Blue Jays DFA Justin Bruihl, Open Roster Spot

The Toronto Blue Jays have reshaped their pitching staff again. They designated left-hander Justin Bruihl for assignment to open a 40-man roster spot for newly signed righty Tyler Rogers.

This move really shows how tight things are on a contending club. Toronto’s bullpen is already crowded with lefties and high-upside arms waiting in the wings.

Blue Jays Clear Space for Tyler Rogers

The big story isn’t just about who’s leaving. It’s about who’s coming in.

By cutting Bruihl from the 40-man, the Jays made space for Tyler Rogers, a right-hander who’s expected to play a real role in their bullpen mix.

Rogers’ arrival says a lot. Toronto wants reliability, flexibility, and matchup options, even if it means letting go of a guy with some interesting underlying numbers.

Why Justin Bruihl Became the Odd Man Out

Bruihl, turning 29 in June, came to Toronto on a minor league deal last offseason. He worked his way to the big club in June and spent the 2025 season bouncing between the Majors and Triple-A Buffalo.

His surface stats with the Jays don’t exactly impress: in 15 appearances, he threw 13 2/3 innings with a 5.27 ERA. For a team with postseason dreams and not much roster wiggle room, that’s tough to carry—especially when a player runs out of option years.

Under-the-Hood Numbers Tell a Different Story

The ERA looks rough, sure, but the deeper metrics make Bruihl look more unlucky than ineffective. Front offices really live in this space now, which is probably why he could catch on somewhere else.

It’s one of those cases where old-school stat lines and modern evaluation don’t line up.

Bruihl’s Peripheral Profile

Some of Bruihl’s underlying numbers actually look pretty solid:

Balls in play really gave him trouble. Bruihl allowed a wild .459 BABIP (batting average on balls in play), way above the league average of .291. That kind of BABIP almost always regresses. It hints at bad luck, maybe some defensive missteps, and a few poorly timed hits—not just poor pitching.

Triple-A Performance Shows His True Level

In Triple-A Buffalo, Bruihl looked more like the pitcher his peripherals suggested he could be. Over 42 innings, he posted a 3.43 ERA with a much more normal .274 BABIP and similar strikeout and ground ball rates.

Postseason Trust, Then a Role Reduction

The Blue Jays didn’t treat Bruihl as just a fringe piece. He earned a spot on the ALDS roster against the Yankees, which says a lot about the trust they had in him.

But in his only postseason outing, he gave up two earned runs. That was enough for him to miss the ALCS roster.

Crowded Lefty Picture Forces a Decision

Toronto’s depth from the left side nudged Bruihl off the roster. The Jays have a bunch of southpaws fighting for innings, so it’s tough to keep a no-options reliever who might need to be protected all year.

For the front office, it’s a tough call: keep an intriguing arm, or maximize daily flexibility?

Internal Competition and Future Impact

Toronto’s left-handed relief mix includes:

Plus, top prospect Ricky Tiedemann could be a bullpen factor once he’s fully recovered from Tommy John surgery. Even if he moves back to starting later, his presence gives the Jays another power lefty option down the road.

What’s Next for Justin Bruihl?

Bruihl has now used up his final option year, so Toronto can’t shuttle him between Triple-A and the Majors next season. For a team trying to win, that’s a real limitation.

In the next week, one of two things probably happens: Bruihl gets traded, or he clears waivers and stays in the organization in some other role.

A Low-Cost Bet for Bullpen-Needy Teams

Bruihl has between one and two years of service time before he hits arbitration. He’s a cost-controlled arm, and his stats hint at some upside—if his batted-ball luck finally evens out.

Teams with patience or not many lefty relievers should probably keep an eye on him. He’s the kind of under-the-radar pickup that could pay off quietly.

But for the Blue Jays, this move looks more like an attempt to tighten the roster around pitchers they really trust in October. Bruihl gets a shot to show that his 5.27 ERA wasn’t the whole story—maybe it was just bad luck, maybe not.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Blue Jays Designate Justin Bruihl For Assignment