#toronto-blue-jays

#toronto-blue-jays

It was so long ago, but Fluharty had a terrific start to his big league career. Over his first 18.1 innings pitched, the lefty had a 1.96 ERA and 2.97 FIP, with a 26.2 K% and 7.7 BB%. After a few outings in June, Fluharty began to struggle on Jun. 8. From that date until Jun. 30, the final game he pitched in before he was optioned, Fluharty gave up 12 earned runs in 7.1 innings pitched.

If the 2026 season started today, the Toronto Blue Jays would be well-positioned to compete for a World Series title - but adding another reliever would certainly help. The 2025 squad came within two outs of winning it all before Jeff Hoffman blew the save in the ninth inning of Game 7. Most of the biggest bumps on the road to that point were also bullpen-related, usually in the form of a costly home run in a big spot.

With the Toronto Blue Jays being one of the more active teams this offseason, they have been able to make various moves to bolster their roster ahead of the 2026 MLB season. So far, the Blue Jays have added notable players in Kazuma Okamoto, Cody Ponce, Tyler Rogers, and of course rotation stalwart Dylan Cease and many believe that they are not done just yet.

Let's remember where the Blue Jays were when Lauer made his first start on May 17. They were two game under .500. Max Scherzer had only thrown three innings and wasn't set to rejoin the rotation for at least another month. And Bowden Francis was floundering as the number five starter. But at Rogers Centre, in that game against the Detroit Tigers, Lauer pitched three innings of three hit ball and allowed one run in an eventual 2-1 walk-off win for the Blue Jays.

The past three months have seen the front office make sizeable additions to the roster in Dylan Cease, Cody Ponce, Tyler Rogers, and, most recently, Kazuma Okamoto. While names such as Bo Bichette, Seranthony Dominguez, Yariel Rodriguez, Nick Sandlin, Justin Bruihl, and recently DFA'd Paxton Schultz are no longer with the organization or off the 40-man, it makes you wonder what's next for the team.

The Blue Jays could not have gotten off to a better start against the Yankees on July 2. Toronto racked up five runs before recording an out, thanks to an RBI double from Alejandro Kirk and a three-run home run from Addison Barger. Later in the first inning, Davis Schneider hit a two-run home run, the first of two homers for Schneider in the game.

We can't ignore what the Blue Jays have done this winter, making splashes with starting pitchers Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce and high-leverage reliever Tyler Rogers. We're still waiting to see if they can reunite with free agent Bo Bichette, sign Alex Bregman, or really go big by signing Kyle Tucker. Blue Jays will have to watch their back with Orioles preparing to make waves in AL East in 2026

For starters, the Blue Jays have been one of the most active teams this offseason. They've made major and minor moves that will affect both the immediate and the the edges of the roster. Shane Bieber chose to exorcise the option on his contract, immediately giving the Blue Jays a former Cy Young winner in the rotation for 2026. Then came the deals for Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce to round out the rotation and build up their depth.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic condensing the season, fans didn't get to see much of Shaw in a Jays uniform. He would be the Jays' Opening Day third baseman that season. Across his lone campaign with Toronto, which was spent entirely south of the border due to the pandemic, Shaw crafted a .239/.306/.411 slash line with six home runs, 17 RBIs, and 10 doubles to the tune of a .717 OPS.