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 entered the season needing as much pitching depth as they could find, and six-year big-league veteran Josh Fleming briefly looked like a low-cost option who could help stabilize the organization’s pitching pipeline.
Instead, Fleming’s 2026 season turned into a series of short-lived opportunities, including a brutal three-inning stint with the Blue Jays this season that might be his only major league appearance now that he has been cast off by the Chicago Cubs.
Chicago Cubs Release Veteran Pitcher After Short Stint, Brutal Toronto Blue Jays Outing
After opening the year with Toronto, Fleming moved on to the Cubs in hopes of returning to the big leagues. Instead, that latest opportunity has now ended as well.
“Fleming was released by the Cubs on Monday,” CBS Sports reported. “Fleming was brought in on a minor-league deal in July after being released earlier this season by the Blue Jays, but his time with Chicago didn’t last long. He pitched to a 3.44 ERA and 1.10 WHIP with 13 strikeouts over 18.1 innings while at Triple-A Iowa.”
It’s a pretty unceremonious turn for Fleming, who seemed likely to return to form with the Blue Jays not long ago only, to be cut from the roster after a single outing in which he gave up four runs in three innings, then released.
“Fleming ended 2025 in the (Seattle) Mariners organization and signed a minor league deal with the Blue Jays in February,” AJ Eustace noted for MLB Trade Rumors. “The team selected him for a three-inning relief appearance on April 6, then designated him for assignment the next day. Fleming elected free agency in lieu of an outright assignment, though he rejoined on a new minor league pact a few days later. He did not make it back to the big leagues prior to being released (in July.)”
That brief major league appearance ultimately represented Fleming’s entire time in Toronto’s big league bullpen.
But there was still good reason for the Cubs to take a look. Fleming’s minor league performance remained encouraging, particularly for a pitcher whose game has always been built more around contact management than overpowering hitters.
“Fleming’s numbers at Triple-A have been solid, as he’s pitched to a 3.08 ERA in 64 1/3 innings over 13 appearances (12 starts),” Eustace added. “He’s never been one to strike hitters out, but he continued to show above-average control and ground ball stuff.”
Chicago Cubs Cut Ties With Toronto Blue Jays Castoff After Brief Look
The Cubs signed Fleming to a minor league deal in July, shortly after Toronto released him, hoping his ability to limit walks and generate ground balls could provide useful organizational depth.
Fleming delivered respectable results at Triple-A Iowa, posting a 3.44 ERA and 1.10 WHIP with 13 strikeouts across 18 1/3 innings. But those numbers weren’t enough to convince Chicago to keep him around.
The Cubs’ decision to release Fleming this week leaves him to search for another organization, and his profile should still generate some interest despite being cast off by two organizations this year. He owns a 4.86 ERA across 257 2/3 major league innings, yet his ability to induce ground balls and limit free passes gives teams a potential depth option.