The Toronto Blue Jays fell just one win short of capturing their first World Series title in over three decades, suffering a heartbreaking defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Despite the disappointment, the Blue Jays remain optimistic about their chances of making another deep postseason run in 2026.
Toronto still has one of the most talented and well-rounded rosters in baseball, with an explosive lineup that powered the team to an AL East division title. However, the team’s pitching remains a clear area for improvement.
The Blue Jays’ staff posted a 4.19 ERA during the regular season, ranking 19th in MLB. While not disastrous, that mark underscores the need for reinforcements, particularly in the starting rotation and bullpen.
Unfortunately, on Monday, the Blue Jays lost a pitcher who had been effective out of the bullpen.
Toronto had outrighted Nick Sandlin off the 40-man roster on November 14, which removed him from the major league club and assigned him to the minor leagues.
Sandlin has previously been outrighted in his career, which meant he had the right to decline the assignment and instead choose free agency, which he officially did on Monday.
Sandlin’s departure leaves a gap in a bullpen that already needs attention this offseason. While he did not appear in any postseason games for Toronto, he was quietly effective during the regular season. Sandlin arrived last offseason from the Cleveland Guardians alongside a much bigger acquisition in infielder Andres Gimenez, who played a key role in the Blue Jays’ run to the Fall Classic.
Just one offseason later, Sandlin will now have the opportunity to explore other options in free agency. He pitched in 19 games for Toronto during the regular season, posting a 2.20 ERA across 16 1/3 innings. He recorded 16 strikeouts and even earned a save, showing he could handle high-leverage situations when called upon.
Toronto will now look to fill his bullpen spot as part of a broader effort to strengthen its pitching staff this offseason. With the team coming off a deep postseason run, every roster decision will be made with October in mind. The Blue Jays are focused on building a roster that can not only return to the playoffs but also finish the job.
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