The Rule 5 Draft pick making case to be part of Blue Jays' future

This story was excerpted from Keegan Matheson’s Blue Jays Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

TORONTO -- Spencer Miles, catapulted from baseball obscurity by the Rule 5 Draft, has become the best story of the Blue Jays’ season.

This offseason, he was a 25-year-old reliever who’d thrown 14 2/3 professional innings, none above Single-A. Today, he’s the Blue Jays’ next hope at developing a legitimate starting pitcher, not just to plug a hole in 2026, but to shape this rotation in 2027 and beyond.

Looking into the future, this is how Miles could impact the Blue Jays’ rotation and how they plan to rebuild it.

2027 rotation outlook:

Kevin Gausman’s five-year deal -- one of the best free-agent signings in Blue Jays history -- is in its final year. He’ll be a free agent following the 2026 season, and while it would make a great deal of sense for the Blue Jays to explore a short-term reunion, there’s no guarantee.

Shane Bieber and Max Scherzer will be free agents, too, and depending on what Bieber’s able to accomplish down the stretch when he returns from the IL, he could land as anything from a short-term candidate to one of the more appealing pitchers on the market. Add in the fact that José Berríos will miss most or all of 2027 recovering from Tommy John surgery, and the Blue Jays’ options are quickly thinning.

1. Dylan Cease
2. Trey Yesavage
3. Cody Ponce
4. TBD
5. TBD

If 2026 has taught us anything, it’s that the Blue Jays need to be 10 starters deep, not just five.

On the prospect front, lefty sensation Johnny King (No. 4) is still just 19 and likely won’t be ready until 2028. Gage Stanifer (No. 6) and Jake Bloss (No. 8) will be options, too, but banking on prospects is a dangerous game. If any of those three turn into a legitimate mid-rotation starter in the big leagues for five-plus years, that’s a development win.

If Miles can establish himself as a starter, that’s found money. Doing it as a Rule 5 pick? That’s hitting baseball’s jackpot.

There’s a financial aspect to this, too. If the Blue Jays can develop Miles into legitimate rotation depth, that saves this organization millions of dollars, which can easily be reallocated elsewhere, perhaps in the outfield, where the Blue Jays have room to raise their offensive ceiling.

Back to free agency:

Gausman is the model now. The Blue Jays will have money to spend, and they’ve proven that they spend this money well in free agency with Gausman, Chris Bassitt and others.

This is down the road a bit, but expect the Blue Jays to be heavily involved in the pitching market. Keep in mind that the Blue Jays love getting out in front of pressing business, too. The Trade Deadline will be their opportunity to do that, and as one of the few clubs with the motivation, prospect capital and long-term thinking to put together a Tarik Skubal package, anything is possible.

Miles establishing himself could impact their back-end spending -- think Ponce’s contract as an example -- but this team will need a new Gausman.

A starter’s mindset:

Miles is doing and saying all of the right things. He’ll drive the team bus to the airport if they ask him, but it’s clear he’s thinking like a starter.

Recently in New York, Miles was throwing next to Cease and taking notes.

“He sits so well. He doesn’t drift too much. He sits, then glides after that,” Miles explained. “His first move is always down. I was timing myself with him, and I was releasing the ball a full second before him. I just have a quick motion, and I get down the hill quick.”

Going into his recent start against the Yankees, that’s what Miles focused on, “sitting” in his delivery to take the strain off his arm and put it on his legs. He’s thinking long, like a starter should.

“If you’re throwing with 80% arm, you’re going to get fatigued quickly. Those are the small muscles,” Miles said. “You want the arm to be along for the ride. I’m using my legs, and I’ll keep learning about myself. Especially at 50-60 pitches and on, you learn about yourself, your tendencies and what you need to get back to.”

Even the biggest optimist in the Blue Jays’ front office couldn’t have seen this coming, but they’ve nailed this so far. Miles has nailed his side, too, and if everything keeps going in this direction, this could reshape the immediate future of the Blue Jays’ rotation.