Blue Jays officially part ways with struggling reliever Chad Green

A three-year tenure with the Toronto Blue Jays has unceremoniously come to an end for Chad Green. The 34-year-old right handed reliever was designated for assignment on July 29 and after clearing waivers he has officially been released from the team.

Green originally signed with the Blue Jays in January of 2023 while he was recovering from Tommy John surgery after suffering an injury in a game in May of 2022. It was one of the most convoluted deals the Blue Jays have ever put together for a reliever - mostly based on the fact that they didn't know what they would be getting out of Green, due to the surgery.

Essentially it was a two-year deal worth $8.5 million - but the second year was a conditional player option which Green could exercise, only if the Blue Jays declined the third year of a deal. If both declined, the Blue Jays could then invoke a second-year club option at a higher AAV. Green came off the IL in September and pitched in 12 games down the stretch for Toronto on their way to an AL Wild Card berth. In November, the Blue Jays exercised their two-year option, paying Green $21 million for the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

The Blue Jays got what they paid for in 2024. Despite a down year from most of the bullpen, Green proved to be one of the lone bright spots as he compiled a 3.21 ERA in 53 appearances, racking up 46 strikeouts and issuing only 14 walks. He gave up just eight home runs all season and his WHIP in 2024 was just 1.031, and he also converted 17 saves.

The Blue Jays had hoped that he would be able to carry over this performance into 2025 and be a strength for this 'new look' bullpen going into the season. While the moves the Blue Jays made to add, and deepen the bullpen have mostly paid off - Green was not part of this equation. The 14 home runs he gave up this season leads the league among relief pitchers, while he pitched to a 5.56 ERA, with just 35 strikeouts and 13 walks in 43.2 innings pitched.

When the Blue Jays acquired Seranthony Dominguez just ahead of the trade deadline, they DFA'd Green to make room for the newcomer on the 40-man roster. Green is now free to sign with any other team and at 34-years-old he might still have more left in the tank, it was just a situation where the Blue Jays could no longer afford to have him try and right the ship in the middle of a playoff race.