Nick Sandlin has elected free agency after a rough 2026. The former Blue Jays reliever was part of one of Toronto's biggest recent trades.

He made the move official on Nov. 2. The right-hander spent 2026 with the Angels before landing a minor league deal with the Tigers in late August.

His season in Anaheim was brutal. He posted an 11.42 ERA over eight games.

Toronto saw a much better version. In 19 games with the Jays in 2025, he posted a 2.20 ERA.

Sandlin arrived in December 2024 in the deal that brought Andrés Giménez from Cleveland. The Jays sent Spencer Horwitz and Nick Mitchell to the Guardians.

How does that trade look now? Pretty good for Toronto.

Nick Sandlin's exit is a footnote to the Andrés Giménez trade

Giménez has become one of the game's elite defenders. He led the Jays with 16 Fielding Run Value in 2026 as they won the AL Team Gold Glove.

His bat remains a concern, with a .293 on-base percentage over the past three years. But his glove has made the deal worthwhile.

Sandlin's best years came in Cleveland. In 2022, he went 5-2 with a 2.25 ERA over 46 games.

The 29-year-old was a second-round pick in 2018 and spent his first four seasons with the Guardians.

The Jays shouldn't bring him back. Toronto needs reliable bullpen arms after a year of injuries, and a pitcher coming off a season like his is a red flag.

He's like the throw-in at a garage sale. Nobody remembers him, but the main item you bought ended up being a keeper.

He'll likely find a minor league deal somewhere. His 2025 run in Toronto shows the stuff can still play.

For Jays fans, his name will mostly be tied to the Giménez trade. And as long as that glove keeps shining at short, Ross Atkins won't mind.