Brendon Little's spot with the Toronto Blue Jays now in jeopardy
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Victor William
Jan 25, 2026 (8:31 PM)
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Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Brendon Little is fighting for his roster life as the Toronto Blue Jays decide if his high-velocity sinker is worth the command headaches in 2026.
The lefty specialist role is dead. Toronto needs versatile arms that can navigate a full inning without imploding under pressure.
Little showed flashes of dominance last season. The consistency simply was not there when the leverage stayed high in late-inning spots.
His sinker sits in the mid-90s with heavy bore. It makes him a groundball machine when he actually finds the strike zone.
The problem remains the free passes. Walking the lead-off man turns routine innings into high-stress disasters for manager John Schneider.
The analysts over at Blue Jays Nation are already weighing the pros and cons of keeping him in the mix.
Looking at his 2025 numbers, a 3.75 ERA looks decent on paper. It hides a bloated 1.45 WHIP that kept every game feeling dangerous.
A K/9 rate near 9.0 keeps him relevant in the modern game. Pitching coaches are still frustrated by his inability to put hitters away efficiently.
A 12 percent walk rate is a death sentence for a middle reliever. Contending teams cannot afford to give away free bases in the AL East.
Brendon Little must find the strike zone to survive on the Toronto Blue Jays roster
The home crowd at Rogers Centre has a short memory for relievers who struggle. The bleacher creatures want results, not potential, during this championship window.
With the Luxury Tax becoming a major factor for ownership, every roster spot is vital. Cheap internal options like Little must perform or be replaced.
His service time status is no longer a shield. The former first-round pick is out of chances to find it at the big league level.
If he cannot refine his slider to complement the sinker, he becomes a DFA candidate. Toronto will not hesitate to move on before Opening Day.
The trade deadline is months away, but the front office is scouting veteran lefties. They want stability rather than a nightly roller coaster.
Toronto cannot afford to drop winnable games in April. A middle relief meltdown can sink a season before it truly starts.
This spring training is a make or break moment for a pitcher with elite tools. He lacks the polish required for the highest level of play.
One bad week in Dunedin might be enough to end his tenure. Younger arms from Triple-A Buffalo are already knocking on the door.
Little has the raw stuff to be a weapon. He just needs to prove he can handle the mental grind of the 162-game season.
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| POLL | ||
JANVIER 25|401 ANSWERS Brendon Little's spot with the Toronto Blue Jays now in jeopardy Should the Blue Jays keep Brendon Little on the 26-man roster? | ||
| Yes | 86 | 21.4 % |
| No | 315 | 78.6 % |
| List of polls | ||