TORONTO, ON – JULY 14: New TD Bank logo on the Toronto Blue Jays jerseys during a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Rogers Centre on July 14, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
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The Toronto Blue Jays emerged from a heartbreaking defeat in extra innings of World Series Game 7 against the Los Angeles Dodgers with a clear priority in mind.
The team quickly refocused on improving the roster, with the pitching staff at the top of the list.
After getting news that former Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber would be opting into a team-friendly contract, the Blue Jays also added starters Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce to the rotation and brought in Tyler Rogers to fortify the bullpen.
Alongside pitchers like Kevin Gausman, Trey Yesavage and Jeff Hoffman, it seems like the Blue Jay’s big-league staff is pretty well set for next season. But the team has now addressed its depth at the lower levels by bringing in a seasoned reliever who was just cut by their division rival.
Toronto Blue Jays Announce Addition Of MLB Veteran Jorge Alcala
This week, the team announced that it had signed right-handed pitcher Jorge Alcala to a minor league deal with an invitation to Spring Training.
“The Jays and Alcala will be looking for a bounceback,” Darragh McDonald wrote for MLB Trade Rumors. “Alcala spent significant time on the injured list due to various arm issues in 2022 and 2023. He only tossed 19 2/3 big league innings over those two years combined. He bounced back in 2024 by pitching 58 1/3 innings for the (Minnesota) Twins with a 3.24 ERA, 24.7% strikeout rate, 8.5% walk rate. His four-seamer averaged 98 mph as he recorded another 15 holds.”
Boston Red Sox Cut Ties With Jorge Alcala Before He Joined Toronto Blue Jays
Last year, Alcala bounced around the majors but had his best performances with the Boston Red Sox, appearing in 19 games and logging a 3.31 ERA with 18 strikeouts. But the team designated him for assignment in early August and he was claimed by the St. Louis Cardinals, where he finished out the season before electing free agency.
Now, he could become a factor for the Blue Jays’ big-league bullpen at some point next season, particularly as the team looks to solidify things around Rogers and Hoffman. In 2021, Alcala logged nearly 60 innings for the Twins, with a 3.92 ERA and 61 strikeouts, demonstrating that he can serve as a key middle relief option in the majors.
For now, though, the veteran has been assigned to the Triple-A affiliate Buffalo Bisons.
“He has had some major league success but 2025 was a poor season for him,” McDonald added. “Alcala gives (the Blue Jays) a bit of extra depth without taking up a roster spot.”
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterchawaga/2026/01/15/blue-jays-announce-mlb-veteran-addition-after-cut-by-rival-red-sox/
