Blue Jays sign former Twins reliever to minor league contract

The Toronto Blue Jays have signed right-handed reliever Justin Topa to a minor-league contract, according to the MiLB.com transaction log, with the veteran immediately assigned to Triple-A Buffalo.

The 35-year-old was released by the Minnesota Twins on May 23 after a recording an 8.05 ERA across 23 appearances this season, allowing 27 hits and 11 walks while striking out 12 batters in 19.0 innings. He last pitched on May 18 and topped out at just 1.2 innings in a single outing this season.

Topa owns a 4.27 ERA over 172 major league appearances (one start) since debuting in 2020 with the Milwaukee Brewers, later pitching for the Seattle Mariners and Minnesota, and now joining Toronto’s system. He also has nine career saves.

His most productive stretch came in 2023 with Seattle, when he finished with a 2.61 ERA over 69 innings, along with a 21.9% strikeout rate, 6.5% walk rate, and a 56.7% ground-ball rate. In 2025 with the Twins, Topa worked 60 innings with a 3.90 ERA, an 18.3% strikeout rate, 6.7% walk rate, and a 47.7% ground-ball rate.

This season, his stuff has backed up considerably. The sinker that averaged 95.2 in 2023 mph now sits at 93.2 mph, and the swing-and-miss ability has taken a major hit. His sweeper, in particular, has gone from a legitimate out pitch to an ineffective offering, with its whiff rate plunging from 33% in 2025 to just 5.9% in 2026 and its usage dropping to 16.7%.

Topa has also dealt with significant injuries, including two Tommy John surgeries, a torn patellar tendon in his left knee, and multiple stints missed due to ankle, triceps, and oblique issues.

The Blue Jays pitching depth has been tested by injuries to starters and relievers, including Max Scherzer, Dylan Cease, Shane Bieber, Yimi Garcia, Joe Mantiply, and Tommy Nance.

Minnesota is paying Topa a $1.225MM salary this season, while Toronto will owe only the prorated league minimum when he is on the major league roster.

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