The Toronto Blue Jays released veteran right-handed pitcher Chad Green yesterday after he cleared waivers, making him free to sign with any of the 30 <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/baseball/mlb/”>MLB teams. Green had been designated for assignment by the Blue Jays shortly before the trade deadline as a result of his ongoing struggles this season.
Performance Decline Marks a Difficult Season for Green
At 34 years old and entering his tenth Major League season, Chad Green has experienced a steep downturn in effectiveness during his 45 appearances with Toronto this year. He posted a troubling 5.56 ERA and a 6.70 Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) over 43 2/3 innings. While his walk rate of 6.8% remains consistent with his better career years, Green’s strikeout rate has sharply dropped. Once able to strike out 32.4% of hitters through 2023, his rate fell to 21.9% last season and has further declined to only 18.4% in 2024.
Additionally, Green has allowed 14 home runs this season, the highest total among all relievers in the league. Only two other relievers, Enyel De Los Santos and Tyler Alexander, have surrendered more home runs through the entire 2024 campaign, underscoring Green’s difficulty in limiting damage.
Underlying Metrics Provide Limited Yet Notable Hope
Although Green’s current performance profile appears troubling, some advanced statistics offer potential optimism. His SIERA (Skill-Interactive ERA) stands at 4.26, which is only slightly below average, and his strikeout-to-walk percentage (K-BB%) aligns with reliable relievers such as Caleb Ferguson and Taylor Rogers. These figures indicate that despite recent setbacks, Green’s fundamental pitching skills might still be serviceable.
This could lead a team to consider signing him to a minor league deal, betting on his ability to rediscover his form. Given his struggles this year, it would not be surprising if a club decided to invest in Green as a low-risk bullpen option hoping for a rebound.
Long History of Success Suggests Possible Return to Form
Prior to this challenging season, Chad Green was a highly effective late-inning reliever, especially during his tenure with the New York Yankees from 2017 to 2022. During that period, he posted a 2.96 ERA, struck out 33.4% of batters, and had a 3.01 FIP, serving alongside elite bullpen arms like Aroldis Chapman, Dellin Betances, and David Robertson. He notched ten saves and was consistently a strong setup man.
His fastball velocity remains competitive, averaging 95.2 mph this season. While advanced metrics such as Stuff+ highlight a decline in pitch quality over recent years, Green’s offerings still rate from average to slightly above average. This suggests there is still a foundation that could be built upon with proper adjustments under the guidance of a new team.
Financial and Roster Implications for the Blue Jays
The Blue Jays will remain responsible for the remainder of Green’s $10.5 million salary for the 2025 season. Should Green sign with another major league club this year, his new employer will pay a prorated league minimum, which will reduce the amount Toronto owes him accordingly. Meanwhile, the team has reinforced its bullpen with recent additions like Louis Varland and Seranthony Dominguez, indicating confidence that their late-inning pitching will remain strong despite Green’s departure.
Future Outlook for Chad Green in the MLB
Chad Green’s release from the Blue Jays presents a clear crossroads in his career. Although his recent performance has been far from ideal, his past track record and underlying metrics suggest there could still be opportunity for a revival, particularly through a minor league contract or long relief role. With multiple teams likely cautious about investing an immediate bullpen spot, it remains to be seen if Green can make the necessary adjustments to regain his former effectiveness.
For Toronto, moving on from Green appears a sound decision given their current roster depth, but monitoring his next steps will provide insight into whether this veteran arm has more to contribute at the major league level.