Toronto Blue Jays right-hander opts out of contract ahead of Opening Day

According to Ari Alexander of 7News Boston, right-hander Jorge Alcala exercised an assignment clause in his contract with the Toronto Blue Jays making him available to 29 other MLB teams.

This type of provision, often referred to as an upward mobility clause, allows players to pursue opportunities at the big league level if another club is willing to add them to its active roster.

The 30-year-old joined Toronto on a minor league deal during the offseason but was unable to secure a roster spot out of spring training.

In Grapefruit League play, he logged 7 1/3 innings, surrendering seven earned runs on 12 hits and three walks while striking out six.

Upward mobility clauses typically work by giving every other team a chance to claim the player.

If a team expresses interest and is prepared to place him on its major league roster, the original club must either promote the player or trade him to that team.

Alcala’s situation is further shaped by his service time. He cannot be sent to the minors without his approval, meaning any team that acquires him must commit to keeping him in the big leagues.

If no organization claims Alcala, the Blue Jays retain the option to assign him to Triple-A

Known for his high-end velocity, Alcala features a fastball and sinker that both average around 97 mph, making him an appealing bullpen option despite inconsistent results.

His performance has fluctuated over the years, highlighted by a solid 3.92 ERA in 2021 with the Minnesota Twins.

Injuries limited him significantly in 2022 and 2023, but he rebounded in 2024 with a 3.24 ERA.

However, his struggles returned last season, as he posted a 6.22 ERA while splitting time between the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals. St. Louis ultimately chose not to tender him a contract.

For his career, Alcala owns a 4.29 ERA across 218 1/3 innings. His walk rate of 9.3% is roughly league average, while his 24.9% strikeout rate is slightly above typical for relievers.

Players in this situation usually find out within a couple of days if they’ve been claimed, so Alcala’s next move should become clear before the weekend concludes.

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