Michael Lorenzen already has a locker in the Blue Jays clubhouse, and a deal looks imminent.
Toronto hasn't formally announced anything yet, but the signs are pointing in one direction.
Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reported the locker setup, and Sportsnet's Arden Zwelling added that Lorenzen has actually arrived at Rogers Centre.
That's where the Blue Jays host the Royals tonight, which lines up with a pitcher getting ready to join a new team fast.
Lorenzen was released by the Rockies earlier this month after a rough season that never found its footing in Colorado.
He made 26 appearances there, posting a 7.08 ERA over 115.2 innings, numbers dragged down significantly by a brutal split at altitude.
His track record as a reliever tells a different story, though. He's carried a career 3.73 ERA out of the bullpen, nearly a full run better than his mark as a starter.
Why the Blue Jays need to clear a roster spot first
Toronto's 40-man roster is currently full, meaning a corresponding move has to happen before this can become official.
That's a common hurdle at this point in the season, and it usually gets resolved quickly once a signing is truly close.
Lorenzen made an All-Star team back in 2023 with the Phillies, proof there's still real stuff in that arm when everything lines up.
For a Blue Jays bullpen that's been stretched thin during a wild-card push, adding a veteran arm for next to nothing carries almost no downside.
If this signing gets over the line, Toronto will need to decide who comes off the roster to make room for him.
Whether Lorenzen slots in as bullpen depth or gets a bigger role right away likely depends on how he looks in his first outings back on a big-league mound.
Should the Blue Jays finalize a deal with Michael Lorenzen for bullpen help?
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