Blue Jays News: Updates on Max Scherzer, Dillon Tate and Angel Bastardo

We're nearly two weeks away from Opening Day, so teams across MLB have begun to prepare for the beginning of the regular season.

The Toronto Blue Jays are no exception, as they've announced a beavy of moves and updates over the past couple days in regard to players on the roster.

Here's what you need to know.

Max Scherzer

The biggest update of the past 24 hours was in regard to Scherzer.

Scherzer was bumped from Thursday's spring training start due to a sore right thumb that developed after his start over the weekend, per Sportsnets' Arden Zwelling.

Normally a pitcher getting bumped from a spring start due to a sore thumb isn't big news, but Scherzer's in a bit of a different category. Not only is Scherzer coming off a year where he only made nine starts due to injury, but he's also 40.

As Zwelling noted, the club is "just being extra careful with him," but it's still worth paying attention to how this shakes out. One of the injuries Scherzer worked through last year was a nerve issue in his right arm that spanned his thumb to his tricep, so any injury in that area is particularly scary.

If Scherzer is forced to miss any time then the Blue Jays will likely call upon Yariel Rodriguez or Jake Bloss to take his spot in the rotation. Rodriguez has been getting stretched out as a starter (even though his future could be in the bullpen), so it wouldn't take much for either of them to step into Scherzer's spot in the rotation.

Dillon Tate

After news leaked of Tate's signing over the weekend, the Blue Jays offically annouced Tate's signing Wednesday. To make room for him on the MLB roster, the team placed RHP Angel Bastardo on the 60-day IL.

Per Sportsnets' Shi Davidi, Tate's deal is a split contract worth $1.4 million that includes bonuses of $50K for reaching 45 and 50 games pitched.

He also has one option remaining, so he can be sent down to the minors without his consent. But, as MLB Trade Rumors' Darragh McDonald pointed out, Tate's at 4.144 years of major league service, which means he's five years away from the five-year mark. Once he reaches the five-year mark, he won't be able to be optioned without his consent.

Angel Bastardo

Bastardo being placed on the injured list isn't surprising at all. The Blue Jays selected Bastardo in the Rule 5 Draft in the offseason despite the fact that he's recovering is recovering from Tommy John surgery.

He won't be available until the middle of the season, but that shouldn't impact his standing on the roster. A Rule 5 selection must stay on their MLB team's 26-man roster for the season or else they'll be returned to their original team.

But those rules are a little different for Bastardo.

Bastrado can be placed on the injured list, but he must be active for a minimum of 90 days to avoid being subject to the normal Rule 5 roster rules. That said, the Blue Jays can spread that 90 days across two seasons, so Bastardo could be active for 45 days in 2025 and 45 days in 2026. 

He's one of two Blue Jays who will start the year on the 60-day injured list along with Alex Manoah. Manoah's placement will occur at some point in the spring whenever Toronto needs to open up a roster spot.