Blue Jays add Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Dillon Tate to 28-man roster

Starting with the pitchers, Tate was claimed off waivers by the Blue Jays in 2024 and later re-signed with the team. In his brief big league appearance in 2025, the 31-year-old had a 5.06 ERA and 6.87 FIP in 5.1 innings pitched, with a 23.3 K% and 20 BB%.

However, Tate has found success with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons after being designated for assignment. In 35 innings this season, the righty has a 2.06 ERA and 3.74 FIP, with a 22.7 K% and 12.7 BB%.

Realistically, it was one of just a handful of moves the Jays could make for the bullpen. Braydon Fisher can’t be recalled until the 5th, Mason Fluharty can’t be recalled until the 8th, Paxton Schultz can’t be recalled until the 9th, and Justin Bruihl can’t be recalled until the 15th. 

As for the other pitchers on the 40-man roster, Robinson Piña and Jake Bloss are on the Injured List, and Adam Macko pitched in Sunday’s game. That leaves Lázaro Estrada as the lone 40-man option they could’ve called up.

That said, losing Sandlin (and Yimi García) has hurt the Jays’ bullpen. When healthy, Sandlin has a 2.20 ERA and 4.59 FIP in 16.1 innings pitched, with a 23.2 K% and 11.6 BB%. He was placed on the Injured List on July 8th, so he can’t be activated until September 6th. The most recent update on the righty is that he received an injection on August 29th, so he could still be in play at some point this season.

As for the position player the Jays added, Kiner-Falefa was claimed off waivers on Sunday, with the Blue Jays already making the corresponding roster move by sending García to the 60-day Injured List. This season with the Pirates, the 30-year-old is slashing .264/.300/.332 with a home run in 428 plate appearances for a 75 wRC+.

This isn’t Kiner-Falefa’s first go-around with the Jays, though. The utility infielder signed with the Canadian team before the 2024 season, and he slashed .292/.338/.420 with seven home runs in 281 plate appearances for a 117 wRC+ and 2 fWAR. Before the 2024 trade deadline, the Jays sent him to the Pirates for Charles McAdoo, one of the organization’s better power-hitting prospects.

Kiner-Falefa gives the Blue Jays a strong defensive option in the outfield. Moreover, adding Kiner-Falefa can allow Ernie Clement to rest up while he deals with his finger injury.