Spencer Miles gave the Blue Jays something they rarely get in a first-year arm: impact, flexibility and real late-game trust all at once.
In 2026, the former Rule 5 Draft pick turned into one of Toronto’s biggest breakout stories, working 95.2 innings with a 2.93 ERA and a 1.098 WHIP. He did it in different jobs, too, which is exactly why his next step is such an interesting question.
The easy temptation is to stretch him into a starter. The smarter play, at least for 2027, is to leave him where he already thrived.
The biggest reason is health. Before 2026, Miles had logged fewer than 20 professional innings in a minor league career that had been wrecked by injuries.
That was part of why the San Francisco Giants left him unprotected in the Rule 5 Draft. Toronto finally got him on the mound, and the Blue Jays would be wise not to rush into a heavier workload before they have to.
Keeping him in the bullpen gives the club more control over his innings. That does not mean limiting him to one-inning cameos.
It means avoiding the kind of starter’s workload that asks him to push through five innings every fifth day. The Blue Jays can build in rest when he needs it and still keep him active.
That flexibility is what makes him so valuable. Miles looks like the kind of high-leverage Swiss Army knife a contender can use in a lot of different spots: two innings on Monday, three outs in the eighth on Wednesday, then another appearance later that week. He would still be working often, just without the heavier burden that comes with starting.
There’s also the simple matter of maximizing his impact. Toronto would rather have Miles on the mound more frequently in shorter bursts than less often in longer ones. For a bullpen that needs dependable outs, that can be the better way to squeeze value out of him.
The Blue Jays’ offseason plans also point in that direction. General manager Ross Atkins has had more success adding veteran starters than relievers, with Dylan Cease, Kevin Gausman, and Chris Bassitt serving as examples. His track record is not nearly as strong on the relief side, outside of Tyler Rogers.
If Toronto lands a starter this winter - whether that ends up being a reunion with Gausman or an addition like Trevor Rogers or Shota Imanaga - then the rotation gets help without putting extra strain on the bullpen. If Miles is moved into the rotation instead, the Blue Jays would likely need to find another high-leverage reliever to get them to Louis Varland.
That said, the door does not need to close on Miles as a starter forever. If Toronto can get him to 120-130 innings in 2027, then stretching him out in 2028 starts to make a lot more sense. By then, his arm would already be built up for the heavier load.
For now, though, the best move is patience. Starting every fifth day may be the dream, but it is not the right time yet. That’s a luxury for later.
In Other News...
Ty France Just Relived A Playoff Break That Will Sting Blue Jays Fans
Ty France got a fresh dose of postseason frustration in Game 1 of the NLDS against Milwaukee, when what looked like a potential go-ahead homer was wiped away after the ball hit the roof at American Family Field and was caught. The play was bizarre enough on its own, and it ended up folding into a 3-2 loss for the Padres, the kind of one-run October game where every odd bounce feels magnified.
Blue Jays fans may remember France for an earlier playoff break of their own, back when he was in Toronto and a ball got stuck under the wall at Rogers Centre, taking away what could have been an inside-the-park home run in a critical game. For a player who has now lived through more than one strange postseason twist, it is another reminder of how thin the margin can be in October and how quickly a big swing can turn into a story fans never quite forget. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Catching Prospect Is Giving Fans A Reason To Watch Arizona
The Blue Jays sent a familiar group of prospects to the Arizona Fall League with the Mesa Solar Sox, and catcher Aaron Parker wasted little time giving the organization something to follow. Parker, who has put together steady production even while working through injury setbacks, opened with a strong showing and shared the field with former teammate Arjun Nimmala, now in the Angels system, as both players looked comfortable in a setting built for development.
Parker went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored in a recent game, a line that fits the kind of progress Toronto has been hoping to see from him. Nimmala also chipped in with a hit and an RBI, which only adds another layer of intrigue for Blue Jays fans keeping tabs on the AFL, where the early returns suggest Mesa could be worth a closer look. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Still Face One Big Outfield Question After Batemans Rise
Brett Batemans first run with the Blue Jays in 2026 gave the club something it has been looking for in the outfield: a young player who can get on base and create some havoc with his speed, even in limited at-bats. Ross Atkins has already publicly highlighted Batemans smooth transition to the majors, but he also made clear that the organization has to be careful about how much it asks of a player still learning on the job.
Thats why Toronto is still weighing an outside addition in the outfield, even with Batemans rise changing the conversation. The Jays want to bolster the lineup and give the rookie some support rather than hand him the entire burden, which is why established names such as Seiya Suzuki and Randy Arozarena have come up as possible fits. For a team trying to sharpen its offense, the question is no longer whether Bateman belongs, but who can help make his emergence easier to absorb. [Read more 🡒]