TORONTO, CANADA – JULY 26: The Toronto Blue Jays logo is seen during warms up ahead of the game against the Texas Rangers at Rogers Centre on July 26, 2024 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
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The Toronto Blue Jays remain firmly in the American League playoff race entering the second half, but not every player who passed through the organization this season has found stability.
And now, a familiar face to the Blue Jays this year appears to be leaving affiliated baseball altogether after a third cut this season.
Toronto Blue Jays’ Recent Veteran Castoff Looks To Be Leaving MLB
After appearing in just two games for the Blue Jays this season, veteran pitcher Austin Voth has now been granted a release from his latest team, the Texas Rangers.
“It seems Voth requested the release after making just one start for Triple-A Round Rock,” Anthony Franco wrote for MLB Trade Rumors. “Speculatively, that could indicate he has received interest from a club in a foreign league. Voth spent the 2025 season pitching in Japan with the Chiba Lotte Marines, for whom he posted a 3.96 ERA across 125 innings.”
Speculation that Voth could be preparing for another move outside Major League Baseball after previously finding success in Nippon Professional Baseball is based mostly on the fact that Voth had made the request himself amid a poor season so far.
“Voth was just signed to a minor league deal a couple of weeks ago and apparently requested the move, so we’re going to assume he’s on his way back to Asia,” Shawn McFarland suggested for NBC Sports. “He’d given up 11 earned runs in 10 innings for the Blue Jays and Twins this season.”
Toronto Blue Jays Castoff Could Be At End Of MLB Career
Voth has eight years of big-league experience in his career, mostly with the Washington Nationals. But it seems something of his old form has been lost, as demonstrated by his brief stint with the Blue Jays this season, which included six earned runs in six total innings.
The Blue Jays originally acquired Voth after he was released by the Chicago White Sox in March.
“The 34-year-old returned to affiliated ball over the winter on a minor league deal with the White Sox,” Franco added. “Voth didn’t reach the big leagues with Chicago but has logged brief stints at the highest level for the Blue Jays and (Minnesota) Twins. He has allowed 12 runs on 19 hits and six walks across 10 combined innings.”
Given the contrast between his productive season in Japan and his struggles during brief MLB opportunities this year, another overseas contract could provide both financial security and a chance to pitch regularly.
For Voth, leaving the Rangers after just one Triple-A outing suggests an opportunity elsewhere materialized quickly. Whether that proves to be another deal in Japan or another international league, the former Blue Jays pitcher appears poised to continue his career outside MLB rather than wait for another affiliated opportunity.