Still, Toronto will need to boost its bullpen strength to keep up with the competition in the AL East and punch its ticket to the playoffs again in 2026.
While there are top-tier closers available on this winter’s free agent market, there are underrated relievers who can add even more depth to a team’s bullpen.
One of those potential depth relievers is left-hander Hoby Milner, who pitched for the Texas Rangers before the 2025 season. Milner’s numbers or name may not immediately jump off the page, but he has the potential to become a middle or lineup relief pitcher for a contender’s bullpen.
Season statistics 2025
Milner recorded a strikeout rate of 19.8%, showing that his value comes from generating weak contact and putting balls into play for the defense to take care of.
Does Milner suit the Blue Jays?
If the Blue Jays are focused on adding depth and diversity to their bullpen, bringing Milner would give the team a different look. However, because the Dallas native is not a swing-and-a-miss pitcher, his addition could be a risky move for a team building a playoff-ready bullpen.
Milner brings experience and has shown he can adapt to become a better reliever, but Toronto’s front office would have to decide what their bullpen priority is to see if signing Milner would make sense for next season. If the front office doesn’t mind adding a groundball specialist to add more dimension to the relief pitching core, the 34-year-old would become a wild card who can be deployed in setup situations.
However, if the Blue Jays value building a bullpen that generates more strikeouts than someone like Milner, it may not make the most sense given his specialty. That said, having a left-handed reliever is always an asset to any team, and Milner would alleviate some of the burden on the existing left-handed relievers on the Blue Jays should the team decide to tender the Texan a contract.
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