The Toronto Blue Jays have plenty to think about this offseason, and pitching should be near the top of the list. But what if one of their more interesting options isn’t a starting pitcher? What if it’s a 27-year-old left-hander who has quietly become one of baseball’s better relief arms?

Enter Adrian Morejon of the San Diego Padres. Morejon is coming off another strong season, posting a 2.83 ERA over 76 appearances in 2026. He struck out 107 batters in 86 innings, and his 30.4% strikeout rate was a career high. His ability to generate swings and misses makes him an intriguing option for Toronto.

MLB Trade Rumours has identified him as the leading left-handed reliever in this year’s free-agent class. That’s a pretty good place to start a conversation.

A Bullpen Fit That Makes Sense

The Blue Jays got plenty of work out of their bullpen in 2026. Louis Varland emerged as a late-inning weapon, while Tyler Rogers gave manager John Schneider another experienced option. Still, adding a power left-hander could give Toronto more flexibility when the games get tight.

Morejon has posted an ERA below 2.85 in each of the past two seasons. His 2025 campaign was particularly impressive, with a 2.08 ERA over 75 appearances. This past season, he took another step forward in striking out hitters. At a projected average annual value of $8.7 million, he could look like an appealing investment. Of course, that figure is an estimate, not a confirmed asking price. The actual bidding could push the cost considerably higher.

Could There Be Something More?

Here’s where things get interesting. Morejon is still just 27, and some teams might wonder whether his stuff could translate into a starting role. There is a difference, though, between having the pitches to start and handling a starter’s workload. Morejon has spent recent seasons working out of the bullpen, and asking him to become a regular starter would carry some risk.

For Toronto, the safer bet might be to let him continue doing what he does well. If he can shorten games alongside Varland and Rogers, that alone could make him valuable. The Blue Jays don’t need every free-agent signing to be a grand experiment. Sometimes, adding another reliable arm is the sensible move.

Would Toronto explore Morejon’s potential as a starter? It’s worth wondering about. But even if he remains a reliever, he could give the Blue Jays another weapon as they try to build a pitching staff capable of taking them further in 2027.

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