Breaking MLB Trade: Blue Jays & Tigers Swing a Deal

The Toronto Blue Jays are making deals of all sizes during this notable offseason. Big signings, moderate signings, and now depth trades. The World Series runners-up have added another depth arm to their bullpen, swinging a trade with the Detroit Tigers for right-hander Chase Lee.

Blue Jays acquiring RHP Chase Lee from Tigers for a minor leaguer, sources tell me and @WillSammon
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 12, 2025

In return, the Jays send minor league left-handed reliever Johan Simon to Detroit in exchange.

Lee is a 26-year-old sidearming right-hander coming off his rookie season. He posted a 4.10 ERA and 1.10 WHIP with the Tigers in 37 1/3 innings. He posted a 36:9 strikeout-to-walk ratio and finished seven games.

His unique delivery makes him effective against both right-handed and left-handed batters.

Chase Lee didn’t have one single offer coming out of high school. He was playing CLUB baseball for Alabama & was so nasty that @AlabamaBSB gave him a shot.

Dominated the SEC as their closer. Drafted 6th round by the Rangers. Traded to the Tigers. Has been recently added to… pic.twitter.com/h2zhGLfGi2
— Prospect Dugout (@prospectdugout) February 25, 2025

Before turning pro, he was a lockdown closer in the SEC in college baseball for Alabama.

With the Tigers in 2025, he made his major league debut in April, and allowed just two runs in his first 12 appearances, for a 1.15 ERA. The league caught up to him in July, however, and the Tigers optioned him to their Triple-A affiliate, the Toledo Mud Hens, on August 1. His numbers at Triple-A Toledo were nothing to write home about, as he posted a 6.74 ERA in 30 innings.

Simon, 24, compiled a 3.42 ERA across three levels for the Jays this past year, from A-Ball through Double-A. He struck out 10 batters per nine.