The Blue Jays continue to double down on pitching this offseason, and their latest move is another under-the-radar signing that speaks to their strategy of stockpiling depth with upside. On Wednesday, Toronto added left-hander Josh Fleming on a minor league deal with an invite to spring training - another arm to watch as camp gets underway.
Fleming’s name might ring a bell for Blue Jays fans. He broke into the majors with the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays, where he came up through one of baseball’s most respected pitching pipelines. Since then, he’s bounced around, spending time in the Pirates and Mariners organizations, but he hasn’t quite been able to stick at the big league level.
The 29-year-old has logged 254.1 career innings in the majors, compiling a 4.77 ERA and 1.43 WHIP. He’s allowed 135 earned runs, including 33 home runs, while striking out 161. The numbers don’t jump off the page, but there’s a reason Toronto is taking a look - and it’s not just about the stats.
Fleming spent all of 2025 in Triple-A with the Mariners’ affiliate in Tacoma. It was his first full season out of the majors since before 2020, and the results were mixed.
He went 5-5 with a 4.91 ERA and 1.53 WHIP over 84.1 innings, allowing 100 hits and 29 walks while striking out 44 in 47 appearances. Not dominant by any stretch, but it’s the versatility that likely caught Toronto’s eye.
Throughout his pro career, Fleming has done a bit of everything. He’s made 25 starts in his 80 MLB appearances, but he’s been more effective out of the bullpen.
As a reliever, he holds a 12-5 record with a 4.00 ERA and 1.34 WHIP across 139.2 innings, with 80 strikeouts in 55 appearances. That swingman profile - someone who can start in a pinch or eat innings out of the bullpen - is valuable, especially over a 162-game grind.
Another factor here: he’s a lefty. And the Blue Jays don’t have many of those.
Heading into 2026, left-handed pitching remains a thin area on the roster, which helps explain why Fleming isn’t the only arm of this type added in recent months. Toronto also brought in Connor Seabold and Michael Plassmeyer - arms with major league experience, some versatility, and the hope that a change of scenery (and a little coaching magic) might unlock something more.
That’s where Pete Walker comes in. The Jays’ longtime pitching coach has a reputation for getting the most out of pitchers, especially those who arrive needing a reset. If Fleming can find a groove under Walker’s guidance, he could become another low-risk, high-reward addition - the kind of move that doesn’t make headlines in February but pays off in July.
For now, Fleming enters camp with a chance to compete, and that’s all you can ask for in early February. He’s got the experience, the left-handed arm, and the flexibility to fill multiple roles. Whether he sticks will come down to performance - but as far as depth moves go, this one fits the mold of what Toronto’s been building all offseason.