Justin Topa Released: Blue Jays Cut Ties With Veteran Relievers

The Toronto Blue Jays are reshaping their upper-minor league depth, electing to part ways with a pair of veteran pitchers as the midsummer rush intensifies. Right-hander Justin Topa and left-hander Josh Fleming have both been released from their minor league contracts with the organization, according to the team's transaction logs. Both pitchers had been stationed with Toronto's Triple-A affiliate, the Buffalo Bisons, attempting to work their way back into a major league bullpen.

Context & Background

For Topa, the release marks another roadblock in what has become a highly turbulent year. The 35-year-old right-handed reliever was a key piece in the high-profile 2023-24 offseason trade that sent Jorge Polanco from the Minnesota Twins to the Seattle Mariners. Minnesota relied heavily on Topa to anchor their relief corps after embarking on a significant bullpen fire sale last summer that saw them move core arms like Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, and Louis Varland.

Topa entered this year carrying high expectations after a productive 2025 campaign with the Twins. He logged 60 innings out of the Minnesota bullpen last season, cruising to a solid 3.90 ERA and 3.04 FIP. While his 18.3% strikeout rate was below the major league average, he mitigated damage by maintaining an elite 6.7% walk rate and keeping the ball on the ground. However, that stability completely eroded at the start of the current season.

Before being designated for assignment by Minnesota in mid-May, Topa struggled through 19 innings, ballooning to a dismal 8.05 ERA and 6.46 FIP. The underlying metrics highlighted immediate red flags: his average sinker velocity sharply declined, dropping from 95.2 mph during his peak 2023 season with Seattle down to 93.2 mph this year. His command faltered as well, with his walk rate nearly doubling to 12.0% while allowing a painful .338 opponent batting average.

Here's What Happened

Seeking to capture some upside, the Blue Jays signed Topa to a minor league contract on May 30th and sent him to Buffalo to find his rhythm. The superficial results in the International League appeared stable on the surface, as Topa managed a 3.38 ERA over eight appearances. Yet, the underlying peripheral data told a far more concerning story for Toronto scouts.

In those eight innings of work with the Bisons, Topa posted a worrying 1.75 WHIP and a dangerous 5.30 FIP. He struck out only four batters while walking three, translating to a microscopic 2.6% strikeout-minus-walk rate. Opposing hitters continued to tee off on his reduced velocity, continuing the same .338 opponent batting average that plagued him in the majors. Recognizing that Topa was not missing bats or showing signs of a velocity rebound, Toronto made the decision to clear the roster spot.

Concurrently, the Blue Jays also cut ties with lefty Josh Fleming. Fleming actually made one brief cameo for the big-league club on April 6th, eating three innings of relief against the star-studded Los Angeles Dodgers. However, that superstar lineup tagged the 30-year-old southpaw for four runs on six hits and two walks, leading to his designation for assignment the very next day. While Fleming returned to Buffalo on a fresh minor league pact and pitched well—logging a 3.08 ERA and a 50.5% ground ball rate over 64 1/3 innings—he lacked an obvious avenue back to Toronto's active roster.

The Response

With both players cleared from the organization, they are now officially free agents and are free to sign with any club looking for midseason pitching depth. For Topa, a reunion with his former club in Minnesota appears highly unlikely. The Twins' bullpen enters July ranked a miserable 29th in major league ERA, yet the front office has actively looked elsewhere for solutions.

Minnesota recently acquired right-hander Woo-Suk Go from the Detroit Tigers for cash considerations to patch their relief holes. Go is slated to join the Twins' roster immediately after putting up a dominant 1.96 ERA and a 34.0% strikeout rate over 41 1/3 innings between Double-A and Triple-A. Given that Topa was already cut by Minnesota earlier this summer and lacks a spot on the 40-man roster, the Twins are moving forward with younger, high-strikeout options.

The Bigger Picture

The dual release highlights a growing trend across professional baseball as the summer progresses: teams are ruthlessly auditing their veteran depth. Quad-A relievers who rely on weak contact rather than raw velocity are facing a precarious market. Topa's extensive medical history—which includes two early-career Tommy John surgeries and a severe bout of left patellar tendinitis that limited him to just three games in 2024—makes an aging profile even harder for analytic front offices to buy into.

For fans in Toronto, this transaction indicates that the front office is looking to pivot toward internal youth or clear space for incoming trade acquisitions. Keeping low-strikeout veterans blockading innings at Triple-A Buffalo offers little long-term value when the major league club needs dynamic, high-leverage arms.

The Road Ahead

Both Topa and Fleming will hit the open market looking for organizations plagued by injuries or thin bullpens. Topa still boasts 168.2 innings of major league experience under his belt, carrying a career 4.27 ERA and 1.6 fWAR across his stints with the Brewers, Mariners, and Twins. Because experienced right-handed relief depth is perpetually at a premium, he will likely land a minor league contract elsewhere before the month ends, though his path back to a major league mound remains steep.

FAQ

Why did the Toronto Blue Jays release Justin Topa?

The Blue Jays released Topa due to poor underlying metrics during his stint with Triple-A Buffalo. Despite a modest 3.38 ERA over eight innings, he posted a concerning 5.30 FIP, a high 1.75 WHIP, and an elevated .338 opponent batting average, indicating his pitching profile was not missing enough bats.

What happened to Josh Fleming?

Josh Fleming was released alongside Topa from his minor league deal. Fleming made one appearance for Toronto in April, allowing four runs to the Dodgers, before spending two months with Buffalo where he posted a solid 3.08 ERA and a 50.5% ground ball rate across 13 appearances.

Could Justin Topa return to the Minnesota Twins?

A reunion with the Twins is highly unlikely. Although Minnesota's bullpen has struggled mightily this season, the front office already designated Topa for assignment in May and has recently chosen to acquire right-hander Woo-Suk Go from Detroit to address their relief issues instead.

What are Justin Topa's career statistics in the Major Leagues?

Over his major league career, Topa has pitched 168.2 innings across 172 appearances with the Brewers, Mariners, and Twins. He carries a career 4.27 ERA, a 3.58 FIP, and has accumulated 1.6 fWAR.