Seeking bullpen stability amid a grueling schedule, the Toronto Blue Jays claimed 36-year-old veteran reliever Paul Sewald off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks on August 12, 2026. Sewald brings 110 career saves to a Toronto team sitting 2.5 games back in the American League wild-card race.
A Sudden Slide and Waiver Departure From Arizona
The path to Toronto opened after a turbulent stretch in Arizona for the veteran right-hander. Sewald served as the Diamondbacks’ closer for the bulk of the season, amassing 24 saves before home run troubles derailed his numbers. Though he began the year with a solid 3.08 ERA and 0.72 WHIP over his first 29 appearances, his ERA skyrocketed to 6.23 across 45 total outings.
Arizona demoted Sewald from the closer role on July 28 following a blown save against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Things worsened dramatically down the stretch, culminating in a 12.79 ERA over his final 12.2 frames. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo addressed the roster casualty candidly with reporters.
“It was a brutal decision, He’s meant so much to this organization. He’s closed our 24 games, he solidified things for our ’23 run, he had a number of saves in ’24 before he got banged up. … To say goodbye to him, was not easy. It’s agonizing.”
Torey Lovullo, Diamondbacks manager
The Diamondbacks designated Sewald for assignment earlier in the week, clearing the way for Toronto’s waiver claim.
Targeted Relief for a Gassed Blue Jays Bullpen
For the Blue Jays, the acquisition addresses an exhausted relief corps operating under heavy strain. Manager John Schneider noted the physical toll of a punishing stretch that forced heavy workloads onto relievers like Louis Varland, Tyler Rogers, and Braydon Fisher. Mason Fluharty entered mid-August leading the majors with 62 appearances, pushing the bullpen to its physical limits.
Rather than thrusting Sewald back into high-leverage closing duties—territory firmly held by Varland, who has notched 25 saves and a 1.31 ERA since taking over from Jeff Hoffman—Toronto plans to use the veteran selectively.
“When you’re closing, you’re kind of just pitching against whoever, I think we can probably find some better spots for him. There’s some weirdness to a lot of relievers [in performance]. We talked about it with [Jeff] Hoffman the whole time he was here this year. When a guy has pitched the late innings, you feel good about that. It’s just been a weird year for [Sewald] keeping the ball in the park, so we’re going to try to tighten up some matchups for him.”
John Schneider, Blue Jays manager
Underlying metrics suggest the raw skills remain intact. The Blue Jays are banking on those underlying indicators to stabilize their middle relief as they chase a postseason berth.
Roster Math and the Road Ahead for Toronto
Accommodating Sewald on the 40-man roster required a corresponding procedural move involving injured right-hander Jake Bloss. The Blue Jays recalled Bloss from the minor leagues and immediately transferred him to the 60-day injured list. Bloss had been working back from a UCL surgery performed in May 2025 before suffering a shoulder setback during his rehab assignment.
Financially, Toronto assumes the remainder of Sewald’s one-year deal, amounting to a portion of his salary for the balance of the season. He is expected to join the club for Friday’s series opener against the New York Yankees at Rogers Centre, arriving just as the team attempts to close a 2.5-game gap in the American League wild-card race.
With 41 games remaining, Schneider acknowledged that traditional bullpen pacing is a luxury the team no longer possesses. With nine pitchers currently occupying the injured list, the team has adopted an aggressive approach to managing its pitching staff.
“Sustainable is out the window, It’s about what we have to do tonight. If this was April, it would be a different story when guys were on pace for a historic amount of appearances out of the bullpen. Right now, sustain it for tomorrow night. After tomorrow, sustain it for the next night. It’s a full send right now.”
John Schneider, Blue Jays manager
Worth a look
Steve Borthwick Strips Ollie Lawrence and Elliot Daly of Central Contracts
England head coach Steve Borthwick has omitted Ollie Lawrence and Elliot Daly from his 25-man squad and stripped...
Newcastle United Appoints Matthias Jaissle as Manager and Starts Club Review
Newcastle United has appointed Matthias Jaissle as manager and launched a 100-day review under new chief executive David...
Korea Football Association Apologizes Over 2016 Referee Misconduct Report
The Korea Football Association (KFA) has issued a formal apology after a 2016 government audit report emerged detailing...
Maradona Medical Team Ignored Warning Signs Before Death, Experts Testify
Forensic experts told a San Isidro court on August 11, 2026, that medical teams ignored severe warning signs,...