In the end, there were many factors that led to the heartbreaking World Series Game 7 defeat the Toronto Blue Jays suffered. But taking a more macro look at the season, it’ll always come back to the bullpen as the weak link in this championship contending roster.
GM Ross Atkins went out and made a couple of mid-tier additions to the ‘pen at the 2025 trade deadline, in Seranthony Dominguez and Louis Varland. They each had their moments, both good and bad. But a legitimate big splash at the back end of the bullpen is what was really needed. With that in mind, let’s have a look at three free agent relief targets the Jays should be focusing on this offseason.
Can the Blue Jays reform failed Yankees reliever Devin Williams?
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Devin Williams
After three straight years of uber-elite production as a closer with the Milwaukee Brewers, Williams was swallowed whole by the denizens of the Bronx Zoo after he allowed runs in three of his first five outings. By the end of April he had an ERA of 9.00 and had lost the closer’s job.
But hold the phone a minute. This is the same guy who rang up ERAs under 2 (as in, 1.93, 1.53 and 1.25) the previous three years. And WHIPs of 1.00, 0.92 and 0.97, while striking out 14.5 batters per nine innings. Just how far off is he, at the age of 31, from getting back to being at least a reasonable facsimile of that pitcher?
According to ESPN MLB Insider and former Yankees front office type, Kiley McDaniel, maybe not that far off at all. Williams’ xERA was 3.07 in 2025 — “nowhere near as bad as what his (4.79) ERA would have you believe,” writes McDaniel. Additionally, his velocity was up a bit in the second half, says McDaniel, as was his strikeout rate. Indeed, his K/9 went from 11.7 to 14.9 in the final three months of the season. “So there’s a case to be made that bad luck amplifies a slight regression from arguably the best reliever in the game to merely one of the best 10 to 15 in the league,” concludes McDaniel.
Jays could add another odd delivery to staff in free agency
Tyler Rogers
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After watching how flummoxed batters were with Trey Yesavage and his over-the-top delivery, could the Blue Jays nab a pitcher in free agency with the exact opposite type of move to the plate?
Make no mistake, Tyler Rogers should not be compared to the Jays’ rookie phenom starter. But imagine bringing in his funky submarine delivery with his knuckles nearly scraping the mound, following Yesavage’s towering 7’1” over the top release point.
Rogers has been very effective with that deceptive delivery, to the tune of a 2.71 ERA over the last five years, covering 378⅓ innings. With the NY Mets this past season, the 35 year old led the majors with 81 appearances, and posted a career best 1.98 ERA. He’d be an excellent, reliable setup man for the Jays to fortify the bullpen with.
Can Ryan Helsley regain his form?
Ryan Helsley
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He seems to be a forgotten man in this year’s free agent relief crop. But let’s not forget that this fireballer, still just 31, was a dominant closer and two-time All-Star in the previous three seasons. He led all of MLB with 49 saves in 2024. And this year, he had a 3.00 ERA and 21 saves as the Cardinals closer at the end of July.
But then came his deadline trade to Queens, and two horrid months as a setup man in the Mets’ bullpen somehow seems to have erased all of that good stuff from most people’s minds. Lets face it, Sometimes, closers just can’t get the same mindset in that setup role (see: Kimbrel, Craig, among others).
I would take a chance on a one-year, ‘prove it’ kind of deal with Helsley, if he’s open to that (and after posting a 7.20 ERA with the Mets over 22 appearances, he just might have to be).