Which Blue Jays pitchers lose their jobs when reinforcements return from the IL?
Two of Toronto’s top relievers are one step closer to providing an overworked bullpen the help it so desperately needs.
Toronto Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano and set up man Erik Swanson missed most of spring training and the start of the regular season due to shoulder injuries. In their absence, high leverage arms like Chad Green and Yimi Garcia have stepped up with the former adding a win and a pair of saves to his name. But when Romano and Swanson return from their rehab assignments in Buffalo (which could happen as soon as this week), it's worth wondering which current Blue Jays arms are going to be sent packing to make room on the roster.
With help on the way, which Blue Jays will be roster casualties?
Nate Pearson
Nate Pearson, who’s been a member of the Blue Jays organization since 2020, has been everywhere in the past 12 months, flip-flopping between Toronto and Buffalo. Due to his struggles at the back end of last season he was sent to the Florida Complex League (not the only Jay who was sent there).
On the flip side, he has had a good start to the 2024 season posting a unblemished ERA, with two walks and six strikeouts in 4.1 innings of work. Despite his successful start, he still has one option remaining. Since Trevor Richards and Mitch White are both out of options and pitching well, Pearson appears to be one of the top candidates to lose his grip on an active roster spot.
Paolo Espino
The veteran Paolo Espino was originally signed as a non-roster invitee ahead of spring training in January. At the back end of spring, he was reassigned to minor league camp and opened the regular season in Triple-A Buffalo, making one scoreless six-inning start with five strikeouts.
Due to the struggles of Wes Parsons, Espino was selected to the big league roster back on Apr. 5 ahead of a series against the division rival Yankees. During the first game of that series at Yankee Stadium, Espino tossed two scoreless innings with two hits and a walk. Espino provides depth and is capable of throwing multiple innings at a time, as we saw in his outing against the Yankees. He still has a minor league option remaining, and with these reinforcements coming in the next few days, he seems likely to head back down to Triple-A and wait for the next opportunity.