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Blue Jays free agent target: Steven Okert
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Blue Jays free agent target: Steven Okert

Originally posted on Bluejaysnation  |  By Aidan Sinclair  |  Last updated Nov 10, 2026 8:00 AM ET
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Chances are if the Toronto Blue Jays had a lead late in games in 2026, the bullpen would shut the opposing lineup down. 

Unfortunately, that wasn’t often the case, since the offence rarely put Toronto’s exceptional pitching staff in a position to capitalize on late leads. Still, the Blue Jays put forth one of MLB’s best bullpens last year, ranking fourth overall with a 3.30 ERA. 

Louis Varland experienced a breakout season as a sub-1.30 ERA closer, Tyler Rogers consistently registered clean innings, and Spencer Miles was a revelation as a Rule 5 draft pick. The unsung hero all season was Mason Fluharty, who appeared in a league-leading 83 games as Toronto’s primary left-handed option, posting a 3.30 ERA across 62.2 innings. 

Over the past two seasons, Fluharty has established himself as the Blue Jays’ number one lefty option in the bullpen, given the value of his durability. Aside from him, the team has struggled to find a consistent secondary option from the left side. Brendon Little has struggled mightily with walk problems over the past two years, Joe Mantiply was DFA’d before the end of the regular season, and Ricky Tiedemann has yet to prove he can remain healthy over a full 162-game schedule. 

Brendan Cellucci found success in a small sample toward the end of 2026 once the Jays had already been eliminated from postseason contention, but he by no means has a guaranteed roster spot come spring training. Given all these variables, Toronto can explore options on the free-agent market to upgrade their bullpen depth on the left side, given how strong they already are with their righties. 

Steven Okert is one of the game’s most underrated arms, posting a 2.13 ERA over 67.2 innings with the Houston Astros a season ago. The 35-year-old southpaw developed into one of Houston’s most reliable arms over the past two seasons, posting a 2.58 ERA between 2025 and 2026. He has also performed very well under pressure, inducing a .133 AVG across 60 at-bats in high-leverage situations in 2026. 

Okert is not an overpowering pitcher, relying primarily on his slider to attack batters. He uses his slider 67% of the time, with great success, as batters hit just .168 against the pitch in 2026. He throws a four-seam fastball 28% of the time and a sinker just 5%, both of which are solid pitches but pale in comparison to the slider. Okert’s slider had a run value of 11 last year, while his two fastball variations combined for just a two-run value and a higher SLG%. 

The veteran southpaw’s profile is very similar to that of Fluharty, who relies on a cutter and sweeper mix and low velocity to induce weak contact. Both Okert and Fluharty average below 92 mph on their various fastball types and both posted a hard-hit rate below 30 per cent in 2026. Where Okert separates himself is his ability to command the strike zone. 

Last year, he walked just 14 batters, good for a 1.9 BB/9, while batters swung and missed at his pitches 23% of the time when they were in the zone, up nearly 8% since 2024. He may be incredibly reliant on a single pitch, but he’s made a career out of it with great results in a solid Astros bullpen. Okert keeps the ball in the yard (0.9 HR/9), doesn’t hand out free passes, and for the most part doesn’t get hit hard when his off-speed is on point. 

The Blue Jays have a clear need to address their offence this free-agent cycle, but could make an under-the-radar pickup that could fortify what is already the greatest strength of the team. It won’t hurt them financially either, given Okert is projected to receive a one to three year contract with an AAV between $5 million and $10 million. Pairing him with Fluharty could create one of the game’s most lethal left-handed duos out of a bullpen in the entire league next season.

This article first appeared on Bluejaysnation and was syndicated with permission.

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