Home / Sports / Tigers Trade Pitcher Lee to Blue Jays for Prospect Simon
Tigers Trade Pitcher Lee to Blue Jays for Prospect Simon
13 Dec
Summary
- Tigers acquired left-handed pitcher Johan Simon from Toronto.
- Simon had a breakout 2025 season, advancing through three minor league levels.
- The trade aims to add left-handed relief depth to the Tigers' system.
The Detroit Tigers recently acquired left-handed pitcher Johan Simon from the Toronto Blue Jays, sending side-arm specialist Chase Lee to Toronto in the deal. This transaction occurred on Friday afternoon, just days after the Tigers had been actively acquiring minor league pitchers. The move also served to clear a 40-man roster spot, now occupied by reliever Kyle Finnegan, and bolster the team's upper farm system with another southpaw relief prospect.
Simon, a 24-year-old Dominican Republic native, experienced a breakout season in 2025. After advancing through Single-A, High-A, and Double-A, he recorded a 3.42 ERA over 71 innings with a 3.20 FIP and a 25.1 percent strikeout rate. Despite high walk rates, his mid-90s fastball, sinker, slider, and improving changeup helped him generate a significant number of ground balls. He wasn't selected in the Rule 5 draft due to these walk rates.
Meanwhile, Chase Lee, 27, pitched well at the Triple-A level after arriving in Detroit during a previous trade. He made his major league debut but struggled after a promising start. The Tigers, having lost other left-handed relief options, sought to add depth from that side. Simon is anticipated to begin his tenure with the Tigers in Triple-A, with other pitching prospects also being considered for future roles.
