Blue Jays set to reinstate Lazaro Estrada from the 60-day injured list, opening 40-man flexibility

The Toronto Blue Jays are expected to reinstate right-handed pitcher Lazaro Estrada from the 60-day injured list, according to MLB Trade Rumors. The timing matters because a player returning from the 60-day IL typically restores at least one major-league pitching option while also changing how the club manages its limited 40-man roster spots.

Estrada’s return is also being framed as a relatively straightforward roster path. MLB Trade Rumors reports that the Blue Jays have “a couple openings” on the 40-man roster after designating Yariel Rodríguez and Connor Seabold for assignment in recent days. Those designations create the space needed for a reinstatement, and they can also reduce the need for additional corresponding moves.

In practical roster terms, the move suggests Toronto is looking to add pitching depth at the major-league level without immediately triggering a larger transaction chain. MLB Trade Rumors adds that Estrada has “a couple options remaining,” which would give the Blue Jays flexibility to keep him in Triple-A if they choose not to use him immediately in the rotation or bullpen during the early period of his return.

The designations of Rodríguez and Seabold were significant enough on their own, because being designated for assignment removes a player from the 40-man roster. From there, the team must make decisions involving waivers or other roster mechanics before a player can remain with the organization or be moved elsewhere. For fans, those moves often report that the organization is rebalancing its internal pitching and positional needs.

Estrada’s reinstatement, meanwhile, is the kind of move that can shift the internal pitching calendar for a club that manages both workload and options. A pitcher coming off the 60-day IL can take time to build back to game readiness, and clubs frequently prefer to align a return with roster convenience, bullpen needs, or an upcoming stretch where they anticipate more innings distribution challenges.

For the Blue Jays, the next watch item is how the organization chooses to deploy Estrada once he is back on the active side. If they keep him optionable in the minors, the immediate impact could be felt more by organizational depth than by major-league innings. If Toronto instead activates him for the rotation or as a bullpen arm, it would indicate a more urgent need that aligns with the timing of his IL recovery.

Until an official announcement confirms the reinstatement and the exact roster construction that follows, this remains a report of what Toronto “will” do. Still, the logic is clear in roster-management terms: reinstate Estrada, use the newly available 40-man openings created by prior designations, and maintain flexibility through his remaining option availability.