"With the start of the 2026 MLB regular season just over a week away, many Blue Jays players are trying to make some last-minute strong impressions to boost their chances of making the big league club. But even if some of them end up succeeding in winning out a spot on the Blue Jays' 26-man roster and head up north to Toronto with the team, it doesn't guarantee that their spot is secure for the rest of the season."
"Acquired from the San Diego Padres during their disappointing 2024 season, Tommy Nance was statistically one of the top arms in the Blue Jays bullpen down the stretch this past year. Nance compiled a 2-0 record with a stellar 1.99 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, along with 32 strikeouts in 31.1 innings pitched over 30 relief appearances for Toronto."
"Despite the numbers Blue Jays manager John Schneider predominantly used Nance in lower-leverage situations which limited his impact as a whole and created a question mark on whether he could actually handle higher-leverage situations. As a result, Nance was the odd man out on the Blue Jays postseason roster following the ALDS when Chris Bassitt and Max Scherzer were added back into the mix."
As Spring Training concludes before the 2026 MLB season, Blue Jays players battle for roster spots on the 26-man team. Making the opening day roster provides no guarantee of season-long employment, as the roster constantly evolves and underperforming players face potential release by May. Tommy Nance exemplifies this uncertainty. The 34-year-old pitcher was acquired from San Diego and posted strong 2025 statistics with a 1.99 ERA across 30 relief appearances. However, limited high-leverage usage raised questions about his capabilities. Excluded from the postseason roster, Nance has struggled this spring with a 6.75 ERA. Despite being out of options, forcing the Blue Jays to roster him or lose him, poor performance could result in early-season release.
Read at Jays Journal
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