The Toronto Blue Jays made another intriguing addition to their pitching staff.
The Blue Jays signed Nic Enright to a two-year minor league deal. The right-hander beat Hodgkin lymphoma and pitched well for the Cleveland Guardians in 2025, but will spend 2026 rehabbing from Tommy John surgery.
Now, after that signing, the Blue Jays inked former Boston Red Sox pitcher Josh Winckowski, according to Steve Adams.
“Source: Right-hander Josh Winckowski is signing a two-year minor league deal with the Blue Jays,” Adams wrote on X. “Had internal brace surgery earlier this month. Hoping to pitch late in 2026. Plan right now is to build him back up as a starter when he’s healthy.”
Winckowski is another intriguing flyer for the Blue Jays’ pitching staff as the right-hander will miss most, and potentially of 2026 due to the injury. But, he could be a starting pitcher for the Blue Jays in 2027 or a bullpen piece.
The Blue Jays actually drafted Winckowski in the 15th round of the 2016 MLB Draft. Toronto, however, traded him to the New York Mets alongside Yennsy Díaz and Sean Reid-Foley in January of 2021 for Steven Matz. The Mets then flipped Winckowski to the Red Sox a month later as part of the deal that saw Andrew Benintendi go to the Kansas City Royals.
Winckowski spent the past four seasons with the Red Sox. In his MLB career with Boston, the 6-foot-4 right-hander went 13-14 with a 4.20 ERA in 121 games, including 21 starts.
Blue Jays Move Called ‘Interesting’ by Insider
Toronto wasn’t afraid of Winckowski’s injury, as the Blue Jays decided to add him to the fold.
Red Sox insider Chris Cotillo of MassLive called the signing ‘interesting’ as Boston didn’t say much about the right-hander’s injury.
“Winckowski came up with Toronto before being traded to the Red Sox in the Benintendi deal. Boston never said much about that arm injury this year. Interesting developments here,” Cotillo wrote on X.
Given that the Red Sox didn’t say much about Winckowski’s injury, it’s uncertain how serious it is or how long he will be out. But, judging by the Blue Jays’ recent moves, even if he misses all of 2026, the team doesn’t seem to mind. Yet, if he does return, Winckowski could be a solid addition to the bullpen for the stretch run and potentially the playoffs.
Winckowski Was Considered a Cut Candidate by the Red Sox
Due to Winckowski’s injury, his name came up as a potential 40-man roster spot casualty.
Ahead of the season really kicking off, Cotillo wrote that Winckowski could be DFA’d as the team wasn’t sure about his health and him taking up a 40-man roster spot.
“The free agent departures puts the Red Sox at 32 on the 40-man roster,” Cotillo wrote back in October. “The club then needs to reinstate nine players … from the 60-day IL, which doesn’t exist in the offseason. That means there will likely be 41 players for 40 spots.
“The Red Sox will then need to make a cut to fit everyone on. There are some depth options on the roster who are candidates to be designated for assignment like lefty Jovani Morán and righty Josh Winckowski.”
Boston ended up DFA’ing Winckowski on Nov. 18, and he elected free agency on the 21st, and now has signed with the Blue Jays.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Blue Jays Sign Intriguing Pitcher Away From Rival In Multi-Year Deal appeared first on Heavy Sports.