7-Year Veteran Triggers Clause to Leave Blue Jays to Become Free Agent

The Toronto Blue Jays have lost a player to free agency, as seven-year MLB veteran right-handed reliever Jorge Alcala has triggered an "assignment clause" in his contract, also known as an upward-mobility clause, in order to re-enter free agency after he didn't crack the team's 40-man roster.

Source: RHP Jorge Alcala has an assignment clause in his minor league deal, and has triggered it.

Alcala did not make the Blue Jays 40- man roster and now will be made available to 29 other teams to put him on their 40-man roster. pic.twitter.com/RHoRD8gJBZ
— Ari Alexander (@AriA1exander) March 27, 2026

The Blue Jays had signed the power-pitcher to a minor league contract with a spring training invite back in December. But he had the option of declining an assignment to the minors. He'll now search out another gig with one of the other 29 major league teams.

It's not overly surprising that he didn't break camp with the Jays, after posting an 8.59 ERA in 7.1 Grapefruit League innings this spring. He allowed 12 hits and eight runs, seven of them earned, while walking three and striking out six. The Jays assigned him to minor league camp four days ago.

Last season, Alcala suited up for three different teams in the big leagues, posting a 6.22 ERA in 55 innings combined, split between the Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox, and St. Louis Cardinals.

In parts of seven seasons, the first six of them with the Twins, he compiled a 4.29 ERA in 218 1/3 innings while striking out 9.3 batters per nine innings.