Projecting the Toronto Blue Jays Opening Day bullpen for 2025
The Toronto Blue Jays are hoping for a resurgent season from their bullpen come 2025.
While not the sole reason they finished well outside the playoff picture this past season, their bullpen struggled immensely, with their combined 4.82 ERA ranking dead last in the AL.
With Jordan Romano heading to the Philadelphia Phillies in free agency this week, Toronto’s bullpen is without its most recognizable face of the past few seasons.
But with a mix of new and old pitchers in the mix, here’s our best guess at who will be suiting up for Toronto’s pen next season:
Chad Green
After missing most of the 2023 season due to injury, Chad Green suited up 54 times for the Blue Jays this past season.
Green has put up an ERA of 3.58, landing 62 strikeouts and 17 saves in 65 appearances for the Jays over two seasons.
The team’s highest-paid reliever making $10.5 million per year, Green will likely be relied upon in all situations this upcoming year and could end up being the team’s de facto closer out of spring training.
Yimi García
Signing on a two-year deal this week, Yimi Garcia is back with the Blue Jays for a second go-around after a mid-season trade to the Seattle Mariners last season.
Originally joining the Jays organization in 2022, García had a 10-9 record with an ERA of 3.44, 179 strikeouts, and nine saves in 163 appearances for the Blue Jays in his career over the course of three seasons before the trade.
A 34-year-old, Garcia has also spent time with the Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Miami Marlins organizations.
Erik Swanson
One of the key pieces in the Teoscar Hernandez trade, Erik Swanson has had an up-and-down go-around across his two seasons in Toronto.
Swanson put up an ERA of 2.97, 75 strikeouts, and four saves in 69 appearances for the Blue Jays in 2023 but saw those numbers climb up to an ERA of 5.03 and 37 strikeouts in 45 appearances.
If the Jays are hoping to have a stronger bullpen campaign as a whole, Swanson having a year more reminiscent of 2023 could go a long way to doing that.
Nick Sandlin
While the main headlines for the trade with the Guardians this week centred around infielder Andres Gimenez, the Jays also landed veteran reliever Nick Sandlin, who has spent all of his four MLB seasons with Cleveland.
In 209 career appearances, the 27-year-old has put up an ERA of 3.27 and 223 strikeouts.
Ryan Burr
Ryan Burr should be returning for his second year with the Jays after putting up a 4.13 ERA following his acquisition last season from the Chicago White Sox.
Appearing in 34 games for Toronto last season, the Jays will hope he can keep up his strong strikeout rate, putting up 47 in 32.0 innings last year.
Brendon Little
While he had limited MLB action (one game) with the Chicago Cubs in 2022, Brendon Little was essentially going through his rookie season this past year with Toronto. Little’s 3.74 ERA was fourth-best among Toronto relievers last year, with the 28-year-old hoping to build off a strong first campaign.
Zach Pop
Does it feel a little odd knowing that Zach Pop is the reliever with the longest continuous tenure in Toronto on this list?
Acquired from Miami a little over two years ago in a trade, Pop pitched a career-high 58 games last season.
Struggling with his command, he hasn’t quite found his footing in Toronto, putting up a 4.89 ERA over the course of his time with the franchise.
Tommy Nance
Coming over from the San Diego Padres as part of a midseason trade last year for cash considerations, Tommy Nance should fill in one of the final spots of Toronto’s bullpen to start the year.
The 33-year-old American pitcher made 20 appearances for the Jays in 2024, putting up a 4.09 ERA across 22 innings pitched.