The Toronto Blue Jays designated left-handed reliever Joe Mantiply for assignment on Monday as part of a flurry of pitching moves ahead of a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles, via the MLB transaction log.
The 35-year-old southpaw, a 2022 National League All-Star with the Arizona Diamondbacks, was removed from the 40-man roster to make room for the return of rookie right-hander Trey Yesavage from the injured list and the promotion of right-hander Chad Dallas from Triple-A Buffalo.
Right-hander Spencer Arrighetti was optioned in a corresponding move. Yesavage is slated to start Monday as Toronto, sitting at 77-79, tries to keep faint wild-card hopes alive.
Mantiply has spent the entire 2026 season in the Blue Jays organization. He signed a minor-league deal in March after becoming a free agent following a late-2025 stint with Triple-A Buffalo, then had his contract selected on April 5.
When healthy, he was effective: a 3.33 ERA over 27 innings in 25 appearances, with a 19.8 percent strikeout rate and an excellent 4.5 percent walk rate. He went 2-0.
A left-knee injury derailed much of his year. He landed on the injured list in mid-May, underwent arthroscopic surgery later that month, and spent months recovering before being activated September 1.
Since his return, he has allowed six runs in 9 1/3 innings and scored upon in three straight outings, giving the club reason to move on despite the overall numbers.
The Virginia Tech product and 2013 draft pick debuted with the Detroit Tigers in 2016, made a brief Yankees appearance in 2019, and spent 2020–25 with Arizona.
His peak came in 2022, when he posted a 2.85 ERA over 60 innings in 69 games and earned the All-Star nod as the Diamondbacks’ representative.
Career totals stand at 13-13 with a 4.41 ERA and 216 strikeouts in 281 games. A disastrous 15.83 ERA in 10 games for Arizona in 2025 led to his release.
Designation for assignment starts a 10-day window in which Toronto can trade him, release him, or attempt to pass him through waivers and outright him to the minors.
Because of his service time, Mantiply could elect free agency if he clears waivers. The DFA also suggests the Jays were unlikely to tender him a contract this winter even if he had stayed on the roster.
For a veteran known more for command and ground-ball contact than velocity, the move is a reminder of how quickly roster spots tighten in September.
Mantiply’s next landing spot will likely be another club looking for inexpensive left-handed depth.
