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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 25: Yimi García #93 of the Toronto Blue Jays delivers a pitch against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on April 25, 2025 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
The Toronto Blue Jays could begin the season without a high-leverage reliever.
Toronto added Tyler Rogers this offseason to add another impact reliever alongside closer Jeff Hoffman. Louis Varland and Yimi Garcia will be the high-leverage relievers. Yet, Garcia missed the majority of last season due to an injury. Now, he may begin the year on the injured list, according to The Athletic’s Mitch Bannon.
“If Miles makes Toronto’s roster, it’ll come at the cost of an optionable reliever like Mason Fluharty or Braydon Fisher, or because García isn’t ready for Opening Day,” Bannon wrote. “García, who had elbow surgery in August, is still finishing his rehab and has yet to throw a bullpen session at Jays camp.
“They hope he can be ready for the start of the season, but there’s no point in rushing him with the glut of other bullpen arms Toronto has.”
Garcia appeared in 22 games last season, going 1-2 with a 3.86 ERA as a setup man for Toronto. Yet,
If Garcia begins the year on the injured list, it would be disappointing news, as he’s supposed to be an impact reliever for the team. Yet, the Blue Jays do have a surplus of relievers. So if it’s only short-term, Toronto can deal with him being on the IL to begin the season.
Spencer Miles a Name to Watch in Blue Jays Bullpen
Toronto selected Spencer Miles in the Rule 5 draft and he’s an intriguing name to watch in the bullpen battle.
The hard-throwing right-hander will be given every opportunity to make the team, and Bannon believes he will crack the Blue Jays’ Opening Day roster.
“There’s been a particular buzz surrounding Miles in the early days of camp. But it’s no guarantee he cracks Toronto’s Opening Day roster,” Bannon wrote. “He throws 98 mph and performed well at the Arizona Fall League last year. But hasn’t been healthy for a full season in his professional career.”
Miles, meanwhile, said after he got picked that he was surprised but was eager to get to work with the Blue Jays.
“It’s kind of crazy going to a team that was just in the World Series and went to Game 7,” Miles said. “Especially as kind of a speculative arm, a big hard-throwing righty. You’d think like maybe the Rockies or the White Sox or a team of that nature would take a chance on someone like me. To just see if a bullpen spot could be filled. Or a spot starter or something.
“It will be really cool. Maybe I’ll have a chance to compete for a World Series in my first year in the big leagues. That would be pretty sweet.”
Miles missed all of last season due to an injury, and the highest level he’s pitched in is A ball.
Toronto Dealt With Pitching Injuries
The Blue Jays opened camp with some key injuries.
Anthony Santander was lost for 5-6 months, while Bowden Francis is done for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Shane Bieber, meanwhile, will miss the beginning of the season due to an injury.
“That’s one of the reasons we acquired Cody (Ponce). Really fortunate to have Eric Lauer in the position that he’s in here, obviously we acquired Dylan Cease and have two incredibly stable starting pitchers coming back in Gaus and Jose,” GM Ross Atkins said. “Very confident that we’re going to see Shane contributing in a significant portion of our season. And feel like our starting point is still in a very solid position.”
The Blue Jays open their season on March 27 against the Athletics.
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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