Pitching depth can often change quickly throughout a long major league season, especially as teams shuffle through veterans working their way back to the big leagues on minor league contracts.
Organizations frequently move through experienced arms as they search for reliable bullpen and rotation options, and that process continued for the Toronto Blue Jays this week, as another veteran pitcher saw his stint with the organization come to an end after a single harsh outing in the big leagues.
Toronto Blue Jays End Second Stint With Veteran Southpaw
The Blue Jays officially have moved on from left-hander Josh Fleming, according to the official transaction log.
The release concludes Fleming’s second stint with the Blue Jays organization this year, shortly after he rejoined the club earlier this season.
“Toronto previously signed Fleming to a minor league deal in February and briefly called him up before designating him for assignment last week, at which point he elected free agency,” as Nick Deeds noted for MLB Trade Rumors.
Rather than pursue another opportunity elsewhere, Fleming returned to the Blue Jays with another minor league agreement, but that second chance ultimately proved short-lived.
Former Toronto Blue Jays Pitcher Will Seek New Opportunity After Latest Cut
Although his latest stop ended with another release, Fleming has previously shown he can compete at the highest level.
“A fifth-round pick by the Rays back in 2017, Fleming made his big league debut in the shortened 2020 season and made a solid first impression with a 2.78 ERA across his first 32 2/3 innings of work as a rookie,” Deeds added.
That early success helped establish Fleming as a useful depth option for Tampa Bay over multiple seasons before he began bouncing between organizations in search of another consistent major league opportunity.
The 30-year-old now enters free agency again after his release from the Blue Jays’ minor league system, which followed a single appearance with the big-league club, resulting in a 12.00 ERA thanks to four earned runs in just three innings.
That harsh outing now seems like it will be the extent of Fleming’s Blue Jays run, at least in the majors.
But given his previous MLB success and ability to provide innings as both a starter and reliever, Fleming could earn a look from another organization soon. For the Blue Jays, however, the move signals another adjustment to their upper-level pitching depth as they continue searching for arms capable of contributing down the stretch.