Tyler Fitzgerald is out again, and the Blue Jays' brief April flyer on him now looks even shorter in hindsight. The Dodgers have released the former Toronto utility man after acquiring him for cash on April 28.
A quick correction matters here. Fitzgerald was not really a Blue Jays outfielder in any meaningful sense. He was a short-term infield depth add who spent only a few days on Toronto's active roster before the club designated him for assignment on April 24.
That is what makes the Dodgers move notable, even if it is not a major headline. Two teams took a look at Fitzgerald in a little more than 2 months, and neither found a long-term fit.
The path was messy from the start. The Giants traded Fitzgerald to Toronto for cash on April 4. The Blue Jays called him up on April 7, optioned him back to Triple-A on April 14, then DFA'd him 10 days later when they acquired catcher Willie MacIver.
Los Angeles then stepped in and bought low. The Dodgers traded cash to Toronto on April 28, optioned Fitzgerald to Triple-A Oklahoma City, and kept him as depth until this week's release.
There is a reason clubs keep giving him a look. Fitzgerald is 28, can move around the field, and he was productive in 2024 when he hit .280 with 15 home runs and 17 steals over 96 games for San Francisco.
But that version has been harder to find since. MLB Trade Rumors noted his 2025 regression and pointed to the swing-and-miss issues that have followed him for much of his career.
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Toronto's call on Fitzgerald now looks easy to understand
This is where the Blue Jays angle gets cleaner. Toronto did not miss on some hidden everyday piece. The club took a low-cost shot on roster depth, used him briefly, then moved on before the roster squeeze got tighter.
That matters because teams like the Blue Jays burn through these spots fast. Once injuries hit or a new catcher is needed or a bullpen move opens up, fringe utility players are usually the first ones pushed aside.
For Fitzgerald, the release does not end the story. He still has major-league experience, a career .739 OPS in the majors, and enough defensive flexibility to get another minor-league shot somewhere else.
The Dodgers angle is simple, too. MLB Trade Rumors reported Fitzgerald had landed on the minor-league injured list earlier this month, and the release appears tied to Los Angeles wanting to clear a 40-man spot it could not open through outright waivers.
So this is not about Toronto losing a breakout bat. It is about another reminder of how fast roster depth turns over, especially for players living on the edge of the 40-man.
Fitzgerald's Blue Jays stay barely lasted 3 weeks. His Dodgers stay did not hold much longer. Now he is back on the market, still looking for the next club willing to bet on the tools.
Did the Blue Jays make the right call by moving on from Tyler Fitzgerald so quickly?
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