Blue Jays make bullpen tweak that could pay off in 2026

The Toronto Blue Jays continue to fine-tune their roster ahead of the 2026 season, and on Friday completed a move aimed at bolstering bullpen depth. The club acquired right-hander Chase Lee from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for left-hander Johan Simon, who had been pitching in the Canadian organization’s minor league system.

It is a low-profile trade, but one with intriguing implications for Toronto’s relief corps, which adds an arm with uncommon traits and recent major league experience.

A different look for Toronto’s bullpen

Chase Lee, 27, made his MLB debut during the 2025 season and was a regular presence for Detroit. In his rookie campaign, he appeared in 32 games, all in relief, posting a 4–1 record with a 4.10 ERA, a 1.10 WHIP, a 6.1% walk rate and a 24.3% strikeout rate. He logged 37.1 innings, striking out 36 hitters while issuing just nine walks. Beyond the traditional numbers, Lee stands out for his unusual arm slot, as his sidearm delivery places him among the pitchers with the lowest release points in the majors.

At just 3.75 feet, his release height ranked as the fourth-lowest among all pitchers who surpassed 500 pitches during the season. Among right-handers, only Tyler Rogers and Ryan Thompson released the ball from a lower point. That angle allows Lee to generate uncomfortable movement on his sinker, four-seam fastball and sweeper, even though his fastball typically sits around 89 mph. For opposing hitters, the challenge is visual deception and angle rather than raw velocity.

It fits with the team’s philosophy

The move is not accidental. In recent years, the Blue Jays have shown a clear preference for pitchers with distinct profiles who can disrupt opposing hitters’ timing. Recent examples include the acquisition of Adam Cimber in 2021, the emergence of left-hander Mason Fluharty, and, at the other end of the spectrum, the impact of rookie Trey Yesavage with his height and extension. Lee fits that logic as a complementary piece, adding variety rather than overpowering stuff.

He also has two minor league options remaining, giving the coaching staff flexibility to move him between the majors and Triple-A depending on the schedule, injuries or bullpen workload. Before reaching the majors, Lee built a lengthy minor league résumé, totaling 163 professional appearances across the Rangers’ and Tigers’ systems. Over 204.2 innings, he recorded 275 strikeouts with a 4.13 ERA, numbers that point to consistency and durability.

Johan Simon’s path

On the other side of the deal, Detroit acquires Johan Simon, a 24-year-old left-handed reliever who had been part of Toronto’s development system since 2020, when he signed as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic. During the 2025 season, Simon pitched in 31 games split between Single-A Dunedin, High-A Vancouver and Double-A New Hampshire, posting a 3.42 ERA and a 2.88 FIP across 71 innings. He struck out 79 batters and walked 29, showing an ability to induce swings outside the zone, with a chase rate north of 34%.

Across five seasons in the Blue Jays’ organization, Simon appeared in 62 games, including 10 starts, compiling a 10–8 record with a 3.73 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. Despite his progress, Toronto opted to move him in order to reinforce its major league bullpen, prioritizing immediate depth over longer-term development.

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