Toronto Blue Jays have some tough Rule 5 decisions to make this spring

However, a few lingering decisions remain for the Toronto Blue Jays, particularly regarding two pitchers selected in the Rule 5 Draft.

The Rule 5 Draft allows teams to select unprotected players from other organizations, often taking chances on prospects who are close to the major leagues.

The catch is that any player selected must remain on the team's 26-man active roster for the entire regular season.

If a team cannot keep that player in the majors, they must offer him back to his previous organization for $50,000, effectively undoing the selection.

Right-hander Angel Bastardo was taken sixth overall by the Blue Jays in the 2024 Rule 5 Draft from the Boston Red Sox.

This spring marks his first opportunity to pitch within Toronto's system.

Bastardo missed the entire 2025 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery midway through 2024.

Despite that setback, and the fact he has never pitched above the Double-A, he has shown flashes of promise during spring training.

Through 3.2 innings, Bastardo has allowed four baserunners (one walk and four hits) while recording two strikeouts.

One notable moment came when he induced a double-play grounder from Josh Naylor, who signed a $92.5 million contract this offseason.

Bastardo's repertoire includes a fastball that has reached 98.6 mph, paired with a changeup and slider in the mid-80s.

The combination gives him a pitch mix that looks capable of succeeding at the major-league level.

According to FanGraphs, he currently ranks as Toronto's 12th-best prospect entering March 2026.

Historically, Bastardo has demonstrated strong strikeout ability but has struggled with command at times.

Projection models from FanGraphs estimate he could post a 4.44 ERA across 77 innings if given a full MLB season, though those projections view him primarily as a starter-a role he has held almost exclusively since 2021.

Even so, cracking Toronto's Opening Day roster would likely require significant improvement.

Another intriguing Rule 5 selection is right-hander Spencer Miles, who the taken sixth overall by the Blue Jays in the 2025 Rule 5 Draft from the San Francisco Giants.

Miles has appeared in four spring games, posting a 3.60 ERA with eight strikeouts in five innings.

He has also allowed plenty of traffic on the bases, surrendering six hits and four walks.

Like Bastardo, Miles spent most of 2025 recovering from Tommy John surgery performed in 2024, making this spring his first game action since the procedure.

When healthy, he features an impressive arsenal: a mid-to-upper-90s four-seam fastball, a cutter and sinker with solid movement, and a curveball that has shown real potential.

That curve even produced a strikeout against established big-leaguer Trevor Story earlier this spring.

Unfortunately, injuries have limited Miles' professional workload. Since being drafted in the fourth round of the 2022 MLB Draft, he has logged just 14.2 innings.

While both pitchers possess intriguing upside, their Rule 5 status makes their situations complicated.

The Blue Jays would need to keep them on the major-league roster all season, something that currently appears unlikely.

Still, Bastardo and Miles have shown enough talent this spring to suggest that their big-league debuts may not be far off-even if those opportunities ultimately come with another club.

Also read on Blue Jays Central :
Former Toronto Blue Jays ace calling it a career, retiring following Dominican Republic 10-0 rout