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By Jon Paul Hoornstra
Contributing Sports Writer
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Pitcher Josh Winckowski, who spent most of the 2025 season on the injured list with a right elbow injury, signed a two-year free agent contract with the Toronto Blue Jays according to Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors.
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Winckowski, 27, made six appearances for the Red Sox this year, going 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA.
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Winckowski underwent internal brace surgery in December and is hoping to pitch later in the 2026 season, according to Adams. The two-year contract gives Winckowski additional time if the Blue Jays want to delay his return until 2027.
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According to Adams, Winckowski's plan is to return as a starting pitcher, a role he's assumed in 21 of his 121 MLB appearances for the Red Sox from 2022-25. The right-hander is 13-14 with a 4.20 ERA in his career.
The Blue Jays originally drafted Winckowski out of Estero (Florida) High School in the 15th round of the 2016 MLB Draft.
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Winckowski was still a minor leaguer when he was traded to the New York Mets in January 2021 along with pitchers Sean Reid-Foley and Yennsy Diaz. He never threw a pitch for the Mets.
In February 2021, the Mets traded Winckowski and a player to be named later (minor league outfielder Freddy Valdez) to the Red Sox as part of the four-team trade that sent Andrew Benintendi to Kansas City.
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The following year, Winckowski made his major league debut with the Red Sox. He went 5-7 with a 5.89 ERA as a rookie, striking out 44 batters and walking 27 in 70.1 innings.
Those numbers improved in 2023, when Winckowski made all but one of his 60 appearances out of Boston's bullpen. He finished the season 4-4 with a 2.88 ERA, and struck out nearly a batter an inning (82 K's in 84.1 innings).
Winckowski made six appearances out of the Red Sox bullpen in April, then was optioned to the minor leagues and made another five appearances with Triple-A Worcester, starting three. In his final appearance of the season on May 11, Winckowski threw 3.1 shutout innings for Worcester.
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