The Toronto Blue Jays have been busy reshaping their roster, and as of Monday, the bullpen shuffle continued with another notable move. After a flurry of activity during and after the Winter Meetings, the Jays officially designated left-hander Justin Bruihl for assignment to make room for newly signed reliever Tyler Rogers.
Let’s take a closer look at how we got here.
A Flurry of Moves Fills Out the Roster
When the Winter Meetings kicked off, the Blue Jays had 37 players on their 40-man roster. That number didn’t stay put for long.
Toronto made several additions in rapid succession: right-hander Cody Ponce, fresh off an MVP season in the Korean Baseball Organization, signed a three-year, $30 million deal. Then came the Rule 5 Draft, where the Jays added Spencer Miles from the Giants.
Over the weekend, they traded for reliever Chase Lee and inked sidewinding righty Tyler Rogers.
All those moves pushed the roster total to 41, meaning someone had to go. And on Monday, the Jays made that decision, parting ways with Bruihl as they continue to retool a bullpen that’s clearly undergoing a facelift.
Bruihl’s Brief and Bumpy Ride in Toronto
Bruihl, 27, joined the Blue Jays organization on a minor league deal back in March after bouncing around in 2024 between the Reds and Pirates systems. Originally signed by the Dodgers in 2017 as an undrafted free agent, he made his MLB debut in 2021 and put together some solid stretches in Los Angeles. Over three seasons with the Dodgers, he logged a 3.65 ERA across 66.2 innings, though his strikeout numbers were modest-just 43 Ks over that span-and his command was average, with a 2.05 K/BB ratio.
After a brief stint with the Rockies in late 2023, Bruihl hit free agency and landed with the Jays, who at the time were short on left-handed relief options. When he was called up in June, it looked like a real opportunity for him to carve out a role.
But the results didn’t follow.
Bruihl threw just 13.2 innings over 15 appearances in 2025, posting a 5.27 ERA. He struggled to miss bats and couldn’t find consistent success against hitters on either side of the plate.
Righties hit a blistering .385/.448/.462 off him, while lefties weren’t far behind at .290/.389/.484. In high-leverage spots, things got even shakier-hitters were 5-for-10 against him with runners in scoring position and two outs, and he allowed seven earned runs in those moments.
A Start with Promise, But No Staying Power
There were flashes early on. Bruihl’s first two outings in June were clean-2.2 innings, one hit, one walk, four strikeouts.
But after being sent down, his return in July brought mixed results. He looked decent over his first seven appearances back-two earned runs, eight hits, six strikeouts in 4.1 innings-but then came a disastrous outing in which he gave up three runs on four hits while recording just one out.
From there, it was a revolving door. Sent down, recalled, sent down again. He was back for three games in August, then again for a brief stint in September.
His final appearance came in a high-profile spot: Game 2 of the ALDS against the Yankees. Trey Yesavage had been dealing, carrying a no-hitter into the sixth before being lifted with a 12-0 lead.
Bruihl entered and promptly gave up a hit, followed by a homer, as the shutout disappeared. The Jays still won comfortably, but it was a tough way for Bruihl’s season-and possibly his time in Toronto-to end.
What’s Next for the Blue Jays’ Lefty Depth?
With Bruihl off the roster, the Blue Jays are left with just three left-handers on the 40-man who have MLB experience: Mason Fluharty, Brendon Little, and Eric Lauer. Two high-upside arms-Adam Macko and Ricky Tiedemann-are also on the 40-man and could make a push for their big-league debuts in 2026.
The bullpen overhaul is clearly ongoing, and the front office seems focused on building a more dynamic, more reliable group. Bruihl’s departure is part of that process-a move that reflects both the team’s shifting priorities and the unforgiving nature of roster math in December.
As the Jays continue to tweak and tighten their roster heading into spring, expect more movement. But one thing’s clear: the bullpen Toronto takes into 2026 is going to look a lot different from the one that finished 2025.