Just days before Spring Training began, the Toronto Blue Jays finally made their move. But not in the way many had expected.
After a flurry of rumors about acquiring another starter, the Jays took a different approach: signing Josh Fleming, an experienced left-hander who doesn’t carry much of a buzz. No press conference. No commitment to a specific role. Just an invitation to join the big league camp—and plenty of room for speculation.
On the surface, it’s a small trade. But in the context of Toronto’s current bullpen, it starts to take on a different nuance.
The Jays’ bullpen is heavily right-handed. Adding a left-hander isn’t just about “depth,” it’s a tactical necessity. And Fleming, despite having just endured a difficult 2025 season at Triple-A Tacoma, still fulfills one crucial requirement: he’s had experience on the MLB mound and survived in various roles.
But the path for Fleming to actually make it onto the 26-man roster is a steep one.
Last season, he threw 84.1 innings at Triple-A with an ERA of 4.91. The most worrying numbers aren’t the runs, but how they come. A strikeout rate of 11.5% — the second lowest among Triple-A pitchers throwing at least 50 innings — leaves Fleming with virtually no escape route when he needs to save himself. A WHIP of 1.530 and a walk rate of 3.1 BB/9 further complicate matters.
Fleming isn’t the kind of pitcher whose radar gun goes off target. His main weapon is the sinker, which can create groundballs if placed correctly — and is punished if it’s half an inch off. Toronto clearly believes they can adjust that, or at least put him in advantageous situations.
That belief doesn’t come from Triple-A.
It comes from the more than 250 MLB innings Fleming has accumulated with the Rays and Pirates. 55 appearances, 22 starts. Swingman, reliever, spot starter — he’s tried almost every role. In the 2024 season with the Pirates, Fleming pitched 25 games, with an ERA of 4.02. Not outstanding, not disastrous. A “decent” pitcher — and sometimes, that’s what’s valuable in a long season.
The truth is, the Jays don’t need Fleming to be a cornerstone. They need an option. A lefty who can be called up when the bullpen thins due to injury or matchup crises. Someone who understands the pressure of MLB, understands the constant travel, and doesn’t panic when called up urgently.
Fleming will most likely start the season in Triple-A. But in a bullpen already lacking leftys, the distance between “depth” and “temporary solution” isn’t far. If one link falters, Josh Fleming’s name could appear faster than expected.
What makes this trade noteworthy isn’t whether Fleming will succeed or fail. Rather, it’s a signal Toronto is sending: they’re willing to embrace less flashy options, as long as they address a specific concern.
Amidst the big rumors and high expectations, the Blue Jays have chosen a quiet approach. And sometimes, it’s precisely these kinds of moves that best reveal how a team is assessing its own risks before the season begins.
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