Wednesday turned into a shuffle day for the Blue Jays, with the front office making a string of roster moves that touched both the big-league club and the organization’s pitching depth.
The most encouraging name in the batch was Ricky Tiedemann, who was activated to the Triple-A Buffalo roster. It’s been two years since he last pitched for the Bisons, and in 2024 he logged just nine innings there before Tommy John surgey sent him into a long rehab process that has included several setbacks tied to other ailments. He finally looked healthy last month when he put together a couple of clean innings with Single-A Dunedin, and if he can finish 2026 strong, he could put himself in the mix for a Blue Jays rotation job in 2027.
At 23, the left-hander still projects as a potentially valuable depth arm for a Toronto team that was hammered by injuries in 2026 and is hoping for better health next season.
The injury news on the day hit the other side of the pitching ledger. Trey Yesavage was placed on the 15-day Injured List on Wednesday, after leaving Tuesday’s game against the Houston Astros when he felt a pinch in his left knee while warming up in the third inning. The Blue Jays had already been planning to move to a six-man rotation, with José Soriano, Jameson Taillon, Max Scherzer, Dylan Cease, and Shane Bieber all expected to take starts down the stretch, so Yesavage’s absence leaves them in a five-man setup for now.
Toronto also made a pair of bullpen moves before its series finale against Houston, activating right-handers Chase Lee and Lazaro Estrada while optioning Chad Dallas to Triple-A. Dallas had thrown three innings in relief after Yesavage exited the previous game.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was not in the starting lineup Wednesday, and manager John Schneider said it was “just a day off.” Schneider added, “He wants to be out there, he wants to be contributing more than he is. He's obviously frustrated, and it’s hot in here, and we're playing a lot of games in a row coming up, so we'll just see how he is tomorrow offensively.”
It’s been a rough year for the “face of the franchise.” Guerrero has only six home runs and an OPS of .690 in the first season of his 14-year, $500-million deal.
With Guerrero out, Josh Smith got his first look in a Blue Jays uniform against the Astros. Toronto acquired Smith from the Texas Rangers on Monday in exchange for Adam Macko, and he was lined up at third base, pushing regular third baseman Kazuma Okamoto to first.
The left-handed hitter was slated to bat sixth. Before the trade, he was hitting .212/.297/.270 in 45 games with Texas. He saw most of his action against right-handers, batting .224 with a .609 OPS in 116 at-bats, while getting only 21 at-bats against lefties.
Smith’s biggest draw is his glove. He can cover nearly every spot on the field, and in 2026 he has already logged innings at first base, second base, third base, shortstop, and left field.
In Other News...
Blue Jays Catching Depth Suddenly Looks More Valuable Than Ever
With catcher prices climbing around the league before the trade deadline, Toronto had a reason to take a close look at its own depth chart. Brandon Valenzuela drew interest as clubs scrambled for help behind the plate, and the market only reinforced how hard it can be to find even a short-term fix at the position. Deals involving the Angels, the Red Sox and other teams underscored the premium on catchers, making Torontos depth look like more than just a nice-to-have.
Alejandro Kirks presence as the Blue Jays long-term catcher helped shape that decision, giving the club a clear answer at the top of the depth chart while allowing it to hold onto Valenzuela. For a team that understands how quickly catching depth can disappear, the choice to keep him was less about standing pat and more about preserving an asset in a market where the demand is obvious and the supply is thin. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Add Intriguing Starter But One Part Of This Trade Stings
Spencer Arrighetti gives the Blue Jays something they can always use in a rotation search: a young right-hander with upside and years of control. The trade that brought him over from Houston, with Daulton Varsho going the other way, also fits Torontos broader push to keep adding arms that can matter beyond just the next few weeks. Arrighetti had spent his entire big league career with the Astros, so this is a significant change for a pitcher who knew one organization and one clubhouse.
What makes the move sting a little is the human side of it. Arrighetti spoke emotionally about leaving the team he had only ever played for, and he now has to make a fresh start in a different market while working his way back from injury. The Blue Jays are betting that the long view is worth it, since he is under team control through 2029, but the immediate picture still depends on how quickly he gets healthy and settles in once he returns. [Read more 🡒]
Kevin Gausman Just Left Blue Jays Fans With An Emotional Message
Kevin Gausmans exit from Toronto closed one chapter for the Blue Jays, but it did so with a message that landed more like a farewell than a breakup. After being dealt to the Chicago Cubs, Gausman took time to thank the organization and the fans who embraced him, giving the kind of parting note that tends to stick with a clubhouse and a city long after the transaction is filed away.
The right-hander is already moving on to his next stop, with a Cubs debut set for Friday against the Kansas City Royals, yet his words suggested Toronto will not be just another stop on the itinerary. For Blue Jays fans, it leaves the deal feeling a little less final than most, with the emotional part of the story still hanging in the air. [Read more 🡒]