Toronto Blue Jays News

Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet reports that Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Max Scherzer's thumb responded well to his 62-pitch Grapefruit League outing against the Minnesota Twins on Saturday. The 40-year-old pitched four shutout innings, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out four. Scherzer has been battling a thumb injury but appears to be progressing. If he experiences no setbacks, the former first-round pick is slated to pitch in the team's third contest against the Baltimore Orioles next Saturday. Scherzer is an intriguing late-round arm in fantasy drafts, selected on average just inside the top 300 players. While he may not be the same dominant pitcher he was in the past, the veteran could return some value if he can stave off injuries in 2025.

Toronto Blue Jays outfield prospect Alan Roden has made the team's Opening Day roster out of spring training, according to MLB.com's Keegan Matheson. Roden, a 25-year-old former third-rounder in 2022 out of Creighton University, will be making his MLB debut whenever he gets into a game to open the 2025 season. He has an opportunity to serve in a reserve role off Toronto's bench early on with Daulton Varsho (shoulder) opening the year on the injured list. However, with Varsho not far off from a return, Roden's stay in the big leagues could be a short one. The club's No. 5 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, impressed with a .391 average (9-for-23) with two doubles and two home runs in 18 Grapefruit League games. He posted strong contact rates and on-base percentage in the minors, and while he can play all three outfield positions, his future is likely at a corner spot in Toronto.

The Toronto Blue Jays and catcher Alejandro Kirk agreed to a five-year, $58 million contract extension on Saturday. The 5-foot-8 backstop has been with the Jays' organization ever since he broke at 18 years old back in 2017 and will now be with Toronto through his age-30 season. The 2022 All-Star and Silver Slugger Award winner puts the bat on the ball well, recording an 86.1 percent career contact rate and a low 11.5 percent strikeout rate, but it doesn't translate to much else, especially for fantasy. The 26-year-old has seen the counting stats dwindle since his All-Star season, finishing with five home runs, 54 RBI, and only 23 runs scored in 103 games last season. He's having a nice spring, though, slashing .302/.354/.465 with a pair of home runs and eight RBI, so perhaps he can carry that momentum into the regular season. Still, he's the 21st catcher coming off the board in drafts and has little upside, so he's really only viable in deeper and two-catcher leagues.

Toronto Blue Jays outfield prospect Alan Roden is firmly in the mix to make the Opening Day roster. With Daulton Varsho (shoulder) set to open the campaign on the injured list, the Blue Jays may give one of their top prospects a look at the major leagues. Through spring training, Roden has posted an impressive .367/.429/.733 slash line with two doubles and three home runs. He has held a 4:10 BB:K with one swiped bag. Last season, Roden opened the campaign at the Double-A level and eventually reached the top level of the minor leagues. Across his first 71 contests with Triple-A Buffalo, Roden posted an eye-catching .314/.406/.510 slash line with 15 doubles and nine home runs. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his stats, as he could be worth a look as a late-round pick in deeper formats.

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho (shoulder) will begin the season on the injured list, according to manager John Schneider. While it was thought this was going to be the case all along, it was confirmed by Schneider on Saturday. Varsho had been working as the team's DH this spring and was posting good results, slashing .276/.333/.793 with four home runs in 29 at-bats. While that type of pace should not be expected during the regular season, the left-handed hitter has some decent pop in his bat, slugging as many as 27 home runs in 2022 and 18 last season. The 28-year-old also has good speed, reaching double-digit steals each of the last three seasons. He won a Gold Glove in 2024 as well, so the Jays would rather him play both sides of the ball (not just DH), which is why he'll begin the season on the IL as he recovers from September rotator-cuff surgery. The IL stint is not expected to be a long one, while it leaves Nathan Lukes, Myles Straw, and Alan Roden as potential short-term replacements. If needed, Varsho could be stashed in an IL spot for fantasy. Otherwise, he'd be a viable waiver-wire pickup if available when he returns.

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Joey Loperfido has been optioned to Triple-A Buffalo on Friday. Loperfido had a real shot at making the Opening Day roster, but really struggled with the bat in camp. He went 6-for-29 with two RBI, so he'll head to the minors to work on his game. The 25-year-old was traded to Toronto last season from Houston in part of the Yusei Kikuchi trade. Loperfido does have the potential to be an everyday player in the MLB, but might need a little more work in the minor leagues.

Toronto Blue Jays infield prospect Will Wagner has begun to heat up at the plate. During Thursday's spring training contest, Wagner went 2-for-2 in the batter's box with two walks. Through 14 games this spring, Wagner has held a solid .265/.359/.412 line with five doubles and a 4:6 BB:K. The 26-year-old is currently competing for a depth role in the Toronto infield. Last summer, Wagner made his MLB debut and held a promising .305/.337/.451 slash line with six doubles and two long balls across 24 games. During this brief stint, Wagner generated an elite .317 xBA with a .360 xwOBA. Through 83 career games at the Triple-A level, the Liberty University product has posted a strong .337/.445/.465 line with 18 doubles. Given his solid play this spring, fantasy managers should expect Wagner to open the season as the No. 2 option at several positions in the infield. However, if he continues to impress, he could carve out a role as the designated hitter if Anthony Santander sees most of his time in left field.

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Max Scherzer (thumb) will start the team's Grapefruit League game on Saturday against the Minnesota Twins, according to Sportsnet's Arden Zwelling. Scherzer asked to make the two-hour road trip to Fort Myers because he wanted to face major-league hitters. The 40-year-old future Hall of Famer has been dealing with a nagging right-thumb injury in spring training, but he looked good during a bullpen session on Thursday and is now ready to test his finger in game action and is looking to throw around 60-65 pitches against Minnesota. If Scherzer avoids a setback with his thumb, he should be ready for Opening Day next Thursday. While Scherzer was initially looking like a late-round value pitch as fantasy rotation depth, his thumb injury might have a lot of fantasy managers pumping the brakes.

Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports that Toronto Blue Jays CEO Mark Shapiro believes the team will reach an agreement with first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on an extension. "We have such a clear alignment on the desired outcome," said Shapiro. "Vlad wants to play his whole career as a Toronto Blue Jay. We want him to end his career in a Blue Jays uniform...That's a pretty good place to start." When negotiations were last reported, Vladdy Jr. and the Jays were roughly $50 million apart, as the star slugger is looking for a contract similar to that of New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto. Guerrero Jr. hit a career-high .323 last season and has not played in fewer than 156 games since the start of 2021. Whether both parties will strike a deal remains to be seen. Regardless, the 26-year-old is RotoBaller's top option at first base and should be one of the more productive bats overall in 2025.

The Toronto Blue Jays have optioned outfielder Jonatan Clase to Triple-A Buffalo. Clase was competing for a spot on the Opening Day roster but will continue his development at the top level of the minor leagues. Last season, the Blue Jays acquired Clase at the trade deadline from Seattle in exchange for relief pitcher Yimi Garcia. Clase made his MLB debut last season and appeared in 26 contests. During this short stint, Clase held a .246/.303/.328 slash line with three swiped bags. He generated a low .169 xBA with a .217 xwOBA. However, he flashed elite speed as he placed in the 99th percentile in sprint speed. At the Triple-A level, Clase held a .263/.344/.439 slash line with 21 doubles and 12 long balls. Across this stint, Clase swiped an impressive 38 bags. He is worth monitoring in deeper category leagues, as he could be a viable speed target when he returns to Toronto.

The Toronto Blue Jays optioned starting pitcher prospect Jake Bloss to Triple-A Buffalo on Thursday. Bloss' name had been mentioned as a possible candidate to fill the fifth rotation spot in the event that Max Scherzer (thumb) would not be ready for Opening Day, but it looks like Yariel Rodriguez would have the inside track for the job at this point, if needed at all. Scherzer's bullpen session went well on Thursday, so perhaps this move is an indication that they expect the veteran to be ready. Either way, Bloss will need to bide his time in Triple-A until the Jays need another arm. Left-handed pitcher Josh Walker was also optioned to Buffalo.

Toronto Blue Jays infielder Orelvis Martinez has been optioned to Triple-A Buffalo on Thursday. Martinez missed a few games after getting hit by a pitch in the hip earlier in the week. He has since returned to action, but didn't make the big league club. Martinez did everything right this spring with a .320/.393/.480 slash line across 28 plate appearances. The Jays want Martinez to get everyday at-bats in the minors until they have a full-time role for him in Toronto. Dynasty managers should continue to hold Martinez as he should make a big impact once he's ready to play in Toronto.

Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Dillon Tate has been optioned to Triple-A Buffalo. This isn't shocking considering Tate didn't sign with the Jays until March 10. The right-hander hasn't pitched yet this spring, so he'll build up in the minors. Tate was a fairly reliable bullpen arm for the Baltimore Orioles for the past few seasons. In 2024, Tate registered a 4.66 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, and 27/12 K/BB ratio across 33 appearances. He figures to pitch in high leverage spots once he's ready to pitch in the big leagues.

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Max Scherzer (thumb) threw a bullpen session in camp on Thursday and said afterwards that the plan is for him to pitch in a game on Saturday, assuming his thumb recovers normally. Manager John Schneider said they would ideally like Scherzer to throw 65 to 70 pitches this weekend. The 40-year-old future Hall of Famer continues to be bothered by a right-thumb injury this spring, but he's pushing through it and could be ready for the start of his first season in Toronto if he makes it through his outing this Saturday without any issues. While the eight-time All-Star and three-time Cy Young winner had been somewhat of a value pick as rotation depth for much of the spring, his thumb injury reminds us that there's still plenty of injury risk surrounding the aging pitcher. Scherzer is just inside RotoBaller's top-100 rankings for starting pitchers.

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher prospect Jake Bloss may be an option to fill the fifth rotation spot that could be made available by the absence of veteran Max Scherzer (thumb) if his thumb issue lingers or turns out to be worse than initially thought. Bloss has made four appearances this spring, albeit without stellar results. The former third-rounder's latest appearance was his best yet, tossing three innings of shutout ball, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out five batters. The Jays' sixth-ranked prospect had success in the Astros' organization, pitching to a 1.91 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and a 16.3 percent K-BB% over 19 starts (84 2/3 IP), but hasn't fared so well in his three starts in the majors or with Jays' Triple-A affiliate (6.91 ERA, 1.76 WHIP, 7.6 percent K-BB%). The 6-foot-3 hurler would be under consideration for the role of fifth starter along with Yariel Rodriguez who made 21 starts for Toronto last season but who also hasn't shown well this spring.

Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that right-hander Max Scherzer (thumb) felt "probably a little bit better than I think I expected" on Tuesday, but that the veteran hurler is still very much day-to-day as the team manages his thumb issue. Toronto is holding out hope that Scherzer can pitch in a game this weekend. The 40-year-old future Hall of Famer has been dealing with a right-thumb injury and is working with a hand specialist as he tries to prepare for the start of his first year with the Blue Jays. The three-time Cy Young winner, eight-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion can still be useful as rotation depth in fantasy leagues, but durability has become a big factor for him as he nears the end of his fantastic career. RotoBaller currently has him ranked as the No. 93 fantasy starter, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him open the year on the injured list.

Toronto Blue Jays infielder Orelvis Martinez (hip) was forced to exit early during Monday's spring training contest. Martinez is considered day-to-day after getting hit by a pitch in the hip during his lone plate appearance. It sounds like he's only dealing with a bruised hip, so this isn't something that should sideline him for long. Martinez was already unlikely to make the Opening Day roster, but it shouldn't be long before he's playing everyday in Toronto. The 23-year-old has some legitimate power in his bat, so he could be an immediate impact player once he gets the chance to play everyday.

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Alek Manoah (elbow) has been placed on the 60-day injured list on Monday. This is unsurprising as Manoah continues working his way back from Tommy John surgery. The organization is hopeful that Manoah can be an option for them in the second half of the season. Manoah was horrendous in 2023 and only made five starts with the Blue Jays last season. This move opens up a spot on the 40-man roster for left-hander Richard Lovelady. The southpaw posted a 4.46 ERA, and 1.31 WHIP across 34 1/3 innings with the Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago Cubs last season. He has a good chance of making the team as a middle reliever to start the season.

Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports that Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer (thumb) is still battling pain in his thumb. Reports from Toronto noted that the 40-year-old threw a successful session on Friday and suffered no setbacks. However, Scherzer's thumb ailment reportedly traces all the way back to 2023. "My thumb hurts. It hurts to grip the ball," said Scherzer. "Unfortunately, this is what I've been dealing with since 2023." The former first-round pick had pitched well thus far in the spring before being bothered by his thumb, accruing a 2.00 ERA and 0.33 WHIP across nine innings. While it appears he's on track to rejoin the Jays' rotation sooner than later, fantasy managers may want to exhibit caution when considering him in drafts, as it seems like the thumb issue could continue to linger.

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Jose Berrios will be the team's Opening Day starter next Thursday, March 27, against the division-rival Baltimore Orioles at home, according to manager John Schneider. Kevin Gausman has been slow-played during spring training, which is probably why Berrios is getting the nod to start the first game of the year. The 30-year-old veteran's strikeout rate fell to just 19.5 percent last year with Toronto, although he finished with a decent 3.60 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 153 strikeouts and 54 walks in 192 1/3 innings over 32 starts. He's had a solid spring with a 2.35 ERA, 13 strikeouts and four walks in four starts covering 15 1/3 innings pitched. Berrios is no longer a big strikeout guy, which lowers his fantasy floor and ceiling, but he's been as durable as they come for a starting pitcher. We would recommend avoiding him in DFS in a tough first matchup against the O's.