Toronto Blue Jays bullpen drastically improved heading into 2026 season
Photo credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
The Toronto Blue Jays wasted little time turning the page on a bullpen that struggled to find consistency in 2025.
The Toronto Blue Jays opened last season with a relief group that included Richard Lovelady, Jacob Barnes, Chad Green, Erik Swanson, Nick Sandlin, and Canadian right-hander Zach Pop, all of whom made the Opening Day roster. By season’s end, none remained with the club.
Lovelady was designated for assignment before the first series even wrapped up, while Barnes and Pop followed in mid-April.
Green was let go shortly before the trade deadline, Swanson was released and later retired, and Sandlin was non-tendered in November.
The constant turnover highlighted just how unstable the bullpen had become. Fast forward to 2026, and the outlook is dramatically different.
Through a mix of external additions and internal growth, the Blue Jays appear far better equipped to handle late-game situations.
RHP Jeff Hoffman
Jeff Hoffman is expected to return as Toronto’s closer, assuming good health and steady performance.
While Game 7 left a sour note, Hoffman’s postseason was otherwise outstanding, as he posted a 1.46 ERA over 12 1/3 innings.
Regular-season inconsistency remains a concern, though, and with stronger late-inning options now in place, his grip on the ninth inning may not be ironclad.
RHP Louis Varland
One of those options is Louis Varland, who arrived at last year’s trade deadline and immediately impressed with elite velocity and durability.
The 2025 campaign marked Varland’s first full season as a big-league reliever, and the transition couldn’t have gone much better.
Between the Twins and Blue Jays, he logged 72.2 innings with a 2.97 ERA.
A full season of Varland in Toronto could be pivotal, particularly in high-leverage “fireman” roles.
RHP Yimi Garcia
Yimi Garcia is also set to return after undergoing elbow surgery and is expected to be ready for Spring Training.
When healthy, Garcia has been a dependable arm for Toronto, compiling a 3.49 ERA across 178 innings over four seasons.
Like Varland, his power sinker-slider combination makes him a strong candidate for leverage-heavy situations.
The Blue Jays also added Tyler Rogers earlier this offseason on a three-year deal. Rogers brings stability, boasting a 2.76 career ERA and eclipsing 70 innings in each of the past five seasons.
While he lacks flash, his ability to induce weak contact and ground balls fits perfectly with Toronto’s strong infield defense.
Braydon Fisher
Braydon Fisher debuted in early May of last season and never looked back, pitching to a 2.70 ERA over 50 innings and earning a 10th-place finish in Rookie of the Year voting. His over-the-top delivery creates deception that opposing hitters consistently struggle to pick up.
LHP's Mason Fluharty | Brendon Little | Eric Lauer
The emergence of a left-handed trio—Mason Fluharty, Brendon Little, and Eric Lauer proved to be a pleasant surprise in 2025 and played a key role in the team’s deep playoff run.
Fluharty posted a sparkling 1.96 ERA across his first 18.1 innings and earned more regular usage as the season progressed, delivering several critical outs in October.
Little was dominant early in the year, though fatigue and command issues caught up to him in the second half.
If he can rediscover the feel for his devastating curveball, he has the tools to rank among the league leaders in both whiff and chase rates.
Lauer filled a versatile role after starting the season in Triple-A, making spot starts and providing valuable innings before transitioning to the bullpen later in the year, where he became a reliable left-handed option.
RHP Tommy Nance
Tommy Nance will enter Spring Training fighting for a bullpen spot, but his path isn’t guaranteed.
With no options remaining and after being left off both the ALCS and World Series rosters, it remains uncertain whether he can stick with the club for the long haul.
Rule 5 selections and minor league signees
Meanwhile, Chase Lee, Spencer Miles, and Angel Bastardo are all on the 40-man roster and will have opportunities to earn bullpen roles this spring.
Miles and Bastardo, both Rule 5 selections, could be particularly intriguing if they make strong impressions.
Bullpens are inherently volatile, but the 2026 version of the Blue Jays’ relief corps projects to be significantly deeper and more reliable than many of its predecessors—an encouraging sign for a team with postseason aspirations.
Also read on Blue Jays Central :
Who will succeed Buck Martinez in Toronto Blue Jays broadcast booth?
Who will succeed Buck Martinez in Toronto Blue Jays broadcast booth?
| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 8|123 ANSWERS Toronto Blue Jays bullpen drastically improved heading into 2026 season Do you think the Toronto Blue Jays bullpen is better in 2026? | ||
| Yes | 80 | 65 % |
| No | 14 | 11.4 % |
| Too early to tell | 29 | 23.6 % |
| List of polls | ||