The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/toronto-blue-jays">Toronto Blue Jays</a> have added another arm to their pitching staff, though this latest addition is unlikely to see game action in 2026. The move underscores the team’s ongoing roster reshaping as it reportedly pursues key players like Bo Bichette and <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/kyle-tucker">Kyle Tucker</a>.



Josh Winckowski, 27, spent the majority of his career with the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/boston-red-sox">Boston Red Sox</a>, but missed significant time this year due to an elbow strain that required surgery earlier this month. His new agreement with the Blue Jays was reported by Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors, though the team has yet to announce it.



“Source: Right-hander Josh Winckowski is signing a two-year minor league deal with the #BlueJays. Had internal brace surgery earlier this month. Hoping to pitch late in 2026. Plan right now is to build him back up as a starter when he’s healthy,” Adams wrote.



<h2>Winckowski’s career path and background</h2>



Winckowski’s connection to the Blue Jays dates back to 2016, when Toronto originally drafted him out of high school. After a series of trades, he eventually landed with Boston, where he made his major league debut in 2022 as a starter. That season, he posted a 5-7 record with a 5.89 ERA and 44 strikeouts over 70 innings.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20260101_BUS_554606_Winckowski_79ae3931.webp&amp;width=1920&amp;height=1080" alt="" class="wp-image-554611"></figure><figcaption>Josh Winckowski #25 with the Red Sox pitches the ball. Abigail Dean/Getty Images</figcaption></figure>



In 2023, he transitioned effectively to the bullpen, emerging as one of the Red Sox’s most reliable relievers. He appeared in 60 games, recording a 2.88 ERA and 82 strikeouts across 88 innings. Despite a promising start to 2025, his season ended prematurely due to the elbow injury that now requires rehabilitation.


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<h2>Outlook with the Blue Jays</h2>



The two-year minor league deal gives Winckowski the time to properly recover without immediate pressure to contribute at the big-league level. The move also reunites him with the franchise that first drafted him, offering a fresh start with a club focused on strengthening its roster for both the present and future. 


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The Blue Jays’ front office will likely monitor his recovery closely while continuing their aggressive offseason pursuits, including efforts to retain Bichette and potentially add impact players like Tucker.

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Blue Jays add former Red Sox pitcher while rehabbing injury amid Bichette, Tucker chase

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The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/new-york-mets">New York Mets</a> have remained on the periphery of the Kyle Tucker sweepstakes throughout the offseason, largely because they are one of the few organizations capable of absorbing a contract of that magnitude. Still, as the calendar winds down, Tucker’s market has shown little momentum.



Along with the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/new-york-yankees">New York Yankees</a>, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Toronto Blue Jays, the Mets were initially viewed as a logical fit for Tucker, who is expected to command a deal in the range of 10 years and $400 million. That price point has effectively narrowed the field to big-market clubs willing to make a franchise-altering commitment.



After trading <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/brandon-nimmo">Brandon Nimmo</a> earlier this winter, speculation grew that New York could pivot toward a marquee outfielder. However, a recent update suggests the Mets’ chances of landing Tucker may be more remote than once believed.



<h2>Mets’ stance on Tucker</h2>



MLB insider Jon Heyman offered a tempered assessment of the situation while speaking on a Bleacher Report live stream, casting doubt on how realistic a Mets–Tucker pairing truly is at this stage.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20251231_BUS_554295_Kyle-Tucker-running_30447e4e.webp&amp;width=1920&amp;height=1080" alt="Kyle Tucker running" class="wp-image-541283"></figure><figcaption>Kyle Tucker #30 of the Chicago Cubs in action. Michael Reaves/Getty Images</figcaption></figure>



“That’s a long way away if even a possibility,” Heyman said, indicating that while the Mets were once firmly in the conversation, the path to a deal now appears increasingly uncertain.


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<h3>What it means for New York</h3>



The Mets have already endured a turbulent offseason, parting ways with several long-tenured players, including Jeff McNeil, Pete Alonso, Edwin Díaz, and Nimmo. For now, Tucker remains available—but the Mets’ role in that pursuit appears far less certain than it once did.


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