TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays added an optionable reliever with a different look to their bullpen mix Friday, acquiring right-hander Chase Lee from the Detroit Tigers for minor-league lefty Johan Simon.
Lee is a 27-year-old who debuted in the majors in 2025, striking out 36 batters in 37.1 innings with a 4.10 earned-run average. His fastball sits at 89 m.p.h., but he throws sidearm from a minus-4-degree arm angle, allowing his sinker/four-seam/sweeper mix to play up.
The Blue Jays have tended to like pitchers with varied release points, be it the extreme height of rookie sensation Trey Yesavage, Adam Cimber’s acquisition in 2021 or rookie lefty Mason Fluharty’s emergence this season.
With two options remaining, Lee also provides the Blue Jays with an arm that can move up and down from the minors as needed if he doesn’t break with the team, adding more relief depth.
Simon is a 24-year-old lefty who posted a 3.42 ERA over 71 innings in 31 games for low-A Dunedin, high-A Vancouver and double-A New Hampshire. He struck out 79 and walked 29.
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