The Toronto Blue Jays may have missed out on some of the high-octane arms on this winter’s relief market - Edwin Díaz and Robert Suarez among them - but they didn’t walk away empty-handed. Instead, they’ve added one of the most unique bullpen weapons in baseball, inking submariner Tyler Rogers to a three-year, $37 million deal.
Rogers, 35, isn’t your typical late-inning flamethrower. In fact, he’s the opposite.
His fastball barely cracks the low 80s, but that’s part of the magic. His delivery - a true submarine motion that scrapes the mound - gives hitters a completely different look.
And in 2025, that deception translated into results. Rogers posted a sparkling 1.98 ERA across 77.1 innings split between the Giants and Mets, showing that even in an era dominated by velocity, there’s still room for a pitcher who thrives on movement, location, and soft contact.
Now, let’s be clear: Rogers isn’t a strikeout artist. He recorded just 48 punchouts over those 77.1 innings.
But that’s by design. He doesn’t aim to overpower hitters - he unsettles them, gets them off-balance, and forces them to put the ball in play weakly.
It’s old-school pitching, wrapped in a funky, sidewinding package.
The move raises some questions about Toronto’s bullpen hierarchy, especially concerning Jeff Hoffman. Signed to a three-year, $33 million deal last offseason, Hoffman was expected to lock down the ninth inning.
But his 2025 campaign was rocky in that role, and it didn’t take long for the front office to start exploring alternatives. Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins even acknowledged after the World Series that Hoffman was open to shifting into a setup role if the team decided to go in a different direction.
Still, Rogers doesn’t profile as the guy to take over as closer. Despite his effectiveness, he’s not a traditional ninth-inning option.
Over seven big league seasons, he’s tallied just 19 career saves. That’s not a knock - it’s just a reflection of his skillset.
He’s a matchup nightmare in the seventh or eighth, not a shutdown closer with overpowering stuff.
So, what does that mean for the Blue Jays’ bullpen blueprint heading into 2026? All signs point to Hoffman getting another shot at the closer role - at least to start the season.
The leash might be shorter this time, though. Consistency will be key, and if he falters again, the Jays could look internally for answers.
One name to watch: Louis Varland. He may not have the experience, but he’s got the kind of stuff that could play in high-leverage situations if the opportunity arises.
With the Blue Jays also keeping tabs on potential big-ticket extensions for Bo Bichette and Kyle Tucker, it’s unlikely they’ll make another splash for a top-tier closer still on the market. That makes the Rogers signing a strategic play - not to shake up the back end of the bullpen, but to solidify the bridge to it.
In a league where velocity reigns supreme, Toronto is betting on a different formula: deception, movement, and a veteran arm who knows exactly who he is. Tyler Rogers might not light up radar guns, but his addition brings stability, variety, and a whole lot of funk to a bullpen that could use all three.