Left-handed pitcher Josh Fleming and right-handed pitcher Austin Voth are both free to sign elsewhere or return to Toronto
Two relievers on the wrong end of a series of roster moves from the Toronto Blue Jays are now free to sign elsewhere.
Left-handed pitcher Josh Fleming and right-handed pitcher Austin Voth have cleared waivers and have chosen to elect free agency.
Voth was designated for assignment April 6 and Fleming was DFA'd on April 7, respectively.
The Blue Jays, amidst injuries to the starting rotation and catcher Alejandro Kirk, acquired infielder Tyler Fitzgerald from the San Francisco Giants, optioned him to the Triple-A Buffalo Bison (both on April 4) and recalled him April 7.
Toronto also recalled recently-signed veteran left-handed starting pitcher Patrick Corbin, who made one start for the Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays. Corbin will make his Blue Jays debut against the Minnesota Twins on April 10.
Fleming had spent the better part of the last year-and-a-half with the Seattle Mariners organization with the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers. He was signed by the M's on Aug. 6, 2024.
The southpaw elected free agency at the conclusion of last season and signed a minor league contract with Toronto on Feb. 6 and received a non-roster invite to spring training.
Fleming began the season with Buffalo but was briefly recalled on April 6. In his one major league appearance against the Los Angeles Dodgers before being DFA'd, the 29-year-old struck out one batter, walked two, hit another and allowed four earned runs on six hits (one home run) in three innings pitched.
Voth, who also spent time with the Seattle organization in '24, went all of last season without being signed to a team. He inked a minor league deal with the Chicago White Sox on Feb. 16, was immediately assigned to the Triple-A Charlotte Knights, and was released March 20.
The Blue Jays signed Voth to a minor league contract March 25, assigned him to the Bisons and selected his contract April 5.
Voth made one appearance for Toronto against the White Sox on April 5. The 33-year-old righty fanned one, walked one and allowed one earned run on three hits in 2.2 innings pitched.
Seattle Mariners reliever Austin Voth throws during a game against the San Diego Padres on Sept. 10, 2024, at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. | Stephen Brashear/Imagn Images.As mentioned in a post on "X" by the Athletic's Toronto beat reporter, Mitch Bannon, both players could still opt to return to Blue Jays on minor league deals. The organization has practiced that approach in the past of DFA'ing veterans without minor league options and re-signing them to minor league deals.
Both Fleming and Voth, despite being considered low-leverage arms, have value to Toronto as long-inning relievers. With the mountain of injuries to the starting rotation, it wouldn't be a shock to see either hurler take the mound again for the Blue Jays this season.
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