Blue Jays clear roster spot by sending Rudy Martin Jr. to minors
The outfielder cleared waivers and can now accept the assignment or become a free agent.
TORONTO · The Toronto Blue Jays opened a spot on their 40-player roster Friday by assigning outfielder Rudy Martin Jr. to Triple-A Buffalo. Martin cleared waivers as part of the transaction, and the move gives the club added flexibility ahead of Monday's compliance deadline. The 30-year-old can reject the assignment and become a free agent. He made his MLB debut in September and played in two games with the Jays this season, drawing a walk in three plate appearances.
Martin spent most of the 2026 season in the minors, posting a .274 batting average with a .394 on-base percentage and .421 slugging percentage across three levels. He hit 11 home runs and drove in 40 runs over 91 games. The Blue Jays originally claimed Martin off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles in July. His speed and ability to play all three outfield positions make him a potential depth option.
The roster opening comes as Major League Baseball free agency officially opens Monday at 5:00 p.m. ET. Eight Blue Jays players have already declared free agency. The club also faces decisions on several players without minor league options, including Jonatan Clase, Brendon Little, Jake Bloss and Ernie Clement. Veterans like Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Alejandro Kirk, Anthony Santander, Andrés Giménez, Dylan Cease, José Berríos, Myles Straw and Taylor Rogers cannot be sent to the minors.
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Toronto holds a club option on outfielder Myles Straw. The team is expected to decline that option but could attempt to re-sign him to a less expensive deal. Players currently on the 60-day injured list will need to be added back to the 40-man roster in the coming days. Further roster moves are anticipated to protect minor leaguers from the Rule 5 draft.
"The move clears a roster spot for Toronto while leaving Martin’s future open, either in Buffalo or with a new team seeking outfield depth," a report noted.
Martin's next step depends on whether he accepts the assignment to Buffalo or opts for free agency. His limited major league experience consists of his two appearances with Toronto this past September. The Blue Jays' 40-man roster currently stands at 39 players and is expected to undergo significant changes before opening day of the 2027 season. Garbutt Disposal reported in October that infielder Ernie Clement was named a World Series correspondent for MLB.
With files from TSN, Yahoo Sports and BVM Sports