When September begins on Sunday, MLB rosters will expand from 26 to 28 players, meaning each team can add two additional players (up to a maximum of 14 pitchers) to its active roster.
This isn’t the same as when teams could call up their entire 40-man roster and clubs were very tight at the finish. Instead, with only two roster spots, teams have to be more selective in the players they field.
With that in mind, let’s consider who the top candidates are for a call from the Toronto Blue Jays.
Jugs
Jake Bloss, RHP
Bloss was acquired from the Houston Astros as part of the Yusei Kikuchi deal. The other two players in the trade, Joey Loperfido and Will Wagner, are already with the Blue Jays – and performing well – but the club was in no hurry to promote Bloss.
That’s because the 23-year-old right-hander had a tumultuous season that saw him rise three minor league levels and make his MLB debut with the Astros in June before being traded in late July. Since the trade, the Blue Jays have slowly promoted Bloss, first sending him to their Florida complex to take some baseline measurements before sending him to Triple-A Buffalo. With the Bisons, he started four times and didn’t allow a run in his first three, but on Wednesday against the Durham Bulls, Bloss had a rough outing, allowing eight earned runs on nine hits in 1 2/3 innings with two walks and a strikeout.
The Blue Jays have indicated that they plan to switch to a six-man rotation late in the season to give their core players — namely Chris Bassitt, José Berríos and Kevin Gausman — a break. If the Blue Jays use a six-man rotation, manager John Schneider said Bloss will be considered as a possible addition to the team. This would allow the Blue Jays to see Bloss play at the MLB level without overworking him, as he will get an extra day of rest before each start.
Paolo Espino, RHP
Espino, a 37-year-old veteran, is the Bisons’ leading hitter with 16 starts this season. He has been a consistent contributor with a 4.83 ERA in 69 innings. He has also stepped in when the Blue Jays have needed an extra pitcher, making one start and two other appearances for Toronto this season. He has embraced the role of a veteran pitcher and knows when his job is to show up and pitch as long as possible. When the Blue Jays have discussed the need for an extra starter or a pitcher who can provide length out of the bullpen, his name has come up time and time again.
However, the Blue Jays have used the second half of the season to introduce a youth movement, so the club could prioritize calling up a player with a higher probability for his future rather than claiming the roster spot for Espino.
Honorable Mentions: RHP Hagen Danner, RHP Brandon Eisert
Danner and Eisert could also be considered. Eisert was recently the Blue Jays’ 27th man in their doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox earlier this week. (He did not pitch.) He could be a useful addition if the Blue Jays are looking for another pitcher to add length to their bullpen.
Danner’s MLB debut was cut short last season due to injury, and he spent about two months on the injured list this season while in Buffalo. But he returned in August and pitched four innings, allowing two runs (one earned) and having four strikeouts. Given the time he missed, the Blue Jays might prefer that he continue to pitch regularly in Triple A, but he’s a strong pitcher who deserves another chance to pitch at the major league level at some point.
Position player
Jonathan Clase, OF
Clase was acquired from the Seattle Mariners as part of the Yimi García deal at the trade deadline. The 22-year-old outfielder made his MLB debut with the Mariners earlier this season, but spent most of the season in Triple-A. Since joining the Bisons, he has a batting average of .211/.260/.352 with two home runs in 19 games.
Clase made his major league debut with Seattle, but has struggled in Triple A since being traded to Toronto. (Chris Bernacchi / Diamond Images via Getty Images)
When Clase was signed, his speed was one of the standout features. Between High A and Double A, he stole 79 bases in 2023, and although he doesn’t steal as many bases in Triple A, he still has 29 swipes this season.
The Blue Jays have stolen the fourth-fewest bases (62) in the major leagues this season, so a player like Clase who can be dangerous on the basepaths would give them skills they lack. The Blue Jays have taken a closer look at some of their other recent trade acquisitions, and September seems like an opportune time to add Clase to the team and see what he can contribute.
Nathan Lukes, OF
In spring training, Lukes had a great performance in training camp, but by the end of the spring he was the odd man out and did not start the season with the Jays. Later in the season, he suffered a thumb injury that required surgery. He missed about two months, but returned in mid-August and has been hitting well since then. In 52 games this season, he has a batting average of .337/.404/.475 with seven home runs.
Lukes has been a reliable backup for the organization since 2022, spending most of last season bouncing between Triple A and the major leagues. His performance was certainly good enough to warrant a call-up, and the Blue Jays could opt to reward him with a month of major league time now. But if the Blue Jays want to evaluate their younger talent, Lukes could be the odd man out again.
Alan Roden, OF
Last season, Roden was named an All-Star in the MiLB.com organization and has impressed again this season. He began the season in Double A but was promoted to Triple A in June and really hit his stride in August. Before Wednesday, he had a batting average of .380/.438/.608 with 11 extra-base hits in 22 games this month. This season, he has a batting average of .282 with an OPS of .824 and 12 home runs between the two levels.
He’s a left-handed hitter with a keen sense of the strike zone and can put the bat on the ball time and time again. The Blue Jays hope he develops more power as he matures. However, Roden is not on the 40-man roster and does not need to be added in the offseason to be protected from the Rule 5 Draft. That could be a hindrance for Roden, as the Blue Jays may need to free up a spot on the 40-man roster for someone else sooner.
(Top photo of Bloss: Thomas Shea / USA Today)
