The Toronto Blue Jays announced their 26-man roster this past weekend, with some notable omissions (Addison Barger and Ryan Yarbrough) and some questionable roster decisions playing into the cards. There is a zero percent likelihood that this roster remains the same throughout the year, given injuries and performance, but for the first series against Baltimore, this is what the Blue Jays brain trust has come up with.
The Jays aren&#8217;t the only team narrowing down their roster, and these past few days have seen a flurry of transactions &#8211; mostly on the internal front. Players being optioned, placed on the IL, or even released are flooding the timelines, and many former Blue Jays are part of the moves.
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This list isn&#8217;t exhaustive &#8211; I would be here for a long time if it was &#8211; but here are some notable former Blue Jays players who were part of the flurry of activity these past few days.
Austin Martin &#8211; Minnesota Twins 
Optioned to triple-A
Part of the José Berríos trade package, Austin Martin continues to try and carve out a role on the big league roster but will have to do some soul-searching in triple-A to start the season.
The former Jays top prospect had a strong average this spring (.282 through 39 at-bats) but struggled with the power, producing just two doubles and five RBIs. Martin has never been known to be a power hitter, but the Vanderbilt alum was just edged out for an Opening Day roster spot.
Martin can play multiple positions across the diamond and outfield and appeared in 93 games for the Twins last season, producing a .253/.318/.352 slash line with a .670 OPS. The power aspect dragged down his OPS big time, and while he likely will be back in the big leagues sometime in 2025, he will start the season in triple-A.
Brandon Drury &#8211; Chicago White Sox 
Released
Veteran Brandon Drury was in the White Sox camp on a MiLB deal and was producing well at the plate, owning a .410/.439/.821 slash line with 16 hits in 39 at-bats, while also adding three home runs. It&#8217;s surprising to see the White Sox release Drury, especially since they were one of the worst teams in baseball history last season.
It should be noted that Drury is an Article XX(B) free agent and could have opted out of his deal this past weekend, although the White Sox noted he was released versus opting out of his contract. He suffered a thumb fracture recently and was going to start the year on the IL, so that likely played a large part in all of this as well.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
The White Sox released Brandon Drury
He hit .410 this Spring with 3-HR, and increased his bat speed by like 5mph
Ok lol <a href="https://t.co/QdPJ07yFXn">https://t.co/QdPJ07yFXn</a>
&mdash; Fuzzy (@fuzzyfromyt) <a href="https://twitter.com/fuzzyfromyt/status/1903915045526061060?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The former Blue Jays infielder is looking to rebound after an abysmal 2024 season where he posted a .469 OPS through 97 games with the Angels.
Cavan Biggio &#8211; Kansas City Royals 
Expected to make the Opening Day roster 

Former Blue Jays utility player Cavan Biggio bounced around last season after being DFA&#8217;d and then traded to the Dodgers, finishing the year in the Braves organization. He became a free agent this winter and locked in a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals, looking to turn things around.
The 29-year-old had an up-and-down spring showing with KC, producing a .194/.457/.355 slash line with a .812 OPS. He was a walking machine this spring, something Jays fans remember fondly, and he collected 11 free passes and added six stolen bases.
Kansas City has yet to announce the roster for Opening Day, but there are currently only 26 players left in big league camp, meaning Biggio likely has earned a spot but still needs a 40-man spot before proceeding (the Royals currently have two open spots).
Kevin Pillar &#8211; Texas Rangers 
Named to Opening Day roster 

Superman lives on.
The defensive highlight reel who donned a Blue Jays jersey for over seven seasons has found a spot on the Texas Rangers active roster for Opening Day. After contemplating hanging it up this past offseason, which included some televised analyst stints with Sportsnet, Pillar found a minor league deal with the Rangers in late February and has earned a bench spot with the club heading into 2025.
Pillar authored .238/.292/.333 slash line through 42 at-bats with Texas this spring and compiled a .625 OPS while adding one double, one home run, and nine RBIs. The Rangers will be his tenth team since making his debut back in 2013, and many may recall the brawl that saw the Jays&#8217; outfielder want a piece of infielder Rougned Odor after he punched Jose Bautista at second base. It appears that&#8217;s all water under the bridge at this point, mostly because Odor is still a free agent and has struggled playing both in the MLB and Japan since being in 2021.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Newest Ranger, Kevin Pillar wanted all the smoke when Odor socked Bautista in 2016 <a href="https://t.co/BOQ8FVQJTx">pic.twitter.com/BOQ8FVQJTx</a>
&mdash; Rangers Nation ⚾️ (@rangers__nation) <a href="https://twitter.com/rangers__nation/status/1893701845601656909?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Luke Maile and Ross Stripling &#8211; Kansas City Royals 
Released
Both Maile and Stripling found themselves with the Royals on minor league deals, looking to find a spot on the active roster after lacklustre 2024 campaigns.
Stirpling struggled to stay healthy with the Athletics last year, appearing in just 22 games (14 stars) and pitching to a 6.01 ERA through 85 1/3 innings, while Maile posted a .520 OPS with a .268 OBP while appearing in 55 games as the Cincinnati Reds&#8217; backup catcher. The former Jays&#8217; backstop also spent some time on the IL with a herniated disc in his back.
Both head to free agency after requesting their release from the organization, as they too are Article XX(B) free agents and could opt out of their respective contracts.
Stripling allowed 17 hits and 13 earned runs through five outings with the Royals, striking two while allowing five home runs as he struggled to find a groove with the Royals. Looking to work alongside Salvador Perez, Maile posted a respectable .333/.391/.571 slash line through 21 at-bats but did not beat out Freddy Fermin for the second catcher spot.
Rowdy Tellez &#8211; Seattle Mariners 
Named to Opening Day roster
Former Blue Jays first baseman Rowdy Tellez made headlines at the end of last year when the Pittsburgh Pirates DFA&#8217;d the slugger when he was just four plate appearances away from a performance bonus. Rough stuff from Ben Cherington, another former Blue Jay.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Mariners select infielder Rowdy Tellez to Major League roster.
The <a href="https://twitter.com/Mariners?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Mariners</a> Major League roster is now at 39 players.
Read more:
&mdash; Mariners PR (@MarinersPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarinersPR/status/1904580469255278758?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Tellez decided to take his talents as far away from Pittsburgh as possible, inking a minor league deal with the Seattle Mariners. The M&#8217;s had a lacklustre offseason and needed some offense to their lineup, and Tellez was looking to be that spark from the left side of the batter&#8217;s box. The 30-year-old delivered this spring, collecting three home runs and five RBIs while amassing a .298/.320/.574 slash line with a .894 OPS through 47 at-bats. He will likely split time at first base and in the DH spot while working in the AL West for the first time in his career.
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The Toronto Blue Jays announced their 26-man roster this past weekend, with some notable omissions (Addison Barger and Ryan Yarbrough) and some questionable roster decisions playing into the cards. There is a zero percent likelihood that this roster remains the same throughout the year, given injuries and performance, but for the first series against Baltimore, this is what the Blue Jays brain trust has come up with.

The Jays aren't the only team narrowing down their roster, and these past few days have seen a flurry of transactions - mostly on the internal front. Players being optioned, placed on the IL, or even released are flooding the timelines, and many former Blue Jays are part of the moves.
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This list isn't exhaustive - I would be here for a long time if it was - but here are some notable former Blue Jays players who were part of the flurry of activity these past few days.

Austin Martin - Minnesota Twins
Optioned to triple-A

Part of the José Berríos trade package, Austin Martin continues to try and carve out a role on the big league roster but will have to do some soul-searching in triple-A to start the season.

The former Jays top prospect had a strong average this spring (.282 through 39 at-bats) but struggled with the power, producing just two doubles and five RBIs. Martin has never been known to be a power hitter, but the Vanderbilt alum was just edged out for an Opening Day roster spot.

Martin can play multiple positions across the diamond and outfield and appeared in 93 games for the Twins last season, producing a .253/.318/.352 slash line with a .670 OPS. The power aspect dragged down his OPS big time, and while he likely will be back in the big leagues sometime in 2025, he will start the season in triple-A.

Brandon Drury - Chicago White Sox
Released

Veteran Brandon Drury was in the White Sox camp on a MiLB deal and was producing well at the plate, owning a .410/.439/.821 slash line with 16 hits in 39 at-bats, while also adding three home runs. It's surprising to see the White Sox release Drury, especially since they were one of the worst teams in baseball history last season.

It should be noted that Drury is an Article XX(B) free agent and could have opted out of his deal this past weekend, although the White Sox noted he was released versus opting out of his contract. He suffered a thumb fracture recently and was going to start the year on the IL, so that likely played a large part in all of this as well.

https://twitter.com/fuzzyfromyt/status/1903915045526061060

The former Blue Jays infielder is looking to rebound after an abysmal 2024 season where he posted a .469 OPS through 97 games with the Angels.

Cavan Biggio - Kansas City Royals
Expected to make the Opening Day roster


Former Blue Jays utility player Cavan Biggio bounced around last season after being DFA'd and then traded to the Dodgers, finishing the year in the Braves organization. He became a free agent this winter and locked in a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals, looking to turn things around.

The 29-year-old had an up-and-down spring showing with KC, producing a .194/.457/.355 slash line with a .812 OPS. He was a walking machine this spring, something Jays fans remember fondly, and he collected 11 free passes and added six stolen bases.

Kansas City has yet to announce the roster for Opening Day, but there are currently only 26 players left in big league camp, meaning Biggio likely has earned a spot but still needs a 40-man spot before proceeding (the Royals currently have two open spots).

Kevin Pillar - Texas Rangers
Named to Opening Day roster


Superman lives on.

The defensive highlight reel who donned a Blue Jays jersey for over seven seasons has found a spot on the Texas Rangers active roster for Opening Day. After contemplating hanging it up this past offseason, which included some televised analyst stints with Sportsnet, Pillar found a minor league deal with the Rangers in late February and has earned a bench spot with the club heading into 2025.

Pillar authored .238/.292/.333 slash line through 42 at-bats with Texas this spring and compiled a .625 OPS while adding one double, one home run, and nine RBIs. The Rangers will be his tenth team since making his debut back in 2013, and many may recall the brawl that saw the Jays' outfielder want a piece of infielder Rougned Odor after he punched Jose Bautista at second base. It appears that's all water under the bridge at this point, mostly because Odor is still a free agent and has struggled playing both in the MLB and Japan since being in 2021.

https://twitter.com/rangers__nation/status/1893701845601656909

Luke Maile and Ross Stripling - Kansas City Royals
Released

Both Maile and Stripling found themselves with the Royals on minor league deals, looking to find a spot on the active roster after lacklustre 2024 campaigns.

Stirpling struggled to stay healthy with the Athletics last year, appearing in just 22 games (14 stars) and pitching to a 6.01 ERA through 85 1/3 innings, while Maile posted a .520 OPS with a .268 OBP while appearing in 55 games as the Cincinnati Reds' backup catcher. The former Jays' backstop also spent some time on the IL with a herniated disc in his back.

Both head to free agency after requesting their release from the organization, as they too are Article XX(B) free agents and could opt out of their respective contracts.

Stripling allowed 17 hits and 13 earned runs through five outings with the Royals, striking two while allowing five home runs as he struggled to find a groove with the Royals. Looking to work alongside Salvador Perez, Maile posted a respectable .333/.391/.571 slash line through 21 at-bats but did not beat out Freddy Fermin for the second catcher spot.

Rowdy Tellez - Seattle Mariners
Named to Opening Day roster

Former Blue Jays first baseman Rowdy Tellez made headlines at the end of last year when the Pittsburgh Pirates DFA'd the slugger when he was just four plate appearances away from a performance bonus. Rough stuff from Ben Cherington, another former Blue Jay.

https://twitter.com/MarinersPR/status/1904580469255278758

Tellez decided to take his talents as far away from Pittsburgh as possible, inking a minor league deal with the Seattle Mariners. The M's had a lacklustre offseason and needed some offense to their lineup, and Tellez was looking to be that spark from the left side of the batter's box. The 30-year-old delivered this spring, collecting three home runs and five RBIs while amassing a .298/.320/.574 slash line with a .894 OPS through 47 at-bats. He will likely split time at first base and in the DH spot while working in the AL West for the first time in his career.

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