Blue Jays finalize opening-day roster as Spencer Miles makes the team
blue jays finalized their opening-day roster with right-hander Spencer Miles in the bullpen and infielder Leo Jimenez designated for assignment, reshaping the club’s bench and relief depth ahead of the season opener.
What does Spencer Miles making the Blue Jays’ roster mean?
Spencer Miles, a 25-year-old right-hander and a December Rule 5 selection from the San Francisco organization, won the final bullpen spot. He missed time in 2025 recovering from Tommy John surgery and logged limited innings in the minors in 2024, pitching in the Arizona Complex League to a 4. 91 ERA with 10 strikeouts in 7. 2 innings. In spring training with the club he threw 9. 2 innings with a 3. 72 ERA, recording 11 strikeouts and five walks. Winning the final spot over another relief candidate signals the team is prepared to carry a Rule 5 pick on the active roster rather than option a different reliever.
What happens next for Leo Jimenez and the bench composition?
Infielder Leo Jimenez was designated for assignment after a limited big-league look in 2025. He appeared in 18 games and produced a 0. 69/. 129/. 172 slash line with one home run and one RBI in 29 plate appearances. Jimenez is out of minor-league options and had previously accumulated major-league plate appearances as a rookie two seasons earlier. The designation opens room for Davis Schneider to join the roster and gives the club flexibility to carry a different right-handed bench bat while leaving Jimenez available for trade or waivers.
- Spencer Miles: made opening-day roster (Rule 5 pick, recovering from Tommy John)
- Leo Jimenez: designated for assignment (out of options)
- Davis Schneider: positioned to occupy a bench spot
- Angel Bastardo: designated for assignment in recent moves
- Chase Lee: optioned to Triple-A Buffalo
- Injured list: five players currently on the IL, including an outfielder with a left shoulder labral tear and four pitchers with elbow or shoulder issues
Who wins, who loses and the early-season roster outlook?
The immediate winners are the relievers and bench pieces who made the roster: a Rule 5 throw-in earns everyday big-league innings and a bench spot goes to a versatile option in place of a non-optionable infielder. Players designated for assignment will have an uncertain near term as the club explores trades or waiver outcomes. The team begins the season constrained by multiple players on the injured list, including a left-shoulder labral tear for an outfielder and elbow or shoulder ailments for several pitchers, which amplifies the value of bullpen depth and bench versatility. The roster choices prioritize short-term availability and flexibility while preserving the ability to navigate injuries and early-season performance swings.
Expect close monitoring of Miles’ early outings and clarity on Jimenez’s destination over the coming days; the roster moves set the stage for how the club will manage innings and bench makeup in the weeks after opening day for the blue jays
