The Toronto Blue Jays appear to be prepared to do whatever it takes to improve their roster for the 2025 season.
After a disappointing 2024 campaign in which they finished with a 74-88 record, the Blue Jays are being linked to a ton of free agents. ESPN’s Buster Olney even reported that other MLB teams around the league sense a major feeling of desperation from the Blue Jays’ front office when it comes to improving this offseason.
While the Blue Jays have many areas they will need to fix to become a playoff team in 2025, perhaps the most notable is the bullpen. They struggled immensely in that area in 2024, and many believe they need a complete overhaul when it comes to relief pitchers. Here are six who are available in free agency that would help.
1. Tanner Scott
In the eyes of many, Tanner Scott is the best relief pitcher available on the free-agent market this offseason. The 30-year-old is very much a realistic target for the Blue Jays, but will have plenty of interest from several other clubs.
Scott began the season with the Miami Marlins, where he operated in a closing role and had a pristine 1.18 era through 45.2 innings. He wound up being traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates and became a set-up man. His numbers did regress, but were still very strong, as he had a 2.73 ERA through 26.1 innings.
2. Carlos Estévez
Another very exciting relief pitcher on the market is Carlos Estévez. The 31-year-old, who was an All-Star for the first time in 2023, split his time between the Los Angeles Angels and the Philadelphia Phillies this past season.
Estévez can also be used in a closer or set-up role, but the fact that he had a combined 26 saves this past year likely indicates what his future role will be. With Jordan Romano’s future up in the air right now, Estévez could serve as a replacement.
3. Jeff Hoffman
Jeff Hoffman, who was once a top prospect in the Blue Jays organization, took quite a while to develop into the talent he has become. The 31-year-old, who is now one of the top relievers on the free agent market, was one of several pieces the Blue Jays used to acquire Troy Tulowitzki and LaTroy Hawkins from the Colorado Rockies in 2015.
Hoffman struggled with the Rockies but has really found his groove in a bullpen role over the past two seasons with the Phillies. He’s coming off the first All-Star appearance of his career in a season that saw him post a 2.17 ERA through 66.1 innings.
4. Clay Holmes
Another very intriguing option on the market is two-time All-Star Clay Holmes, who is coming off of a World Series final, albeit a loss, with the New York Yankees. The 31-year-old racked up 30 saves this past season.
Despite the 30 saves, however, Holmes also blew a whopping 13 and was removed as the Yankees’ closer in September. To his credit, however, he got his game back on track in the playoffs, albeit not in a closing role.
5. Aroldis Chapman
Que the, “What year is it?” comments. Yes, it’s been quite some time since Aroldis Chapman has been viewed as one of the league’s most dominant closers, but he has proven in more recent years that he can still be an effective arm out of the bullpen.
The 36-year-old spent the 2024 season with the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he managed a 3.79 ERA along with 98 strikeouts in 61.2 innings. Though he operated more as a set-up man, he was still able to pick up 14 saves along the way.
6. Kirby Yates
Could the Blue Jays and Kirby Yates reunite this coming season? You may forget, but the 2019 NL saves leader signed a one-year deal with the Jays ahead of the 2021 season, but wound up being unable to go after being forced to undergo Tommy John surgery.
Though he had a very rough return in 2022, Yates settled down in 2023 and had arguably his best season to date in 2024, pitching to a ridiculous 1.17 ERA through 61.2 innings, while racking up 33 saves. At 37, age could soon become a factor, but he showed no signs of slowing down this past season.
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