The Toronto Blue Jays lost some pitching depth in the organization.
After the Blue Jays called up Austin Voth nd Josh Fleming, and subsequently DFA’d them, both relievers elected free agency.
“Recent Blue Jays DFA’ed pitchers Austin Voth and Josh Fleming have both cleared waivers and elected free agency,” Blue Jays reporter Arden Zwelling wrote on X.
The Blue Jays signed Voth on March 25 to a minor-league contract, and he was added to the MLB roster on April 5. In his lone appearance, he pitched 2.2 innings, allowing 1 run on 3 hits. Despite pitching well, Toronto DFA’d him to get fresh arms for the bullpen.
In his MLB career, Voth has appeared in 208 games, going 17-19 with a 4.69 ERA. Before pitching for the Blue Jays, he last appeared in the MLB in 2024 with the Seattle Mariners.
Fleming, meanwhile, struggled in his Blue Jays appearance, which led to him being DFA’d to make room for Patrick Corbin. The left-hander went 3 innings, allowing 4 runs on 6 hits and walking two against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He didn’t pitch in the majors in 2025.
Although Voth and Fleming both elected free agency, it doesn’t rule out either returning to Toronto’s organization on a minor-league deal. But, for now, both veteran relievers will explore their options in free agency.
Blue Jays Sign Corbin to Bolster Rotation
Voth and Fleming were both called up to eat innings due to the injuries the Blue Jays have faced in their rotation.
With that, Toronto signed Corbin to a one-year deal to help replace the void of Cody Ponce. And serve as some depth until the likes of Trey Yesavage, Shane Bieber, and Jose Berrios return from injuries.
Ahead of Corbin starting for the Blue Jays on Friday against the Minnesota Twins, John Schneider shared some praise he received about him from Max Scherzer.
“I think Max actually called him a ‘sled dog’? It was the first time I’ve heard that. I guess he just kind of does what he’s told and pulls the sled,” Schneider said.
Corbin pitched for the Texas Rangers in 2025, going 7-11 with a 4.40 ERA. He helped the Washington Nationals win the World Series in 2019, as he pitched in Game 7, pitching the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings, allowing no runs and just two hits en route to the win. Corbin is a two-time MLB All-Star.
Toronto Dealing With Pitching Injuries
The Blue Jays have been plagued by the injury bug to begin the 2026 MLB season.
Toronto saw Yesavage, Bieber, and Berrios begin the year on the IL, and all three were expected to be a key part of the rotation. Then, in Ponce’s first start, he suffered a knee injury that will likely end his season.
To make matters worse, Max Scherzer left his last start early with forearm soreness, but Schneider expects him to be good for his next start.
“I think the positive side is that it didn’t feel any worse,” Schneider said. “Max is brutally honest. That’s one of his many great qualities. [I’m] fairly to quite fairly confident he’ll make his next start.”
Toronto is off to a 5-7 start.
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