Toronto Blue Jays acquire former Arizona Diamondbacks all-star pitcher
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Victor William
Mar 3, 2026 (8:12 PM)
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Photo credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Joe Mantiply just secured a minor league deal with the Blue Jays and this low-risk reunion brings massive upside to the bullpen.
At first glance, scanning his major league numbers from the beginning of last season might make some fans feel slightly nervous about the addition.
The veteran left-hander pitched to an uncharacteristic 15.83 ERA and a bloated 3.00 WHIP in limited action before Arizona ultimately decided to release him.
But context is absolutely everything in baseball, and giving up on a proven arm too early is a classic mistake that we cannot afford to make.
This is exactly the kind of smart, low-cost depth move that winning organizations quietly execute to build a resilient roster for the summer grind.
The energy is building in camp, so just check out the official team announcement to see the vision taking shape right now.
OFFICIAL: We've signed LHP Joe Mantiply to a Minor League deal with an invite to #SpringTraining.
Mantiply (Drafted Round 27, 2013 by Detroit Tigers) is not just a random waiver claim hoping for a lucky break to salvage his career.
The 35-year-old was throwing in the All-Star game just a couple of seasons ago while consistently dominating the best hitters in the National League.
The veteran lefty provides immediate bullpen depth
There is genuine relief across the fanbase knowing Toronto has another experienced arm ready to step up if injuries strike the pitching staff.
When his mechanics are right, he relentlessly attacks the strike zone and induces weak ground balls with a frustrating efficiency that managers absolutely love.
He already showed brilliant flashes of his dominant old self late last summer after joining the Bisons in Buffalo for a minor league stint.
He posted a very solid 3.45 ERA and struck out 19 batters over 15.2 innings to prove he still has plenty of gas left in the tank.
That is the exact version of the talented southpaw the front office expects to see under the bright lights of the stadium this year.
Spring training is the absolute perfect laboratory for him to fine-tune his pitches without the heavy burden of regular season expectations weighing him down.
Pete Walker and the rest of the staff excel at fixing veteran pitchers who just need a slight adjustment to succeed at the highest level.
If he rediscovers his elite command in Florida, Toronto just secured a reliable lefty specialist for basically nothing, which is a massive front office win.
It is time to let the pitching coaches work their magic and watch this beautiful comeback story unfold on the mound.
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| POLL | ||
MARS 3|223 ANSWERS Toronto Blue Jays acquire former Arizona Diamondbacks all-star pitcher Are you excited to see if Joe Mantiply can bounce back and become a key piece of the bullpen? | ||
| Yes | 140 | 62.8 % |
| No | 83 | 37.2 % |
| List of polls | ||