Overview
- The Blue Jays agreed Wednesday to a minor‑league contract with right‑hander Justin Topa, and he was assigned to Triple‑A Buffalo for the time being.
- Topa was designated for assignment by the Minnesota Twins and released in late May before the Blue Jays completed the deal.
- This season Topa has struggled in limited work, allowing 17 earned runs in 19 innings with 27 hits, 11 walks and four home runs, and his strikeout and velocity numbers have fallen from earlier years.
- His long injury history includes two Tommy John surgeries and a torn patellar tendon, which makes durability the key question for any future major‑league promotion.
- Because Minnesota is paying the bulk of his salary, the signing is a low‑cost depth move for Toronto that could provide long relief if Topa regains form, but any call‑up would hinge on his health and a return of command and velocity.