The Toronto Blue Jays just enjoyed more postseason success than they had in the last 30 years, but that has only driven them to seek better results moving forward.
The team quickly followed its World Series appearance with a free agency spending spree that turned into its largest in franchise history, with more than $330 million going toward additions like Dylan Cease, Tyler Rogers and Kazuma Okamoto.
And the Blue Jays’ win-now approach has extended to its minor league system as well. On Tuesday, the team announced a slew of minor league additions who would receive invitations to Spring Training, including several intriguing veteran options who could help propel a playoff push next season.
Toronto Blue Jays Add Veteran Infielder After World Series Appearance
Among those latest signees, the Blue Jays have added seven-year Major League Baseball veteran Jorge Alcala and 2020 Chicago White Sox Silver Slugger Award winner Eloy Jimenez.
And the group also included the return of a veteran infielder who was unceremoniously cut by the Philadelphia Phillies last year.
“The Blue Jays brought infielder Rafael Lantigua back to the organization on a minor league contract, the team announced,” per MLB Trade Rumors’ Anthony Franco. “Lantigua, 27, initially signed with the Jays out of the Dominican Republic during the 2016 amateur signing period. The righty-hitting utilityman played his way to Triple-A by the end of the 2022 season. He spent the next two full seasons with their top affiliate in Buffalo before qualifying for minor league free agency. Lantigua signed with the Phillies last winter and again played the majority of the year in the International League.”
Philadelphia Phillies Cut Ties With Infielder Who Reunites With Toronto Blue Jays
Last year, Lantigua slashed .230/.356/.330 in Triple-A while making most of his starts at second base and third base. He made the big-league club when Phillies’ utility player Edumndo Sosa was injured, but then the Phillies optioned him just three days later, before he had a chance to enter his first career major-league game. Then the Phillies outrighted him in November and he elected free agency as a result.
The 27-year-old infielder has been playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic for Toros del Este, getting some reps at shortstop, and he can remain hopeful that the Spring Training invite turns into his first big-league opportunity with the Blue Jays next season.
“Lantigua has reached the majors but hasn’t gotten an opportunity to debut, which he’ll hope will arise with his original organization at some point in 2026,” Franco added.