliever with an extremely funky arm slot who ran high strikeout rates in the minor leagues thanks in large part to his deceptiveness and elite breaking ball. His sweeper as mentioned is his best offering as it grades out as 120 on Fangraphs Stuff+. His fastball sits in the 89-90 MPH range with bad pitch specs. He was hit hard in his first stint in the big leagues in 2025 with the Tigers:
5.21 xERA/.500 xSLG/.347 xwOBA
40.6% hard-hit rate
13.9% Barrel rate against
He is slated to start the year in AAA Buffalo as depth.
5.21 xERA/.500 xSLG/.347 xwOBA
40.6% hard-hit rate
13.9% Barrel rate against
He is slated to start the year in AAA Buffalo as depth.
At 27, Lee brings both experience and upside. He also has minor league options remaining, which gives Toronto roster flexibility.
According to FanGragh projections, he is expected to open 2026 in Triple-A Buffalo, but a strong spring showing could earn him a spot on the Opening Day roster.
If that happens, he would likely slot in as an additional left-handed option alongside Brendon Little.
Even if Lee begins the year in the minors, it would not be surprising to see him contribute at some point during the season.
For a Blue Jays team looking to return to the World Series, strengthening the bullpen could be the difference between falling short and finishing the job in 2026.
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| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 16|108 ANSWERS New Toronto Blue Jays' side-armer could thrive in Toronto's bullpen Do you think side-armer Chase Lee will break camp with the Toronto Blue Jays? | ||
| Yes | 42 | 38.9 % |
| No | 33 | 30.6 % |
| Too early to tell | 33 | 30.6 % |
| List of polls | ||