Joe Biagini entered the Toronto Blue Jays as a Rule‑5 draft pick before the 2016 season and quickly became a reliable reliever, appearing in 60 games with a 3.06 ERA. Injuries later thrust him into the starting rotation, a move that proved costly and ultimately led to his trade to the Astros at the 2019 deadline.

Biagini’s 2016 bullpen breakout: 60 games, 3.06 ERA

According to the source, Biagini’s rookie year saw him pitch two innings in 13 of his 60 appearances , establishing himself as a long‑relief option the Jays hadn’t anticipated. His steady performance earned him a spot in high‑leverage situations and set a high bar for his subsequent seasons.

April 2017: 2.12 ERA before a rotation shuffle

By the end of April 2017, Biagini was posting a sparkling 2.12 ERA in a setup role, but a spate of injuries in Toronto’s starting corps forced the club to shift him into the rotation. The source notes that while his first starts were solid, his effectiveness waned as the workload increased.

2018 rotation trial: 7.71 ERA in five starts

The source reports that Biagini began 2018 in the rotation, makig five starts that produced a 7.71 ERA before he was relegated back to the bullpen,where his numbers never quite matched his 2016 form.

Trade deadline 2019: Biagini and Aaron Sanchez for Derek Fisher

At the July 31, 2019 deadline, Toronto dealt Biagini and fellow pitcher Aaron Sanchez to the Houston Astros in exchange for outfielder Derek Fisher, a move described as “largely forgettable” for the Jays. Biagini logged 17 games for Houston across 2019 and 2020 before signing with the Chicago Cubs, where he spent most of the 2021 season in Triple‑A.

What remains unclear: Was the rotation experiment a misstep?

The source hints that the abrupt shift to starting may have harmed Biagini’s arm, but it does not provide medical details or the organization’s internal assessment. Additionally , the long‑term impact of the trade on Toronto’s bullpen depth remains unquantified.