The Blue Jays are still hanging around the Wild Card race, and that alone explains why they’re making bullpen moves instead of packing it in.
Toronto sits at 58-63 and is 2.5 games back in the Wild Card picture, a spot that keeps the door cracked despite a season that has fallen short of expectations. With a postseason push still technically alive, the club has taken a shot on veteran right-hander Paul Sewald, claiming him off waivers after Arizona designated him for assignment this week.
“Hearing the @BlueJays have claimed Paul Sewald who was DFA'd by the @Dbacks this week,” Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reported.
Sewald gives Toronto another arm to sort through in a bullpen that already includes Louis Varland, Tyler Rogers, Braydon Fisher, Mason Fluharty, Brendon Little, Spencer Miles, Matt Waldron, Chase Lee, and Simeon Woods Richardson. Someone will have to go to make room, with a DFA or a demotion looking likely.
The Blue Jays are buying low here, and the numbers explain why. Sewald has struggled badly for Arizona this season, posting a 6.23 ERA, a 2-5 record, and -1.2 bWAR. He does have 24 saves, but his 68 ERA+ shows just how far below average he’s been.
Still, Toronto isn’t asking him to be the answer at the back end. With Varland pitching at a very high level, Sewald projects more as bullpen depth and a possible option in lower-leverage spots.
For a team that isn’t viewed as a top contender, it’s the kind of low-risk move that makes sense. If Sewald rebounds, the Blue Jays get a useful reliever. If he doesn’t, they can move on without much damage.
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