Headlines

  • Jonathan Hernandez Undergoes Tommy John Surgery
  • Diamondbacks Sign Josh Reddick To Minor League Deal
  • Dexter Fowler To Undergo Season-Ending Knee Surgery
  • Tommy John Surgery Recommended For James Paxton
  • MLB Inspecting “Suspicious Baseballs” From Trevor Bauer’s Latest Start
  • Trevor Rosenthal Undergoes Thoracic Outlet Surgery
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Indians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2020-21 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions
    • 2020-21 MLB Free Agent Tracker
    • 2020-21 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent List
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2021
    • 2021 MLB Arbitration Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • Last 100 Comments
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Blue Jays Release Francisco Liriano

By Connor Byrne | March 29, 2021 at 7:04pm CDT

The Blue Jays have granted left-hander Francisco Liriano his release, tweets Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi, who notes that the veteran had an opt-out over the weekend.

This news means Liriano is unlikely to have a second tenure in the majors as a member of the Blue Jays, with whom he pitched from 2016-17. Liriano worked almost exclusively as a start then, but he spent this spring vying for a role in Toronto’s bullpen. The 37-year-old was highly effective, as he tossed 7 1/3 scoreless innings of four-hit, three-walk ball with six strikeouts, but that wasn’t enough to earn a role in the Blue Jays’ season-opening relief corps. It appears they’ll go into the season with Tim Mayza and Ryan Borucki as the primary lefties in their bullpen.

Liriano, who signed a minors deal in the offseason, will head back to the free-agent market with a solid resume. While Liriano hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2019, he does own a lifetime 4.15 ERA in a combined 1,813 2/3 innings with several teams.

Share 0 Retweet 2 Send via email0

Francisco Liriano Toronto Blue Jays Transactions

Royals Select Hanser Alberto
Main
Angels Acquire James Hoyt From Marlins
27 comments
newest oldest

Comments

  1. creacher

    2 weeks ago

    Quick change was needed. I was like wtf??? Ahahahaha

    Like
    Reply
  2. wastingtroutsprime

    2 weeks ago

    Lindor hahaha

    Like
    Reply
  3. notpablo

    2 weeks ago

    Francisco Lindor?!

    Like
    Reply
  4. freerusneycastillo

    2 weeks ago

    bro.

    Like
    Reply
  5. bauerbites

    2 weeks ago

    I’m pretty sure I saw Lindor

    Like
    Reply
  6. dwightgoodenspinkynail

    2 weeks ago

    It’s okay, I have Lindor on my mind a lot these days too.

    Like
    Reply
  7. kimball0401

    2 weeks ago

    Thought I was the only one who saw that

    Like
    Reply
  8. walls17

    2 weeks ago

    This said Lindor at first lol. I thought MLBTR was giving us a little early April Fools joke or something.

    Like
    Reply
  9. dman07

    2 weeks ago

    Wow! Beyond classic

    Like
    Reply
  10. coquigo

    2 weeks ago

    The Lindor notification caused a lot of confusion for a short second

    Like
    Reply
  11. el jefe

    2 weeks ago

    Ha! I thought I was just “seeing things” due to my Mets homer-ism.

    Like
    Reply
  12. cheeryvladdy

    2 weeks ago

    This is a weird one. Thought he had pitched well enough to make the team. Guess they wanted to give Mayza a shot.

    Like
    Reply
    • jdgoat

      2 weeks ago

      Bergen also had a pretty good spring so he’s the depth they have on hand. Can’t blame Liriano for wanting to try and catch on somewhere else and not sticking around in the minors.

      Like
      Reply
    • smuzqwpdmx

      2 weeks ago

      Maybe it’s about keeping a 40 man roster spot for somebody else. Mayza was already on the 40 man, Liriano wasn’t.

      Like
      Reply
  13. bluejays92

    2 weeks ago

    I hope that Liriano finds a spot somewhere else. Even though his days are numbered in the Majors, he could still be a decent relief option for some team that needs a lefty. He’s at least worth a look.

    1 Like
    Reply
    • ctyank7

      2 weeks ago

      Liriano would be a good fit with either the Yankees or Phillies, both of whom are short of bullpen lefties.

      1 Like
      Reply
  14. DarkSide830

    2 weeks ago

    hmm, back to Philly? hopefully that bridge hasnt burned.

    Like
    Reply
  15. 609Collectibles

    2 weeks ago

    I dont know why teams arent giving Liriano a shot. He’s a savvy, established big leaguer who’s had a respectable career. He could still be effective out of someone’s pen in my opinion.

    1 Like
    Reply
  16. deron867

    2 weeks ago

    Here come the O’s. If they don’t at least sniff at this I’d be very surprised.

    1 Like
    Reply
  17. WereAllJustGuestsHere

    2 weeks ago

    Liriano couldn’t have done any more to convince the Jays he should make the team. He pitched well. But the Jays would rather have Payamps than drop him. He’d be the odd man out on the 40-man. Presumably Mayza replaces Yates on the 40 (Yates to IL). Bergen now has a chance to make the team.

    Like
    Reply
  18. davemlaw

    2 weeks ago

    Last man standing from the infamous AJ Pierzynski trade that haunted Giant fans for years.
    Giants gave up a generational closer in Joe Nathan, ROY candidate in Liriano and a guy name Boof Bonser for AJ (I don’t like the Giants) P. It took a World Series and 2 Cy Youngs from Lincecum to make me forget about that trade.

    3 Like
    Reply
  19. jimmertee

    2 weeks ago

    Perhaps they were doing Liriano a favor by allowing the showcase. Liriano was likely never going to make they team. Besides, where Liriano is in his career, he is know as a “heart attack reliever”. – He can get the job done but he gives the manager a heart attack.

    Besides pitching well in spring training is not enough these days. As Pat Gillick said, “you don’t evaluate a player based on spring training or September play.”

    2 Like
    Reply
  20. bighiggy

    2 weeks ago

    Woukdnt mund seeing liriano in the cards pen. Webb is okay but I think liriano could be better. Maybe send webb and sosa somewhere for a low level prospect.

    Like
    Reply
  21. BrooksUnitas

    2 weeks ago

    No way. O’s sending scouts to see if Jamie Moyer has any interest in working out of the bullpen.

    Like
    Reply
  22. Gordie09

    2 weeks ago

    What is the status of Travis Bergen / Tommy Milone? i liked Travis this spring, more depth in LH relievers.

    Like
    Reply
  23. Cgoss

    2 weeks ago

    The next pitcher the Orioles sign.

    Like
    Reply
  24. Waittillthisyear

    2 weeks ago

    Come back to the Twins, Francisco. Even if it’s a minor league deal for now, I have a feeling you’ll be brought up soon.

    Like
    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.
Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    Jonathan Hernandez Undergoes Tommy John Surgery

    Diamondbacks Sign Josh Reddick To Minor League Deal

    Dexter Fowler To Undergo Season-Ending Knee Surgery

    Tommy John Surgery Recommended For James Paxton

    MLB Inspecting “Suspicious Baseballs” From Trevor Bauer’s Latest Start

    Trevor Rosenthal Undergoes Thoracic Outlet Surgery

    Blue Jays Sign GM Ross Atkins To Five-Year Extension

    Yankees Acquire Rougned Odor

    Brewers Trade Orlando Arcia To Braves

    MLB Moves All-Star Game Out Of Atlanta; Colorado To Host

    Recent

    AL Injury Notes: Anderson, Rays, Cabrera, Schmidt

    Cubs Place 3 Relievers On COVID IL, Select Pedro Strop

    Angels Place Anthony Rendon On 10-Day IL

    Jonathan Hernandez Undergoes Tommy John Surgery

    Rockies To Sign Chris Rusin

    Nationals Reinstate Three From COVID List; Designate Jonathan Lucroy For Assignment

    Royals Place Jesse Hahn On 10-Day Injured List

    Padres’ Adrian Morejon Placed On IL Due To Left Forearm Strain

    Diamondbacks Sign Josh Reddick To Minor League Deal

    Minor MLB Transactions: 4/12/21

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Kris Bryant Rumors
    • Francisco Lindor Rumors
    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Go Ad-Free
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • 2020-21 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions
    • 2020-21 MLB Free Agent Tracker
    • 2020-21 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent List
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2021
    • 2021 MLB Arbitration Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Indians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    ad: 160x600_MLB

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • Feeds by Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    hide arrowsFOX Sports Engage Network scroll to top
    Close

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version