The Toronto Blue Jays aren’t waiting around this spring - they’re continuing to stockpile pitching depth, and the latest addition brings a familiar name back into the MLB mix. On Saturday, the Jays signed right-hander Jesse Hahn to a minor league deal, adding another experienced arm to their Spring Training roster.
Hahn, an eight-year MLB veteran, is no stranger to the grind. Drafted by the Rays back in 2010, he’s worn a few different uniforms over the years - six organizations and counting.
His big league debut came in 2014 with the Padres, and he made an immediate impression. In 14 appearances (12 of them starts), he logged 73.1 innings with a sharp 3.07 ERA, striking out 70 and posting a solid 1.214 WHIP.
That early success hinted at a promising future, but as is often the case with pitchers, the road ahead wasn’t without its bumps.
Hahn spent the next few seasons with the Oakland A’s, appearing in 39 games over three years and putting up a 4.57 ERA. His time in Oakland was a mix of starts and relief work, but he never quite recaptured the form he showed in San Diego.
From there, he headed to Kansas City, where he transitioned fully into a bullpen role. Between 2019 and 2021, Hahn made 29 relief appearances for the Royals.
After a brief hiatus from the majors, Hahn resurfaced last season with the Mariners, appearing in three games and tossing five innings out of the bullpen with a 5.40 ERA. While the sample size was small, it was enough to put him back on the radar - especially for a team like Toronto that’s clearly looking to bolster its bullpen depth heading into 2026.
Hahn's profile fits a certain mold the Blue Jays have targeted this offseason: veteran arms with big-league experience who can be stashed in Triple-A or slotted in as needed. Hahn has always leaned on generating groundballs, but control has been a lingering issue throughout his career. Still, for a team with postseason aspirations, having a guy like Hahn in the wings is a low-risk, potentially high-reward move.
As it stands, Toronto’s bullpen picture is mostly set. If Yimi García is healthy to start the year, the back end of the 'pen looks strong.
Jeff Hoffman is expected to take over closing duties, with Tyler Rogers and Louis Varland likely handling setup responsibilities. Bradon Fisher, coming off a breakout rookie campaign in 2025, is trending toward an Opening Day roster spot, while lefties Brendon Little and Eric Lauer also figure prominently into the mix.
That leaves one bullpen spot up for grabs, and Tommy Nance is the early favorite. After posting a 1.99 ERA in 30 games last season, the 34-year-old (soon to be 35) is out of minor league options, which means it’s likely his job to lose heading into the spring.
But make no mistake - the Blue Jays are building a safety net. Hahn joins a growing list of veteran pitchers brought in on minor league deals this offseason, including Josh Fleming, Connor Seabold, Josh Winckowski, and Michael Plassmeyer.
It's clear the front office is committed to creating competition and depth, especially in the bullpen. And in a 162-game grind, that kind of depth can be the difference between a playoff push and a September fade.
For Jesse Hahn, this is another shot to prove he still has something left in the tank. For the Blue Jays, it’s another calculated move in an offseason that’s been all about reinforcing the foundation - one veteran arm at a time.