Photo credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
The Blue Jays are beefing up their pitching depth with a classic "Ross Atkins Special," signing lefty Josh Fleming to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training.
It might not be the flashy headline you were refreshing your feed for, but this is exactly the kind of under-the-radar move that pays off in August.
Fleming (Drafted 5th Round, 2017 by Tampa Bay) is a ground ball machine who fits a very specific profile this front office loves.
He spent part of 2024 with the Pirates, posting a 4.02 ERA over 31.1 innings while keeping the ball on the ground at an elite rate.
His career ground ball rate sits near 60%, which is a beautiful thing when you have a defense as slick as ours behind you.
He’s not going to blow anyone away with velocity, but his sinker-changeup mix is designed to generate weak contact and quick innings.
This is a low-risk lottery ticket on a guy who has had success in the AL East before during his time with the Rays.
Depth is the name of the game for a 162-game marathon
We also invited Tanner Andrews (Drafted 10th Round, 2018 by Miami) and Nate Garkow (Drafted Free Agent by Toronto) to camp, adding more competition to the mix.
Andrews is a 30-year-old righty who has bounced around the minors but showed flashes of dominance in independent ball recently.
Garkow, a homegrown arm, posted a sparkling 1.22 ERA in Double-A New Hampshire last year, earning his shot to impress the big league staff.
These guys might not crack the Opening Day roster, but they are crucial insurance policies for when the inevitable injury bug bites.
Remember, every contending team needs guys who can come up from Buffalo and eat innings without lighting the scoreboard on fire.
If Fleming can rediscover his 2020 form (2.78 ERA), he could be a legitimate weapon out of the bullpen against lefty-heavy lineups.
Welcome to Dunedin, boys—now go earn your spot.
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| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 7|304 ANSWERS The Toronto Blue Jays announce multiple roster moves Will Josh Fleming make the Opening Day roster as a second lefty in the bullpen? | ||
| Yes | 147 | 48.4 % |
| No | 157 | 51.6 % |
| List of polls | ||