Potential bullpen targets for the Toronto Blue Jays at the trade deadline
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There are several ways the Toronto Blue Jays can attempt to upgrade around the trade deadline, but one of the likeliest outcomes is an influx of bullpen reinforcements.
The rotation has been the weakness of the team statistically, but quality starters aren't abundant in a market with so many teams clustered together around the wild-card picture.
Adding a starter is a rational goal, but getting a meaningful upgrade isn't a slam dunk.
When it comes to relievers, things are more clear-cut.
Below is a list of realistic bullpen targets that the Toronto Blue Jays should prioritize before the trade deadline
RHP David Bednar, Pittsburgh Pirates
Age: 30
Contract Situation: $5.9M in 2025, arbitration eligible in 2026.
Alternate Category Fit: Pure Gas Guy
2025 Stats: 12.34 K/9, 2.57 BB/9, 0.51 HR/9 in 35 IP for a 2.31 ERA with a 2.95 xERA and 15 saves.
Contract Situation: $5.9M in 2025, arbitration eligible in 2026.
Alternate Category Fit: Pure Gas Guy
2025 Stats: 12.34 K/9, 2.57 BB/9, 0.51 HR/9 in 35 IP for a 2.31 ERA with a 2.95 xERA and 15 saves.
Bednar will be highly sought after around the majors, and the appeal of a guy who's been among MLB's best relievers this decade is obvious.
The right-hander has posted an ERA between 2.00 and 2.61 in four of the last five seasons (2024 was an off-year) with a total fWAR (5.9) that ranks eighth among all relievers since 2021.
RHP Jake Bird, Colorado Rockies
Age: 29
Contract Situation: $770K in 2025, arbitration eligible in 2026, 2027, and 2028.
Alternate Category Fit: Quality Length
2025 Stats: 10.49 K/9, 3.61 BB/9, 0.69 HR/9 in 52.1 IP for a 3.96 ERA with a 3.39 xERA
Contract Situation: $770K in 2025, arbitration eligible in 2026, 2027, and 2028.
Alternate Category Fit: Quality Length
2025 Stats: 10.49 K/9, 3.61 BB/9, 0.69 HR/9 in 52.1 IP for a 3.96 ERA with a 3.39 xERA
Before 2025, Bird was a low-strikeout (7.91 K/9) groundballer, but this season he's added a sweeper and ratcheted up his breaking ball usage to miss more bats.
The biggest stumbling block with Bird could be acquisition cost, considering Bird's negligible salary and the three-and-a-half years he's under team control.
LHP Brock Burke, Los Angeles Angels
Age: 28
Contract Situation: $1.15M in 2025, arbitration eligible in 2026.
Alternate Category Fit: Pure Gas Guy
2025 Stats: 7.68 K/9, 3.29 BB/9, 132 HR/9 in 41 IP for a 3.51 ERA with a 4.09 xERA
Contract Situation: $1.15M in 2025, arbitration eligible in 2026.
Alternate Category Fit: Pure Gas Guy
2025 Stats: 7.68 K/9, 3.29 BB/9, 132 HR/9 in 41 IP for a 3.51 ERA with a 4.09 xERA
Burke isn't a big name, but he complements Little stylistically by filling the top of the zone with his 96.0 m.p.h. fastball, the ninth-hardest among qualified lefty relievers.
He's also held left-handed hitters to a modest .689 OPS this season, and hadn't allowed a single home run against them until Wednesday night.
RHP Seranthony Dominguez, Baltimore Orioles
Age: 30
Contract Situation: $8M in 2025, free agent in 2026.
Alternate Category Fit: N/A
2025 Stats: 11.57 K/9, 5.45 BB/9, 0.91 HR/9 in 39.2 IP for a 3.63 ERA with a 3.29 xERA
Contract Situation: $8M in 2025, free agent in 2026.
Alternate Category Fit: N/A
2025 Stats: 11.57 K/9, 5.45 BB/9, 0.91 HR/9 in 39.2 IP for a 3.63 ERA with a 3.29 xERA
Dominguez has a scary walk rate and the highest salary of anyone on this list, but he brings more juice than anyone in Toronto's bullpen with a fastball averaging 97.7 m.p.h.
He also reliably misses bats and has settled in after some early-season struggles. Since the beginning of June, he's produced a 1.96 ERA in 18 outings.
LHP Sean Newcombe, Sacramento Athletics
Age: 32
Contract Situation: $1M in 2025, free agent in 2026.
Alternate Category Fit: Southpaw Who Elevates
2025 Stats: 8.87 K/9, 3.36 BB/9, 0.67 HR/9 in 67 IP for a 3.49 ERA with a 4.03 xERA
Contract Situation: $1M in 2025, free agent in 2026.
Alternate Category Fit: Southpaw Who Elevates
2025 Stats: 8.87 K/9, 3.36 BB/9, 0.67 HR/9 in 67 IP for a 3.49 ERA with a 4.03 xERA
Newcomb spent some time in the Boston Red Sox rotation this season before getting traded to the Athletics and settling in as a reliever.
Since the move to Oakland, he has a 2.77 ERA in 26 innings, and nine of his 17 outings have gone more than one inning, including a 3.1-inning scoreless gem against the Blue Jays on May 29.
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