Justin Topa is joining John Schneider's Blue Jays mix after Toronto signed the former Twins reliever to a minor league deal.
The Blue Jays' May transaction log shows the signing landed on 05/30/26. By 06/03/26, Topa was assigned to Triple-A Buffalo and listed active with the Bisons.
That timing matters. Toronto designated Austin Voth for assignment the same day it signed Topa and selected Hayden Juenger from Buffalo.
So this was not a splash move. It was a bullpen-depth move from a club that keeps cycling through arms on the roster and in the upper minors.
Topa arrives with rough recent numbers. He posted an 8.05 ERA and 2.00 WHIP in 23 games for Minnesota before the Twins moved on.
Minnesota designated him for assignment on 05/19/26 and released him on 05/23/26. Toronto stepped in 7 days later.
The reason to take the flier is 2025. Topa made 54 appearances, worked 60 innings, struck out 49 and picked up 4 saves for the Twins.
Toronto buys low on a proven bullpen arm
That season also showed the role Toronto is chasing. Topa ranked 2nd on the Twins staff in both games and relief innings, which is the shape of a usable middle reliever, not just emergency depth.
He also brings a larger major league sample than most late-May signings. Over 172 career games, Topa owns a 4.27 ERA with 9 saves.
John Schneider does not need Justin Topa to walk straight into save situations. He needs another arm who can cover innings in Buffalo and force a call-up decision if the big-league bullpen keeps shifting.
That bridge has already moved plenty in May. Toronto signed Matt Bowman on 05/27/26, added Topa on 05/30/26, and put Tommy Nance, Joe Mantiply and Lazaro Estrada on the injured list during the same month.
Seen that way, this is a clean buy-low move. Topa is 35, he has real major league mileage, and Toronto only needs him to find enough of last year's form to become useful again.
For now, the Blue Jays bought themselves another option at Buffalo. If Justin Topa steadies there, this minor league deal can turn into the next call to Schneider's bullpen.
Can Justin Topa help Toronto's bullpen this season?
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