TORONTO, CANADA – September 13: Addison Barger #47 of the Toronto Blue Jays looks on against the St. Louis Cardinals front the dugout at a MLB game at Rogers Centre on September 13, 2024 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/Getty Images)
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The Toronto Blue Jays suddenly have another hole to fill in the outfield, and with the trade deadline fast approaching, the front office is exploring every possible avenue to reinforce its roster.
One of the many unexpected injury blows to the team this year has been the loss of Addison Barger, who has spent virtually the entire campaign on the injured list. Recently, the postseason hero’s season has officially ended and the Blue Jays filled some minor-league depth with a potential replacement.
While the move won’t generate the same headlines as a blockbuster trade might in the next few days, it offers organizational depth at a time when the club desperately needs it. And it involved a castoff directly from an American League East division rival.
“Blue Jays have claimed LHH OF Rudy Martin Jr. off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles,” Sportsnet’s Arden Zwelling reported. “Martin’s reporting to AAA Buffalo… Brings speed, solid defence, good zone management.”
Toronto Blue Jays Add Outfield Depth As Addison Barger Ends Season
The timing of Toronto’s move is difficult to ignore after the organization confirmed Barger will undergo season-ending elbow surgery.
“Blue Jays outfielder Addison Barger’s long, frustrating season is now a lost season. Barger will undergo right elbow surgery … which could require a full Tommy John procedure,” Keegan Matheson reported for MLB.com. “If that’s the case, Barger’s rehab process is estimated around nine months, which would stretch well into the 2027 season. If he only needs an internal brace procedure in that elbow, it could be closer to six months.”
Barger’s injury leaves the Blue Jays without one of their more versatile young contributors while also increasing the importance of finding capable depth before the July trade deadline. Martin isn’t expected to immediately join the major league roster, but he provides another athletic option in the upper minors should injuries continue to pile up.
Strong Minor League Season Earned Toronto Blue Jays’ Newest Player An Opportunity To Replace Addison Barger
Martin’s offensive production this season suggests the Blue Jays may have found an undervalued player worth evaluating more closely.
“He seems to have put himself on the radar with a strong showing at the plate this season,” Darragh McDonald noted for MLB Trade Rumors. “Splitting his time between Double-A and Triple-A, he has made 255 trips to the dish. His 23.5% strikeout rate is around average while his 16.1% walk rate is excellent.”
At 27, Martin brings speed, defensive versatility and improved plate discipline — traits that fit the recent identity if the big-league club.
Whether he ultimately reaches Toronto or simply provides insurance at Triple-A Buffalo remains to be seen. But with Barger sidelined for the remainder of 2026 and potentially into next season, the Blue Jays are already beginning to reshape their organizational depth chart as they prepare for what could be an active trade deadline.