The Philadelphia Phillies have made their first move of the offseason, bringing back a familiar arm in Tim Mayza on a one-year, $2.75 million deal.
Mayza, who spent seven seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays from 2017 to 2024 and also pitched for the New York Yankees in the second half of 2024, has been with the Phillies organization for the past three years. The latest report says Philadelphia has re-signed the veteran left-hander after he emerged last season as a dependable middle reliever.
“The Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to a one-year contract with Tim Mayza, the veteran lefty who emerged last season as a reliable middle reliever, in their first transaction of this offseason. “Mayza’s deal is for $2.75 million, according to league sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss personnel moves that had not been finalized,” Matt Gelb reported.
With the possibility of a lockout hanging over the league, landing the contract now makes sense for a pitcher in Mayza’s spot. There’s little reason to wait when the situation could change quickly for players like him.
Mayza was solid for much of last season, posting a 3.48 ERA across 60 appearances. He likely should not have been asked to carry as much as he did in Philadelphia, but that had more to do with the state of the bullpen than anything else.
And for all the ups and downs, there’s still a reason the Phillies wanted him back. In Toronto, Mayza showed at times just how effective he can be, especially in 2023 when he turned in a 1.52 ERA over 69 outings.
In Other News...
Blue Jays Suddenly Have A Real Spencer Miles Debate
Spencer Miles arrived in Toronto with more questions than certainty, and by the end of 2026 he had given the Blue Jays plenty to think about. After coming over in the Rule 5 Draft and working his way back from Tommy John surgery, he managed to carve out a real role on a staff that needed flexibility. Whether the assignment called for a start, an opener or a relief appearance, Miles handled it without making a fuss, which is exactly the kind of value a contender appreciates when the pitching staff is being held together by necessity.
Now the bigger issue is how that translates into 2027. Toronto has rotation spots to sort through with several arms either coming off injuries or headed toward free agency, and spring training is going to be crowded with candidates trying to claim one of them. Miles is firmly in that mix, and the Blue Jays no longer have to treat him like a depth piece whose job is simply to fill in where needed. They have to decide whether his 2026 versatility was a stopgap or the start of something more important. [Read more 🡒]
Miguel Rojas Retirement Reopens A Blue Jays World Series Wound
Miguel Rojas has called it a career after the 2026 season, closing out a 13-year run that made him a familiar name in Los Angeles and Miami and a particularly painful one for anyone still replaying the 2025 World Series. The veteran infielder was a key piece of the Dodgers back-to-back titles in 2024 and 2025, and his retirement gives fresh pause to a series Toronto fans have not had much reason to forget.
Rojas finishes with a .260 average, 61 home runs and 386 RBIs across 1,401 games, but his legacy for Blue Jays supporters will always be tied to that championship run and the way it swung in the final moments. Even now, with his playing days over, the memory of how the last game turned keeps that wound from fully closing. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Have A Randy Arozarena Opening That Could Get Complicated
Randy Arozarenas free-agent market is already shaping up around geography, and that gives the Blue Jays a natural opening. He reportedly prefers to land with an eastern team that trains in Florida, which fits Torontos spring setup, and the club has obvious outfield needs that his blend of right-handed pop and speed could address. For a team looking to add more impact around the lineup, he checks a lot of boxes before the bidding even really gets going.
Still, the path to a deal may not be simple. Arozarena is the kind of player who can help a contender, but the cost of bringing him in could stretch beyond dollars, and Toronto is not alone in the chase. The market figure around him is broad enough to keep the Jays in the mix while also making this one of those winter pursuits where fit, price and timing all have to line up just right. [Read more 🡒]
