Jonathan Loaisiga could be the right-handed bridge the Blue Jays need before Tyler Rogers and Louis Varland. The free-agent reliever is coming off a strong bounce-back year.

After injuries wrecked three straight seasons, he signed a $1 million deal with the Diamondbacks last January. It turned into a bargain.

He posted a 2.42 ERA over 67 innings. He allowed just three home runs all season.

His control was sharp, too. His 1.75 walks per nine was a career best for any season of at least 40 innings.

He doesn't rely on strikeouts. His fastball touches 98 m.p.h., generating ground balls and weak contact instead.

Why does Toronto need a righty? Because the middle innings were thin.

Jonathan Loaisiga's groundball rate fits a Team Gold Glove infield

Behind Varland and Rogers, no Jays reliever topped 1.0 fWAR since 2025. Braydon Fisher's strikeout rate fell in 2026 while his home run rate climbed.

Loaisiga's 55.8% groundball rate ranked second among the free-agent class's top fastball pitchers. That fits a defence that just won the AL Team Gold Glove.

He also allowed a 31.7% hard-hit rate, the lowest in that group. His fastball posted a +14 Run Value.

There's an AL East bonus, too. Over his eight seasons with the Yankees, he went 9-5 with a 2.85 ERA against the division.

He's exactly the kind of signing Toronto should make. Lefty help is still the priority, but a durable righty who keeps the ball on the ground would ease the load on Rogers and Varland.

Loaisiga is like a reliable middle linebacker. He won't make the highlight reel with sacks, but he stops plays before they turn into big gains.

The price is reasonable. Projections point to a one- or two-year deal in the $10 million to $12 million range.

Injuries are the risk after his recent history. But if Ross Atkins can land him on a short deal, the Jays' bridge to the ninth gets much sturdier.