Toronto Blue Jays’ Key Veteran Sees Harsh Setback In Return Attempt

The Blue Jays have relied on a rotating cast of relievers while waiting for veteran right-hander Yimi Garcia to complete his recovery from elbow surgery last year. The team signed Garcia to a two-year, $15 million contract before the 2025 season with the expectation that he would return and remain a key part of their bullpen.

Instead, he logged just 21 innings last year and now appears in danger of missing this season altogether as his rehab hits a snag.

“Veteran reliever Yimi Garcia might not be on the verge of returning to the Jays bullpen after all,” Gregor Chisholm wrote for the Toronto Star last week. “Garcia, who has yet to appear in a big-league game in 2026 because of an elbow injury, pitched on one day’s rest for the first time this season with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons on Thursday and his fastball velocity dipped from around 95 m.p.h. to 93. (Manager John) Schneider also told reporters that Garcia reported soreness following the outing.”

The development is particularly concerning because the Blue Jays had recently appeared optimistic about García’s progress. Instead, the veteran reliever is once again facing questions about how his arm is responding to an increased workload.

“The 35-year-old right-hander, who made 73 appearances in 2023 but has battled injuries since then, is tentatively scheduled to pitch for Buffalo again this weekend before the Jays re-evaluate his progress,” Chisholm added.

That next appearance could prove critical in determining whether Garcia can still realistically contribute in Toronto’s big-league bullpen later this season.

Toronto Blue Jays Facing Uncertain Timeline With $15 Million Veteran

The latest setback continues a frustrating recovery process that has stretched throughout the year.

“The right-hander did show improved velocity during his most recent appearance for Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday, but as yet he hasn't been able to bounce back quickly after an outing as he completes his recovery from surgery late last season to remove scar tissue from his elbow,” CBS Sports added. “Over his last four rehab appearances between Single-A Dunedin and Buffalo, Garcia has a 4.91 ERA and 1.91 WHIP over 3.2 innings with a 4:3 K.”

Toronto still has time to evaluate Garcia before making any long-term decisions. But with each setback, the possibility grows that the veteran reliever may not be able to make a meaningful impact in 2026.

For a bullpen that expected Garcia to occupy an important late-inning role, that would represent another significant challenge as the Blue Jays push toward the postseason.