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Blue Jays: Former pitchers that are currently on the MLB Free Agent market

By Tyson Shushkewich

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 16: Pitcher J.A. Happ #33 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches during a interleague MLB baseball game against the New York Mets on May 16, 2018 at CitiField in the Queens borough of New York City. Toronto won 12-1. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** J.A. Happ
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 16: Pitcher J.A. Happ #33 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches during a interleague MLB baseball game against the New York Mets on May 16, 2018 at CitiField in the Queens borough of New York City. Toronto won 12-1. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** J.A. Happ /
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BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 17: Ryan Tepera #52 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 17, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /

Joe Smith

Signing with the Jays for the 2017 campaign, reliever Joe Smith spent half a season with Toronto before being dealt at the trade deadline to Cleveland in exchange for Thomas Pannone and Samad Taylor. With the Jays, Smith was pretty solid, pitching to a 3.28 ERA through 38 appearances with 51 strikeouts in 35.2 innings pitched.

The Wright State alum has spent the past few seasons in the Houston Astros organization and did not play in 2020, opting out due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Smith would be traded at the 2021 deadline to the Seattle Mariners and finished the year with a combined 4.99 ERA. He struggled that season with Houston (58 ERA+ through 21.2 innings) but found a groove in Seattle to the tune of a 2.00 ERA through 23 appearances with an 8.5 K/9 and a 0.889 WHIP.

Ryan Tepera

Right-hander Ryan Tepera was a victim of the options game during his first two seasons with Toronto but did find a more permanent role in 2017, making 141 appearances over the next two seasons. Injuries limited him in 2019 and the Jays would designate him for assignment at the end of the season. He would finish his Jays’ career with a 3.64 ERA through 216 outings with 10 saves and a 1.156 WHIP.

Next. Breaking down the 40-man roster prior to the MLB lockout. dark

Tepera split last season between the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs organizations, pitching to a 2.79 ERA through 65 appearances as well as 4.2 innings with the White Sox in the ALDS, giving up just one earned run. Many will remember Tepera more for his comments during the playoffs rather than his strong numbers, as he alluded to the potential that the Houston Astros may be doing some sketchy stuff again, which did not appease Astros manager Dusty Baker.

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