Blue Jays Re-Sign Lazaro Estrada To Minor League Contract

The Blue Jays have re-signed right-hander Lazaro Estrada to a new minor league deal, according to Baseball America’s Matt Eddy. Estrada opted for minor league free agency at season’s end, as he was designated for assignment and then outrighted off Toronto’s 40-man roster back in August, and then never added back to the 40-man. The 27-year-old Estrada has spent his entire pro career in Toronto’s organization, ever since he first signed with the team out of Cuba in 2018. Estrada’s long stint in the minors finally paid off with two MLB games (7 1/3 IP) in 2025, and then a slightly longer look of 13 innings over eight appearances this year. A right shoulder impingement sent Estrada to the injured list for about two and a half months this season, which extended his stay in the majors for service-time purposes even if he wasn’t able to pitch. Over his 20 1/3 career frames in the Show, Estrada has a 6.64 ERA, 20.7% strikeout rate, and 12% walk rate. His Triple-A resume consists of a 5.06 ERA, 23.25K%, and 7.88BB% in 133 1/3 innings for Buffalo, with 24 of Estrada’s 44 appearances coming as a starting pitcher. The Blue Jays have used him only as a reliever (occasionally in a bulk pitcher role) during his limited time in the majors, and it would appear as though Estrada will again be used as a depth option to be called up when the Jays are in need of a fresh arm. Estrada has one minor league option year remaining, so the Jays will be able to shuttle him back and forth from Triple-A up to five more times in 2026, assuming the minor league transaction rules aren’t changed in the next collective bargaining agreement. View Comments (1)