Spencer Miles gives Blue Jays a second chance to handle a valuable swingman the right way

The Toronto Blue Jays have already been handed enough pitching injuries this season to last them a life time. Everyone in their rotation, aside from Dylan Cease, has spent time on the Injured List this season. Some of them never even threw a single pitch this year. However, they have unexpectedly been given one pitching gift this season. Now they need to make sure they do not mishandle it the same way they mishandled the last one.

Spencer Miles has gone from Rule 5 Draft flier to one of the most useful arms on the Blue Jays’ staff, giving Toronto quality innings in just about every role they have asked him to fill. He has worked out of the bullpen, covered multiple innings, stepped into occasional starts and even handled a save chance when the bullpen needed a breather.

For a pitcher who arrived with almost no professional track record and no guarantee of sticking on the roster, Miles has done more than enough to force his way into the conversation for a clearer role next season. He's certainly earned the right to compete for a role in the rotation in spring training. Although, no player is owed anything, but after the way he has performed in 2026, he should enter next season with the inside track to be more than just a spare arm waiting for whatever innings are left over.

That is where the Eric Lauer comparison becomes very intriguing. Last season, Lauer became one of the Blue Jays’ most important stabilizers. He was called up to be a bullpen piece, but then was given a chance to start when the rotation needed help. From June 11 until the middle of August, Lauer gave the Blue Jays 62 innings of terrific pitching.

Lauer pitched to a 3.05 ERA with a 3.39 FIP and a 9.15 K/9 and 2.32 BB/9. He had 63 strikeouts and allowed only 21 earned runs. His 1.16 WHIP was third on the team in that stretch, while his 1.4 fWAR ranked first. He was moved back into a bullpen role once the Blue Jays got Trey Yesavage and Shane Bieber into the rotation, but things seemed to really unravel in the offseason.

Lauer wanted to be a starter and his arbitration case made that clear. But the only way that was going to happen was if the Blue Jays absolutely needed him. Turns out, they did! Toronto's starters started getting injured in February and there was an opening for Lauer to seize. Unfortunately, he struggled, expressed frustration with pitching behind an opener, was designated for assignment and was eventually traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he has since rediscovered what made him so effective last year.

The Dodgers, who beat Lauer and the Blue Jays in the World Series last year, have gotten meaningful innings from him, using him as the type of starter/bulk option the Blue Jays were once so fortunate to have. Toronto may have had reasons for moving on, but the larger lesson should be hard to miss: when a player proves he can help in multiple roles, the organization has to be honest and proactive about what comes next.

Blue Jays have found a diamond in the rough in Spencer Miles and can't tarnish that relationship

Miles is filling a similar role to what Lauer did last season. He's also younger and isn't even eligible for arbitration until 2029. So while the contractual situations are very different between the two players, the Blue Jays may need to heed the lessons learned from the way they handled Lauer's case.

Miles, and Lauer, are the kind's of pitchers that can be easy to take for granted. If someone can start, relieve, work in bulk, cover leverage innings and adapt to whatever situation arises, teams can fall into the trap of treating that flexibility as permission to use them without giving them any kind of security. But at some point, especially after a season like the one Miles has put together, the Blue Jays owe it to themselves and to the player to map out a more intentional plan.

That does not mean guaranteeing Miles a rotation spot before camp opens. It means being clear that he has earned a legitimate chance to win one. If the Blue Jays view him as a starter, they should say so and build his offseason accordingly. If they see him as a multi-inning weapon, they need to define that role and make sure everyone understands it. What they cannot do is drift into next year with another valuable arm that gets frustrated a few weeks into the season and creates a clubhouse distraction.

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