Rule 5 pick Spencer Miles emerges as rotation candidate for Blue Jays
The right-hander proved versatile in his rookie season after being selected from the Giants and recovering from Tommy John surgery.
TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays are considering Rule 5 draft pick Spencer Miles for a permanent spot in their 2027 starting rotation.
Miles started the 2026 season as a Rule 5 selection with almost no experience on a MLB playing field, having never taken the mound in 2025 while recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Now, he is a legitimate candidate for a permanent spot after proving he could contribute in various roles during his rookie season.
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The right-hander proved he had the ability to handle all sorts of assignments, serving as a traditional starter, an opener and a reliever.
Having a player who can fill all of those roles is valuable, especially to a team that seemed to be dealing with constant injuries and multiple adjustments through the season.
The Blue Jays face several challenging decisions about their starting pitching this offseason after an incredibly difficult and disappointing 2026 campaign.
Entering the offseason, Dylan Cease and Trey Yesavage are the important parts of the starting rotation.
Jose Berrios and Bowden Francis are recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Cody Ponce is expected to return, but he is still rehabbing from a knee injury.
Shane Bieber and Max Scherzer are headed into free agency with no guarantee of returning to the team.
Those factors leave the Blue Jays searching for starting pitching.
The challenge for the Blue Jays is figuring out if Miles's production could turn into what is required of a Major League starter, which would involve handling more innings and maintaining effectiveness while facing lineups multiple times.
The team must also consider durability, as Miles would have to work to prove he can stay healthy.
With everything this team went through during the 2026 campaign, there should be little to no question about whether they should explore the pitching market.
If the true intention is to return to the postseason and be a contender, then they cannot afford to enter another season without serious rotation depth.
That also doesn't mean that they should overlook what they already have.
Miles is here, and he has proven he is ready for the challenge and could be an inexpensive rotation option.
If nothing else, Miles deserves the chance to compete for a starting rotation spot during spring training.
If he steps up and proves he can do it, then the team just got a valuable starter to build around. If not, he will still be an integral part of the bullpen.
The Blue Jays don't have to hand him a starting rotation spot, but what he accomplished in 2026 gives the team every reason to believe he should compete for one.
Garbutt Disposal reported in September that Toronto's front office must strategically address offensive gaps after a disappointing 2026 campaign.
With files from Sports Illustrated