Photo credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images
The Toronto Blue Jays announced that they have agreed to terms on a one year deal with former Washington Nationals catcher C.J. Stubbs.
Toronto made the move Tuesday, signing Stubbs and sending him straight to Triple-A Buffalo. It is not a splash, but it is the kind of signing you notice once the first catcher tweak happens.
The Blue Jays have lived the reality that catching depth disappears fast.
One sore wrist or a bruised hand can turn a calm week into an emergency, and this is the kind of insurance teams quietly buy.
Stubbs is 29, bats and throws right, and he comes with a pretty straightforward development story.
He was a 10th-round pick in 2019 by Houston, and he has been grinding through the upper minors ever since.
C.J. Stubbs gives Toronto Blue Jays catcher coverage
Stubbs has touched the majors, even if it was only a cup of coffee with Washington in 2025.
He played one big league game, went 0-for-3, and the stat line looks empty, but the experience matters.
Catchers get signed for more than batting averages, and the Jays know that better than most.
If Stubbs can handle a staff, keep the tempo clean, and block enough pitches, he becomes useful on a day the roster needs stability.
This also puts pressure on everyone in that Triple-A catching room, in a good way.
When you have multiple credible options, you can rest bodies, manage workloads, and avoid rushing a prospect into a role he is not ready for.
My read is Toronto is building a deeper floor at a position that always tests you.
The Blue Jays have had quite a few catcher injuries last season and having Stubbs in their back pocket for other situations like that is a great move.
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| POLL | ||
JANVIER 23|406 ANSWERS Toronto Blue Jays acquire former Washington Nationals catcher Do you like the Toronto Blue Jays signing C.J. Stubbs as Buffalo Bisons catching depth? | ||
| Smart depth | 227 | 55.9 % |
| Not needed | 55 | 13.5 % |
| Love defense | 12 | 3 % |
| Wait and see | 112 | 27.6 % |
| List of polls | ||