Sidearm throwing Tyler Rogers brings consistency to Blue Jays bullpen

Sidearm throwing right-hander Tyler Rogers and the American League champion Toronto Blue Jays finalized a three-year, free-agent contract worth $37 million US on Monday.

Rogers's deal includes a 2029 option.

Rogers, 34, is the latest pitching addition by the Blue Jays, who agreed to a seven-year, $210 million contract with Dylan Cease and a three-year pact worth $30 million with Cody Ponce. The Blue Jays also acquired reliever Chase Lee in a trade with Detroit.

Rogers led the major leagues this year with 81 pitching appearances for San Francisco and the New York Mets, who acquired him on July 30 for pitchers Jose Butto and Blade Tidwell, along with minor league outfield prospect Drew Gilbert.

Rogers has been one of the more consistent relievers in baseball and leads the majors with 403 appearances and 406 1/3 relief innings since 2020.

Rogers has a 2.76 earned-run average in 420 games for San Francisco (2019-25) and the Mets.

He had a season ERA of 3.57 in 2022 that has dropped in each campaign since to 3.04, 2.82 and 1.98 this past season over 77 1/3 innings with the Giants and Mets.

Left-hander Justin Bruihl was designated for assignment to open a roster spot.

The 27-year-old Lee appeared in 32 games for the Tigers as a rookie in 2025, posting a 4.10 ERA and 1.10 WHIP, a 6.1 per cent walk rate, and a 24.3 per cent strikeout rate.

Lee, from Birmingham, Ala., was selected by the Texas Rangers in the sixth round of the 2021 first-year player draft out of the University of Alabama, before being dealt to Detroit at the 2024 trade deadline.

Lee has made 163 career minor-league appearances (five starts) between the Rangers and Tigers systems, recording a 4.13 ERA with 275 strikeouts in 204.2 innings.