Blue Jays' latest move tightens bullpen picture

On Tuesday, the Blue Jays tightened their spring training roster with four roster moves.

Toronto announced that it had reassigned RHP Braydon Fisher, RHP Ryan Jennings and C Jacob Sharp to the team's minor league camp along with optioning RHP Nick Robertson to Triple-A Buffalo.

With Erik Swanson's injury looming over the Blue Jays' bullpen, any move involving a reliever like Robertson is worth taking a look at.

Blue Jays option RHP Nick Robertson to Triple-A

The Blue Jays plucked Robertson off waivers from the Angels last season, where he ended up throwing one scoreless inning for Toronto.

A former seventh-round pick by the Dodgers, Robertson started 2024 with the Cardinals, where he allowed six earned runs in 12 1/3 innings before being designated for assignment in August.

The Angels acquired him on waivers at that point, but he never made an MLB apperance with the club. His MLB career started in 2023 when he recorded a 6.04 ERA in 22 1/3 innings with the Dodgers and Red Sox.

Robertson's peripherals are a bit of a mixed bag. He has strikeout stuff (10.1 K/9 in MLB) but has struggled with the longball (1.5 HR/9), which is perhaps the biggest reason he hasn't been able to stick around in MLB.

Robertson's in a different category than the other players who were sent down because he's on the 40-man roster, which is why he was "sent down" to Triple-A despite the minor league season having not started yet.

While Robertson entered camp on the periphery of the Blue Jays' bullpen picture, the Blue Jays suddenly have an open bullpen spot due to injuries to Erik Swanson and Ryan Burr.

As of now the Blue Jays have at least two bullpen spots open. Jeff Hoffman and Yimi García are locks to make the team after coming over in free agency. Chad Green's not going anywhere.

Neither is Yariel Rodríguez, who seems destined to start the season in the 'pen. Dillon Tate signed a major league contract, which takes away another spot.

All that leaves a battle for the final three spots, with the main options being Nick Sandlin, Ryan Yarbrough, Zach Pop and Tommy Nance. Both Pop and Nance are out of options.

Robertson's presence on the 40-man roster means that he'll likely fit into Toronto's plans at some point this season — it just appears it won't be on Opening Day.