Blue Jays outright Lazaro Estrada to Triple-A Buffalo, clearing a 40-man spot for Daz Cameron

The Toronto Blue Jays have outrighted right-hander Lazaro Estrada to Triple-A Buffalo, the team announced. The move follows a designation for assignment last weekend, when Toronto needed to create room on its 40-man roster to bring up outfielder Daz Cameron.

In practical terms, an outright changes the path for a player with a roster option and waiver history. After being designated for assignment, Estrada cleared the waiver process and was placed outright to Buffalo, which typically means he will not immediately rejoin the major league bullpen unless the Blue Jays make another transaction.

Estrada, 27, has carved out an up-and-down role in middle relief over the past couple of seasons, moving between Toronto’s bullpen and the organization’s lower levels as needed. MLB Trade Rumors reported that his performance has been difficult, describing a near-7.00 earned run average recently, a figure that helps explain why Toronto was willing to use a roster spot elsewhere.

The roster context matters as the season enters its stretch run. According to the reporting, the Blue Jays designated Estrada to make space on the 40-man roster for Cameron. Cameron’s promotion shifts the organization’s immediate need away from depth pitching and toward additional flexibility in the outfield and as an option for late-game situations.

For Toronto, the Cameron move indicates a continued push for depth and matchup capability during the final weeks, when bench and platoon pieces can have outsized impact in close games. For Estrada, the outright keeps his season alive through Triple-A Buffalo, where he can continue to work toward the kind of command and consistency that would justify another major league call.

The decision also reflects the broader roster math that governs MLB transactions in August. When teams add a player who requires a 40-man spot, the corresponding subtraction often comes from a reliever or fringe bullpen option, particularly one whose results have been volatile. Estrada’s outright is consistent with that pattern.

What to watch next is whether the Blue Jays create another roster opening that allows Estrada to return to Toronto before the end of the regular season, or whether he finishes the year in Buffalo. If Toronto’s bullpen needs additional innings later in September, Estrada could again become a candidate, but he will likely need to show improved run prevention in Triple-A first.