The Toronto Blue Jays need bullpen help after Joe Mantiply was placed on the 15-day injured list with left knee inflammation and Tommy Nance was placed on the injured list with right forearm discomfort. With additional pressure on relief pitching, Josh Hader is a potential target. Hader, a 32-year-old Houston Astros reliever, is on the 60-day injured list with left bicep tendonitis suffered near the end of the 2025 season. He has taken minor league rehab outings with Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Sugar Land, allowing no runs in his first four outings while striking out six of 14 batters and issuing one walk. A return to Houston is possible in June after five more rehab outings, but Houston’s 20-31 record suggests contention is unlikely.
"With June around the corner, the Toronto Blue Jays are desperate to find bullpen help, especially now that relief pitcher Joe Mantiply was placed on the 15-day injured list with left knee inflammation, and reliever Tommy Nance was already placed on the IL this week due to right forearm discomfort. With injuries to starters and relievers like Mantiply putting more pressure on the bullpen, the Blue Jays could use a standout name, and that name could be Josh Hader."
"The 32-year-old reliever currently sits on the 60-day injured list after suffering left bicep tendonitis near the end of the 2025 season. Hader was not ready for opening day and has since been taking minor league rehab outings with the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks and Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys."
"During his first four outings in his minor league assignment, he allowed no runs, recorded six punchouts against the 14 batters he faced, and surrendered only one walk. This is a promising sign for the six-time All-Star, who left the 2025 season in August with the impact of his shoulder injury being unknown."
"However, his return could be too late for the Astros. Hader is slated for a potential return to Houston in June after five more rehab outings, but the Astros are fighting for dear life to keep any hope of contention alive. Right now, Houston sits at a measly 20-31 record (going into Friday, May 22), just ahead of the last-place Los Angeles Angels, and is trending towards selling at the trade deadline."
Read at Jays Journal
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