The Toronto Blue Jays made a series of roster moves on Monday, just as they prepared to kick off a crucial three-game home series against the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays. Outfielder Addison Barger has been placed back on the injured list due to right elbow inflammation, while left-handed pitcher Eric Lauer was designated for assignment. To fill the gaps, Toronto recalled outfielder Yohendrick Piñango from Triple-A Buffalo and selected right-handed pitcher Yariel Rodríguez to the major league roster.
Barger’s setback is particularly tough, as he was only activated from the injured list on Saturday after missing more than a month with an elbow issue. In his first game back since April 5, he made an electrifying play in right field, catching a line drive and throwing out the Los Angeles Angels’ Jorge Soler at the plate with a blistering 101.2-mph throw—the fastest outfield assist by any Blue Jays player since Statcast began tracking in 2015. However, he was scratched from Sunday’s lineup due to right elbow soreness and was placed back on the injured list, retroactive to Sunday.
Barger, 26, has struggled at the plate this season, going just 1-for-22 in nine games. That’s a far cry from his breakout 2025 campaign, where he hit .243 with a .301 on-base percentage, 21 home runs, and 74 RBIs over 135 games. He was a postseason hero for Toronto during their World Series run, batting .367 with a .441 on-base percentage, three homers, and nine RBIs in 17 playoff games. In the World Series loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Barger went 12-for-25 with a .536 on-base percentage, and in Game 1, he delivered the first pinch-hit grand slam in World Series history—a moment that will live in Blue Jays lore.
On the pitching side, Eric Lauer, 30, has had a rough season, posting a 1-5 record with a 6.69 ERA over eight appearances (six starts). That marks a sharp decline from his 2025 season, where he went 9-2 with a stellar 3.18 ERA. Meanwhile, the newcomers bring promise: Yohendrick Piñango, 24, has hit 11-for-26 with no homers and four RBIs in 10 games with Toronto this season, while also impressing at Triple-A Buffalo with a .288 average, .370 on-base percentage, three homers, and 13 RBIs in 22 games. Yariel Rodríguez, 29, joins the big league roster with a 1-0 record and a 2.63 ERA across 11 appearances, adding depth to the bullpen.
As the Blue Jays face the Rays, these moves will test the team’s depth—and perhaps spark a new chapter for some of these players.