The Toronto Blue Jays are licking their wounds following their early MLB season series versus the Minnesota Twins. Next up for the organization are short series against the Milwaukee Brewers, Arizona Diamondbacks, and the Los Angeles Angels. They will do so with Josh Fleming in tow.
As everyone knows, the rotation is banged up, with Trey Yesavage, Jose Berrios, and Shane Bieber all in various states of rehabilitation. Additionally, Addison Barger, Alejandro Kirk, Anthony Santander, and now George Springer are out for various lengths of time.
In his brief time with the team, the Blue Jays have liked what they have seen from Fleming, and they have decided to bring him back. This has happened despite the recent demotion and electing free agency.
Toronto Blue Jays Sign Josh Fleming, Again
If seeing that Fleming has signed with the Blue Jays is giving you deja vu, you are not alone. They signed the promising hurler prior to Spring Training. However, he and Austin Volt were recently demoted, in addition to being made free agents.
“LHP Josh Fleming and RHP Austin Voth have both cleared waivers and elected free agency, the Blue Jays announce,” Mitch Bannon reported on X, on April 9th, 2026. “This doesn’t mean they can’t still re-sign deals to return to AAA Buffalo and Toronto’s org, though. We saw multiple players do that last year.”
However, the Blue Jays did reveal on their transactions page that they had signed Fleming once again. Bannon also reported the news on social media.
“Josh Fleming has, indeed, returned to the Blue Jays org on a minor-league deal,” Bannon wrote late on April 12th, 2026. “He threw 5 shutout innings with the Bisons today, before Brendon Little and Yariel Rodriguez followed with shutout frames of relief.”
Fleming’s Spring Training & Regular Season Results
In seven Spring Training appearances, Fleming threw seven strikeouts in eight innings. He surrendered nine hits, four runs, and one home run. He finished the stint with a 4.50 ERA.
Since then, he has pitched in one MLB game and two AAA games for Buffalo.
Fleming started two games in the minors, throwing 8.2 innings. In those innings he earned seven strikeouts and surrendered a single run. In his single MLB appearance this year he threw three hits, giving up four runs and earning one strikeout.
When is Trey Yesavage Coming Back to the Blue Jays?
Between the injured trio of Yesavage, Berrios, and Bieber, Yesavage is the closest to returning to the MLB. That will be a momentus occasion for the franchise when it happens.
Yesavage is scheduled for one more rehab start before getting the call to the big leagues. In his two rehab games this year, he has thrown nine strikeouts in 5.1 innings. Additionally, he has surrenedered five runs and five hits to go along with a 1.31 WHIP.
With this in mind, one report reveals that his return could be as soon as next week.
“Yesavage will make at least one more minor-league rehab start this week before returning to the majors,” Ben Nicholson-Smith reported earlier on April 13th. “If all goes well in his upcoming outing, he could theoretically re-join the Blue Jays as soon as next week.”
A return next week would be ideal for Toronto. The team plays six out of seven days, and if Max Scherzer is also not 100%, that puts a lot of pressure on the rest of the already depleted rotation.
Blue Jays Sign Hurler After Latest Demotion Amid New Trey Yesavage Update