Cubs Cut Ties With Former Blue Jays Pitcher After Very Short Stint

Aug 19, 2026 05:00 PM - 1 hour ago 1

The Toronto Blue Jays entered the play needing arsenic overmuch pitching extent arsenic they could find, and six-year big-league seasoned Josh Fleming concisely looked for illustration a low-cost action who could thief stabilize the organization’s pitching pipeline.

Instead, Fleming’s 2026 play turned into a bid of short-lived opportunities, including a sadistic three-inning stint pinch the Blue Jays this play that mightiness beryllium his only awesome convention quality now that he has been formed disconnected by the Chicago Cubs.

ForbesFormer Cubs Slugger Announces Immediate Retirement After Cancer BattleBy Peter Chawaga

Chicago Cubs Release Veteran Pitcher After Short Stint, Brutal Toronto Blue Jays Outing

After opening the twelvemonth pinch Toronto, Fleming moved connected to the Cubs successful hopes of returning to the large leagues. Instead, that latest opportunity has now ended arsenic well.

“Fleming was released by the Cubs connected Monday,” CBS Sports reported. “Fleming was brought successful connected a minor-league woody successful July aft being released earlier this play by the Blue Jays, but his clip pinch Chicago didn’t past long. He sounded to a 3.44 ERA and 1.10 WHIP pinch 13 strikeouts complete 18.1 innings while astatine Triple-A Iowa.”

It’s a beautiful unceremonious move for Fleming, who seemed apt to return to shape pinch the Blue Jays not agelong agone only, to beryllium trim from the roster aft a azygous outing successful which he gave up 4 runs successful 3 innings, past released.

“Fleming ended 2025 successful the (Seattle) Mariners statement and signed a insignificant convention woody pinch the Blue Jays successful February,” AJ Eustace noted for MLB Trade Rumors. “The squad selected him for a three-inning alleviation quality connected April 6, past designated him for duty the adjacent day. Fleming elected free agency successful lieu of an outright assignment, though he rejoined connected a caller insignificant convention pact a fewer days later. He did not make it backmost to the large leagues anterior to being released (in July.)”

That little awesome convention quality yet represented Fleming’s full clip successful Toronto’s large convention bullpen.

But location was still bully logic for the Cubs to return a look. Fleming’s insignificant convention capacity remained encouraging, peculiarly for a pitcher whose crippled has ever been built much astir interaction guidance than overpowering hitters.

“Fleming’s numbers astatine Triple-A person been solid, arsenic he’s sounded to a 3.08 ERA successful 64 1/3 innings complete 13 appearances (12 starts),” Eustace added. “He’s ne'er been 1 to onslaught hitters out, but he continued to show above-average power and crushed shot stuff.”

ForbesDodgers Ticketing Arm Linked To Mark Walter’s $17 Billion Shuffle Amid Federal ProbeBy Peter Chawaga

Chicago Cubs Cut Ties With Toronto Blue Jays Castoff After Brief Look

The Cubs signed Fleming to a insignificant convention woody successful July, soon aft Toronto released him, hoping his expertise to limit walks and make crushed balls could supply useful organizational depth.

Fleming delivered respectable results astatine Triple-A Iowa, posting a 3.44 ERA and 1.10 WHIP pinch 13 strikeouts crossed 18 1/3 innings. But those numbers weren't capable to person Chicago to support him around.

The Cubs’ determination to merchandise Fleming this week leaves him to hunt for different organization, and his floor plan should still make immoderate liking contempt being formed disconnected by 2 organizations this year. He owns a 4.86 ERA crossed 257 2/3 awesome convention innings, yet his expertise to induce crushed balls and limit free passes gives teams a imaginable extent option.