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Blue Jays move called a risk.
The Toronto Blue Jays have been one of the more active teams this offseason, but their latest move is getting questions.
Toronto signed sidearm reliever Tyler Rogers to a three-year, $37 million deal, with a 2029 vesting option. He’s a unique pitcher as he throws an 83 mph sinker, and since 2021 has a 2.71 ERA.
Rogers has been a dominant reliever for years. Yet ESPN MLB insider David Schoenfield called the Blue Jays’ signing a ‘risk’ due to Rogers’ age.
“The biggest risk here is Rogers turns 35 in a few days,” Schoenfield wrote. “But while the contract was higher than projected, Rogers doesn’t rely on velocity anyway, so he’s a good bet to remain healthy and age well into his late 30s.
“With the additions now of Dylan Cease, Korean League MVP Cody Ponce and Rogers, the Jays have reinforced the pitching staff while seeing the payroll soar past where it was in 2025. It will soar even higher if they can re-sign Bo Bichette, which now feels more likely given this spending spurge so far.”
If the vesting option hits, he will be nearly 38 at the end of it, so there is a major risk in what his performance in the final year or two of the deal looks like. But, Toronto is banking on Rogers still pitching well into his late 30s, even with his velocity decreasing.
Rogers Gives Hitters Problems
Rogers is a sidearmer, and it’s a unique way to throw the ball.
The right-hander has a low release point, which challenges hitters, which is why Schoenfield believes he’s had so much success as of late.
“Rogers does it with his ground-scraping delivery, the lowest release point of any pitcher in the majors, which gives him a different look than any other pitcher, with the ball leaving his hand 6 feet lower than most pitchers. …,” Schoenfield wrote.
“He threw that sinker nearly 75% of the time in 2025, relentlessly pounding the strike zone (he has walked just 11 batters unintentionally in 148 innings over the past two seasons). Rogers then mixes in what is essentially a rising slider due to his low release point. In other words, he pitches down with his fastball and up with his breaking ball. The exact opposite of how most pitchers are doing it. Hitters’ brains just have trouble adjusting to something they’re not used to seeing.”
Rogers went 4-6 with a 1.98 ERA in 81 games last season. But, he did go 0-for-2 in save opportunities.
Toronto Wanted to Bolster its Bullpen
The Blue Jays have been one of the more active teams this offseason. The focus for Toronto has been bolstering its pitching staff.
Toronto signed Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce to bolster its rotation. The Blue Jays also signed Rogers and traded for Chase Lee to add bullpen help.
After losing in the World Series, general manager Ros Atkins hinted at making a move to bolster the backend of the bullpen.
“The great thing about Jeff is he’s not married to that,” Atkins said on Nov. 6. “Talking about the cohesion and team approach (of the Jays), he epitomizes that. I think he would be open to anything that makes us better.”
For now, however, Hoffman appears to be the Blue Jays’ answer at closer for 2026.
Cole Shelton Cole Shelton covers the NHL, MLB and Cleveland Browns for Heavy.com. He has covered pro and college sports since 2016, including bylines at BJ Penn, USA Today, SB Nation, Rotowire, Canadian Baseball Network and more. More about Cole Shelton
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