Spring training is about optimism. But it’s also about math.
As the Toronto Blue Jays shape their 26-man roster for Opening Day, difficult decisions are already emerging. And one of last season’s key bullpen contributors may find himself squeezed out — at least temporarily.
Left-hander Mason Fluharty, who logged meaningful innings during Toronto’s 2025 run, is not widely projected to break camp with the big club. Despite flashes of promise during his rookie year, roster flexibility may ultimately work against him.
That’s the reality of modern roster construction.
Fluharty appeared in 55 regular-season games last year and another 11 in the postseason. For a 24-year-old, that kind of trust speaks volumes. He wasn’t perfect, but he was far from overwhelmed.
He held left-handed hitters to a stingy .182 batting average during the regular season and proved capable of navigating right-handed bats as well. For stretches, he looked like a dependable bullpen piece — especially in high-leverage moments.
Still, numbers tell a broader story.
Fluharty finished with a 4.44 ERA, a 1.139 WHIP, 9.6 strikeouts per nine innings, and 4.1 walks per nine. Solid in areas, uneven in others. For a young reliever adjusting to the big leagues, that profile suggests growth is still needed — particularly with command.
But the larger issue may not be performance.
It’s options.
Unlike several veterans in Toronto’s bullpen, Fluharty can be sent to Triple-A without being exposed to waivers. That flexibility is valuable to front offices trying to preserve depth over a 162-game grind. If injuries arise — and they always do — he can be recalled quickly.
Veterans without minor league options don’t offer that same cushion.
There’s also the construction of the bullpen itself. Toronto already leans left-handed, which complicates Fluharty’s case further. Carrying too many southpaws limits matchup balance and late-game maneuverability — something experienced managers carefully guard against.
Could he outperform expectations this spring and force the issue? Absolutely.
But barring a dominant camp, the safer organizational play may be to let him refine his command in Triple-A while keeping bullpen depth intact at the major league level.
For fans, that may feel like a step backward.
In reality, it could be strategic patience.
The Blue Jays are built to contend again in 2026. They’ll need fresh, reliable arms throughout the season — not just in April. A sharper, more polished Mason Fluharty returning midseason could be far more impactful than squeezing him onto the roster in March.
Opening Day rosters are snapshots. Championships are marathons.
If Fluharty begins the year in Triple-A, it won’t mean the Blue Jays don’t value him. It may simply mean they’re thinking beyond the first week of the season — and toward October again.
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