5 former Blue Jays without a job heading into 2025 spring training

Spring training starts this week, and the Toronto Blue Jays will look to begin their year of redemption after a disappointing 2024 season. Their camp, along with every other one across the MLB landscape, will feature plenty of players battling it out for a spot on the MLB roster.

And while that uncertainty can lead to some anxiety for the players involved, it's better than not being on a roster — a position that quite a few former Blue Jays find themselves in. Here's a look at five former Blue Jays who happen to be lingering in the free agent market.

5 former Blue Jays still without a job heading into 2025 spring training

Rowdy Tellez

A popular figure during his time with Toronto, Tellez has had a rocky MLB career so far. At one point in time he was thought to be the Jays’ first baseman of the future. But, that role was filled by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., which led to Tellez moving into more a part-time designated hitter role. For the most part, Tellez was good enough to remain on the big league roster, but not good enough to become a mainstay in the lineup.

His trenture with Toronto ended in 2021 when he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in a trade that brought pitchers Trevor Richards and Bowden Francis to town. Tellez would go on to have his best offensive season with the Brewers in 2022 in which he posted career highs in runs scored (67), doubles (23), home runs (35) and RBI (89).

However, he came back to earth in the following two seasons. Last year with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Tellez batted just .243 with 13 home runs and 56 RBI in 131 games played and was designated for assignment just days before the end of the season, which prevented him from receiving a $200,000 bonus had he had four more plate appearances.

Tellez is just 29 so he'll likely get another shot with a team down the road in the form of a minor league contract.

Whit Merrifield

After appearing to be on the decline in 2022, Merrifield had a renaissance season with the Jays during his 2023 campaign. He posted a .272 average, .700 OPS,11 home runs, 67 RBI and 26 stolen bases in 145 games played and was named an All-Star. Merrifield parlayed that into a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies ahead of the 2024 season.

Merrifield's Phillies tenure ended up being a disaster. The 36-year-old utilityman batted a dismal .199 in 53 games played before being released by Philadelphia in July. 

Merrifield managed to catch on with the Atlanta Braves later in the season and did okay ( .248 average in 42 games), but was left off Atlanta's playoff roster.

Merrifield hasn’t had a sniff of action so far in the free agent market this offseason, and has even even contemplated retirement to spend more time with his family if he doesn’t end up landing a gig according to MLB.com's Mark Bowman.

Justin Turner

It wasn’t too long ago that Turner was one of the Jays’ key offseason signings.

While Justin Turner started hot in 2024, Father Time appeared to catch up with the 39-year-old veteran as he struggled mightily as the season went on. Turner registered a .256 batting average, with six home runs and 31 RBI in 91 games with the Jays before being dealt to the Seattle Mariners at the trade deadline for outfielder prospect RJ Shreck.

In the end, Turner finished the year a .259 average, .737 OPS, 11 home runs and 55 RBI in 139 total games split between Toronto and Seattle. Those offensive numbers represented his lowest output in a non-shortened season since way back in 2014 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Despite recently turning 40, Turner vowed to keep playing in 2025.

Paul DeJong

When it comes to DeJong, his stay with the Jays was surely a short, yet memorable one — albiet for all the wrong reasons. He was acquired by Toronto at the 2023 trade deadline in response to Bo Bichette's injury with the expectation that he'd be valuable backup infielder and power bat off the bench once Bichette returned.

However, DeJong ended up putting up one of the worst performances in Blue Jays history, as he hit .068 (3-for-44) with a whopping 18 strikeouts. He was designated for assignment as soon as Bichette returned from the injured list.

Nevertheless, DeJong bounced back with a solid 2024 campaign where he hit 24 home runs with 56 RBI in 139 games split between the Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals. Those power numbers should help him earn a spot with some team in 2025.

Kevin Pillar

Known as “Superman” during his time with Toronto, Pillar will always be remembered for his dazzling defensive plays in the outfield. While he's bounced around a bit as his career has gone on, he's still best known for his seven years with the Blue Jays. He compiled a .260 average with 55 home runs, 231 RBI, 156 doubles and 69 stolen bases in 695 games with Toronto. He also registered a whopping 63 DRS during that time frame despite never winning a Gold Glove.

Since moving on from Toronto, Pillar has made stops with the San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox, Colorado Rockies, New York Mets, Dodgers, Braves, White Sox and Los Angeles Angels. In 2024, he posted a .229 average, with eight home runs, 45 RBI and 12 stolen bases in 100 total games played. He caught fire after joining the Angels last year, and hit .389 over a 21-game span in May and June.

Pillar initially said that he was planning on retiring following the 2024 season, but changed his mind a couple months ago. While he's not the "Superman" he once was, he could still be a valuable part-time platoon or bench player for any team looking for some supplementary solid offense and defense. Could that team be Toronto?