The Blue Jays are closing in on a deal with Michael Lorenzen, a move that would give Toronto another arm for a rotation that has been battered all season.
Lorenzen, a right-hander who was released by the Rockies earlier in August, already appears to be in the building. Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reported that he has a locker set up in the Toronto clubhouse, and Sportsnet’s Arden Zwelling said Lorenzen himself has arrived at the Rogers Centre, where the Jays host the Royals tonight.
Toronto has not officially announced anything yet, but that looks like only a matter of time. Because the club already has a full 40-man roster, a corresponding move will be needed to clear room.
The financial side is straightforward. Lorenzen signed a one-year, $8MM deal with Colorado over the winter, and since the Rockies remain responsible for the rest of that salary, Toronto would only be on the hook for the prorated share of the $780K league minimum while he’s on the big league roster.
It’s been a rough year for Lorenzen overall, even if there were a few bright spots mixed in. He did turn in a seven-inning, one-run outing against the Mets early in the season, but those kinds of performances were hard to find.
The 34-year-old allowed five or more earned runs in eight of his 25 starts with Colorado, though most of those blowups came at Coors Field. By the time the Rockies let him go, he was carrying a career-worst 7.08 ERA.
The underlying numbers tell the same story. Lorenzen logged 115 2/3 innings, but he struck out just 14.6% of opposing hitters.
His 8.7% walk rate and 45.2% ground-ball rate were respectable, yet the missed bats never really showed up, and opponents did a lot of damage when they connected. He finished with a 91.1 mph average exit velocity and a 46.4% hard-hit rate.
Even so, Toronto is betting on the broader track record rather than the ugly Rockies line. From 2022-25, Lorenzen posted a 4.10 ERA over 522 2/3 innings with the Angels, Tigers, Phillies, Rangers and Royals. His 19.3% strikeout rate during that span was still below average, but it was a clear step up from what he showed this year in Colorado, and his walk and ground-ball numbers were more in line with his usual profile.
The Jays need the help. Their pitching staff has been hammered by injuries all season, yet they’re still hanging around in the AL Wild Card race after dealing away Kevin Gausman and Daulton Varsho at the deadline.
Toronto moved those short-term pieces - both are free agents after the season - while adding José Soriano to the rotation mix. Soriano and Cy Young candidate Dylan Cease, who signed a seven-year deal last winter, give the Blue Jays a strong top of the rotation, but the rest of the staff has been a much shakier proposition.
Lorenzen could end up filling the fifth spot, and Toronto needs bodies there badly. José Berríos had Tommy John surgery earlier this year, as did depth starter Bowden Francis.
Cody Ponce tore his ACL in his Blue Jays debut. Shane Bieber is on the injured list with shoulder inflammation.
Trey Yesavage had his knee scoped earlier this month. Jameson Taillon is sidelined with forearm tendinitis, Jake Bloss still hasn’t returned from 2024 UCL surgery, and Patrick Corbin’s season ended in late July because of a teres major strain.
The timing matters, too. Toronto is four games under .500 but only three games out of the final Wild Card spot in an American League that has been unusually soft.
With the race looking wide open, clubs sitting below .500 are still trying to patch holes and stay alive. The Blue Jays also have a favorable stretch ahead.
After today’s game against Kansas City, they’ll face the Mariners, Guardians, Royals again, A’s, Orioles, Tigers, Rangers, Orioles again and Reds. Cleveland, at 68-66, is the only opponent left on their schedule with a winning record.
In Other News...
Blue Jays May Finally Get Rotation Help At A Crucial Time
The Blue Jays have spent much of the summer juggling health updates, but there are finally a few signs that the picture could improve on the pitching side. Shane Bieber remains on the injured list with a shoulder issue, and Yimi Garcias thoracic outlet surgery has already ended his 2026 season, so Toronto has had to keep piecing things together while waiting for reinforcements. Andres Gimenez is back from a hamstring injury, and Josh Smith is continuing rehab work with a possible move into rehab games soon, which at least gives the club some momentum as it tries to stabilize its roster.
Jameson Taillon is the name that matters most in the short term, with a rehab start scheduled and a chance to rejoin the team next week. For a Blue Jays staff that has needed help at a crucial time, even one healthy arm can change the conversation, especially with rookie Trey Yesavage also slowly building back after knee surgery and starting to throw and play catch. The next few days should tell Toronto a lot about how quickly its rotation depth can begin to look less fragile. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Suddenly Have A Rare Chance To Fix A Lineup Need
The waiver wire rarely offers a real middle-of-August jolt, but Eugenio Surez suddenly gives the Blue Jays something they have been hunting for: a possible fix for the power shortage that has hung over their lineup all season. Cincinnati put Surez and outfielder TJ Friedl on waivers, and Toronto is at least looking at Surez as a way to add another established bat while staying in the wild-card chase.
Surez has long been known for his home run punch, and his season line still points to the kind of impact the Blue Jays have lacked in key spots. Whether Toronto actually makes the claim is the next question, but the opportunity itself is notable because it is the kind of rare roster opening that can change the conversation for a club trying to hang around in a crowded race. [Read more 🡒]
Former Blue Jays Closer Is Rebuilding His Value In Unexpected Place
Jordan Romanos path back to relevance has taken another turn, and it has landed in a place few would have predicted when he left Toronto. After a rough run with the Angels and a season spent with the Phillies, the former Blue Jays closer signed a minor league deal with the Rockies and has started to steady things in Colorado, where he has been effective across 16 appearances.
For Toronto, Romanos career arc still carries a familiar relevance because he remains one of the most accomplished Canadian relievers in the game, with 126 career saves ranking third all-time among his countrymen. His latest stretch is less about nostalgia than it is about whether he can turn this rebound into something more lasting, especially after the detour through Anaheim raised fresh questions about where his next big opportunity might come from. [Read more 🡒]