Blue Jays bolster depth as they officially sign former Braves pitcher and Astros catcher
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Victor William
Jan 30, 2026 (5:43 PM)
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Photo credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images
The Blue Jays are officially adding reinforcements to the organization, signing catcher C.J. Stubbs and right-hander Connor Seabold to minor league deals with Spring Training invites.
While these aren't the marquee names that break the internet, they are exactly the kind of "insurance policy" moves that savvy teams make to survive the 162-game grind.
You can never have enough pitching, and you certainly can never have enough catchers.
C.J. Stubbs (Drafted Round 10, 2019 by Astros) brings necessary depth behind the plate.
The 29-year-old is the younger brother of Phillies catcher Garrett Stubbs, so the baseball DNA is strong.
While his brief cup of coffee with the Nationals last year was quiet, he has hit 72 home runs in his minor league career, showing some pop in the bat.
He gives the Bisons a veteran presence who can handle a staff if injuries strike the big league roster.
But the real wild card here is Connor Seabold (Drafted Round 3, 2017 by Phillies).
Seabold spent 2024 in the KBO with the Samsung Lions, where he was excellent, posting an 11-6 record with a 3.43 ERA and 158 strikeouts over 160 innings.
#BlueJays' recently-reported MiLB signings with ST invites are now officially official.
International experience is the new market inefficiency
We have seen plenty of pitchers go to Korea, reinvent themselves, and come back as legitimate contributors.
Seabold returned to the states in 2025 and showed flashes of brilliance with the Rays, posting a 1.35 ERA in a short stint before struggling with Atlanta.
If the Jays' pitching lab can unlock whatever worked for him in Korea, this is a free lottery ticket.
He relies on a changeup that has been his best pitch since his prospect days.
Having a guy with MLB starting experience stashed in Triple-A is a luxury that often saves a season during those dog days of August doubleheaders.
Fans should see this for what it is: smart, low-risk roster construction.
If one of them contributes, it’s a massive win; if not, it cost us nothing but a locker in Dunedin.
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