Blue Jays: Strikeout type free agent relievers to pursue this offseason

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 11: Taylor Rogers #25 of the Milwaukee Brewers throws a pitch during the eighth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at American Family Field on September 11, 2022 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 11: Taylor Rogers #25 of the Milwaukee Brewers throws a pitch during the eighth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at American Family Field on September 11, 2022 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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Blue Jays
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – AUGUST 26: Michael Fulmer #52 of the Minnesota Twins delivers a pitch against the San Francisco Giants in the ninth inning of the game at Target Field on August 26, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Giants 8-0. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /

Michael Fulmer – RHP

You might remember Michael Fulmer from the 2022 trade deadline, as the right-hander was one option that was circled on the wish list of quite a few Blue Jays fans earlier this year. Ultimately, the Detroit Tigers traded him to the Minnesota Twins and he finished the year by throwing to a 3.70 ERA through 24.1 innings of work with his new club.

While Fulmer’s fastball doesn’t blow you away like Díaz or Castro, the Oklahoma product uses a slider to generate weak contact and strikeouts, earning an 8.6 K/9 on the year. He sat in the 91st percentile of barrel % and generated a 113 ERA+ split between the Tigers and the Twins, although he did take a step back after the trade.

Related Story. Five rental players the Blue Jays should consider trading for at the deadline. light

Adding Fulmer into the Blue Jays bullpen wouldn’t necessarily provide the velocity fans might be looking for. Still, he is experienced and is coming off two solid seasons as a relief option since converting from the rotation that also has some closing experience dating back to 2021.

Fulmer would be considered a middle reliever and similar to Castro, the addition would hopefully be just another piece to the puzzle that is the free agent offseason (with more moves likely to follow) but he could slot into the relief corps if the Jays don’t bring back David Phelps.