Toronto Blue Jays designate infielder Tyler Fitzgerald for assignment

Tyler Fitzgerald, 28, had only recently joined the Toronto Blue Jays in a similar DFA-related cash deal about three weeks ago.

His arrival came shortly after the team lost Leo Jiménez, who was out of options and didn’t make the Opening Day roster.

Jiménez was traded to the Marlins, and Fitzgerald was brought in to help restore some infield depth before being optioned to the minors.

Not long after, injuries created an opportunity. Addison Barger landed on the injured list, prompting the Blue Jays to recall Fitzgerald.

However, his stint was brief. Within days, Toronto acquired Lenyn Sosa from the White Sox, sending Fitzgerald back down to Triple-A.

At the same time, George Springer also went on the injured list, and the team began using Sosa both in the infield and at designated hitter.

Ultimately, the Blue Jays appear to have prioritized catching depth over infield depth, leading to Fitzgerald’s designation.

With both Springer and Barger expected to return relatively soon—likely before Alejandro Kirk is back, Sosa could find himself sliding down the depth chart in the near future.

Fitzgerald can remain in DFA limbo for up to a week. During that period, he’ll be exposed to waivers for 48 hours, while the Blue Jays have up to five days to explore potential trade opportunities.

Given his versatility, he can play nearly every position except catcher—and the fact that he still has minor league options remaining, Fitzgerald is likely to draw interest from other teams.

His offensive performance, however, raises some concerns. He impressed with the Giants in 2024, posting a .280/.334/.497 slash line.

That success came with warning signs, including a high 31.7% strikeout rate and an inflated .380 batting average on balls in play.

Regression followed in 2025, when he struggled to a .217/.278/.327 line. This year, across various transactions, he’s posted a concerning .094/.147/.125 line at Triple-A.

Despite those struggles, teams may still be intrigued by his upside, viewing him as a potential rebound candidate worth stashing in the minors, even if returning to his 2024 form may be a long shot.

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