Blue Jays come to terms with both Yarbrough and reality

Need for balance in the improved Jays bullpen is key

With the Blue Jays’ off-season signing of free agent Max Scherzer, just prior to training camp, it means that the Top Five starters in the T-O rotation are all righthanders. Not only that, but Yariel Rodriguez and Jake Bloss, who enter the spring as projected Nos. 6-7 on the starter depth chart are also righties. Thus, it had become quite obvious the Jays needed to add a second reliable southpaw reliever to join the incumbent Brendon Little in order to give opposing manager something to think about when constructing a lineup or managing in late innings over 162 games.

On Friday, the Jays announced they had reached agreement with lefthander Ryan Yarbrough on a one-year minor-league contract, with an invitation to spring training. It was a move that was expected. The 33-year-old veteran of seven MLB seasons is now a mortal lock to complete the major-league bullpen as its second lefthander, barring injury. He had opened eyes with the Jays front office and coaching staff in his two-month, post-deadline stint with the team in 2024.

The 6-5 native of Austin, Texas, over his MLB career, has been a model of consistency in a specialized swing-man role, logging between 80.0 and 147.1 innings in every full season since 2018. He was the man around whom was designed the “opener” role under Joe Maddon and the Rays. He has also had short stints with the Royals and the Dodgers, before being shipped to the Jays for CF Kevin Kiermaier on July 30.

In his two months in Toronto, he was 1-0, 2.01 ERA in 31.1 innings over 12 appearances. Soft-toss, soft-contact. It was apparent that the Blue Jays were always going to be saving a spot for the veteran, who was, originally, just a throw-in as the Jays tossed Kiermaier’s salary overboard at the end of July. They allowed him to explore his first kick at the free-agent can this winter. He is back..

In order to give opposing managers something to think about in terms of lineup construction and late in games, the Jays were going to need a complement to Little, who had emerged as the No. 1 lefty specialist last year. Trying to answer that important, second lefty, role, the Jays came into camp with a vision of what they needed, but with more question marks than the Mysterions. Now, with Yarbrough, the spring will be spent merely looking to identify lefty-reliever depth — 3-7.

Here are thumbnail breakdowns of the seven lefty candidates currently in Blue Jays’ camp, beginning with the two sure things, Little and, now, Yarbrough.

Brendon Little: 6-2 … 195 lbs. … 28 years-old … 0.135 years of MLB service

Little Repertoire: Avg. FB 95 mph … 2-Seam; Curve; Cutter.

Ryan Yarbrough: 6-5 … 215 lbs. … 33 years-old … 6.117 years of MLB service

Yarbrough Repertoire: Avg. FB 87 mph … CB; 2-Seam; FB; Ch; Curve.

Richard Lovelady: 6-0 … 185 lbs. … 29 years-old … 3.108 years of MLB service

Lovelady Repertoire: Avg. FB 93 mph … SL; 4-seam; 2-Seam.

Amir Garrett: 6-5 … 239 lbs. … 32 years-old … 6.054 years of MLB service

Garrett Repertoire: Avg. FB 95 mph … SL; 4-Seam.

Easton Lucas: 6-4 … 180 lbs. … 28 years-old … 0.047 years of MLB service

Lucas Repertoire: Avg. FB 94 mph … Cutter; Slider.

Josh Walker: 6-6 … 225 lbs. … 28 years-old … 0.108 years of MLB service

Walker Repertoire: Avg. FB 94 mph … 4-seam; 2-seam; Curve.

Mason Fluharty: 6-2 … 215 lbs. … 23 years-old … 0.00 years of MLB service

Fluharty Repertoire: Avg. FB 89 mph … 4-Seam; Slider.