The Toronto Blue Jays have placed outfielder Addison Barger back on the injured list with right elbow inflammation, retroactive to Sunday. This comes just days after he returned from a lengthy IL stint.
This post dives into Barger’s latest injury update, his historic on-field moment, and the Blue Jays’ roster moves as they gear up for a key series against the AL East-leading Rays. Toronto also designated Eric Lauer for assignment and added Yohendrick Piñango and Yariel RodrÃguez.
Elbow trouble resurfaces for Addison Barger, prompting another IL stint
The Blue Jays announced Addison Barger is heading back to the injured list with right elbow inflammation, retroactive to Sunday. He’d just come back Saturday after missing over a month with the same elbow issue.
In his return, Barger fired a jaw-dropping throw to nail the Angels’ Jorge Soler at the plate. That outfield assist clocked in at 101.2 mph—the fastest by a Blue Jay since Statcast started tracking in 2015.
Even after showing off his arm strength, Barger’s elbow acted up again. The team scratched him from Sunday’s lineup with soreness, and now he’s back on the IL.
This season hasn’t been kind to the 26-year-old. He’s just 1-for-22 in nine games, which is a rough patch after his strong 2025 where he hit .243 with a .301 on-base percentage, 21 homers, and 74 RBIs in 135 games.
Postseason prowess and the World Series pinch-hit grand slam
Barger really stepped up for Toronto in the postseason. In 17 playoff games, he hit .367 with a .441 OBP, slugged .583, and added three homers and nine RBIs.
During the World Series, he went 12-for-25 with a .536 OBP. He also delivered the first-ever pinch-hit grand slam in the Fall Classic—a wild, unforgettable moment for Jays fans.
- Playoff numbers: .367/.441/.583, 3 HR, 9 RBI in 17 games
- World Series: 12-for-25, .536 OBP
- Pinch-hit grand slam in the World Series, a historic moment for Toronto
Roster moves: Lauer DFA, Piñango and RodrÃguez added to the mix
Toronto designated left-hander Eric Lauer for assignment, sending him to Manchester. Lauer went 1-5 with a 6.69 ERA in eight appearances (six starts) this year, which is a big drop from his 2025 numbers—he went 9-2 with a 3.18 ERA back then.
The Jays needed reinforcements to patch up the rotation and lineup as they get ready for a pivotal series against the AL East-leading Rays.
Eric Lauer DFA
Lauer’s latest run with Toronto ended with a DFA as part of the roster shuffle. The veteran lefty wrapped up this season at 1-5 with a 6.69 ERA in eight appearances, after a strong 2025.
The Jays will see if anyone claims him or if he’ll get a new assignment in the coming days. It’s a tough business sometimes, isn’t it?
Piñango and RodrÃguez added to the major league roster
Toronto recalled outfielder Yohendrick Piñango from Triple-A Buffalo. They also selected right-hander Yariel RodrÃguez to the major league roster ahead of the series against the Rays.
Piñango’s been strong at the plate this year. He’s gone 11-for-26 with four RBIs in 10 big-league games and hit .288 in Buffalo.
RodrÃguez holds a 1-0 mark with a 2.63 ERA in 11 Triple-A appearances. Last season, he went 3-2 with a 3.08 ERA in 66 games for Toronto.
These early-season moves might end up mattering more than they look on paper. Toronto’s juggling injuries and a tough schedule against a division rival, so every bit of depth counts.
Looking ahead: what this means for Toronto’s playoff push
Barger’s elbow remains a question mark, so Toronto plans to manage his workload carefully. They’ll try to work Piñango and RodrÃguez into regular roles, though who knows exactly how that’ll play out.
The Blue Jays are walking a line between going all-in and keeping everyone healthy. With a big matchup against the AL East-leading Rays coming up, the pressure’s on.
The next few weeks should reveal whether Toronto’s depth can hold up and keep them in the thick of the division race. It’s going to be a real test—no way around that.
Here is the source article for this story: Blue Jays’ Addison Barger returns to IL with elbow inflammation
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