The Blue Jays made a surprising move Monday, cutting Austin Voth just one day after his call-up from Triple-A. The Blue Jays signed Voth, a 33-year-old veteran right-hander, to a minor-league contract after spring training, when he was released by the Chicago White Sox.
The Blue Jays pitching staff has already been hit by an injury crisis, with four starters now on the 15-day injured list less than two weeks into the 2026 season. Voth was signed to provide pitching depth, and the Blue Jays called him up from Triple-A Buffalo on Sunday to do just that. Manager John Schneider immediately inserted Voth into the Blue Jays’ game against the White Sox.
After throwing 2 2/3 innings in what turned out to be a 3-0 loss by the Blue Jays, Voth got the dreaded notice from the team saying that he had been designated for assignment, immediately removing the 2013 Washington Nationals fifth-round draft pick from Toronto’s 40-man roster the next day after adding him.
The next step for Voth could be one of five possibilities. As a DFA’d player, another team could claim him off the waiver wire, meaning that he would be automatically added to that team’s 40-man roster. Or the Blue Jays could work out a trade for Voth. If he clears waivers, Voth could choose to become a free agent, or accept an assignment back to the Blue Jays’ minor league system. Finally, the Blue Jays could simply release Voth unconditionally, which would also make him a free agent.
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Voth’s lone Blue Jays outing was not overly impressive. Coming on in the third inning with no outs and a runner on first, replacing starter Eric Lauer, Voth gave up a run on three hits and a walk while striking out just one batter.
The Blue Jays were the fourth team for which Voth donned a major league uniform. After parts of five seasons in Washington, the Nationals placed Voth on waivers in 2022 where he was claimed by the Baltimore Orioles on June 7. Becoming a free agent after the 2023 campaign, Voth signed with the Seattle Mariners.
But after the Mariners let him go after 2024, Voth went to Japan where he pitched the 2025 season for the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Pro Baseball’s Pacific League.
He signed a minor league contract with the White Sox prior to this season, but never got into a game before they released him as well.
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