The Toronto Blue Jays have added Matt Waldron, claiming the right-hander off waivers from the San Diego Padres and closing the book on his six-year run with the organization.
San Diego designated Waldron for assignment last week when it reinstated right-handed pitcher Jeremiah Estrada from the injured list. He cleared no hurdle on the waiver wire, and now he’s on his way to Toronto to keep his career moving.
To create room on the roster, the Blue Jays transferred left-handed pitcher Patrick Corbin to the 60-day IL.
Waldron’s path through San Diego was a long one. The Padres first got him from the then-Cleveland Indians in 2020 as the player to be named later in the nine-player deal that sent Mike Clevinger and Greg Allen to San Diego. That trade also sent Cal Quantrill, Josh Naylor and Austin Hedges, along with prospects Gabrial Arias, Joey Cantillo and Owen Miller, to Cleveland.
He spent 2021 and 2022 climbing through the Padres’ system before reaching the majors in 2023. That year, he made eight appearances, including six starts, and posted a 4.35 ERA over 41.1 innings.
In 2024, Waldron became a key part of San Diego’s rotation with his knuckleball, making 27 appearances and 26 starts while logging a 4.91 ERA across 146.2 innings.
The 2025 season was a different story. Waldron spent most of the year at Triple-A and made just one appearance in the big leagues before starting the 2026 campaign on the injured list after hemorrhoid surgery.
He returned in mid-April, but his season quickly went off track again. A right brachialis injury sent him back to the IL after he had posted an 8.49 ERA. After two months out, he came back in a bullpen role and made four appearances, finishing with a 3.86 ERA in 9.1 innings before the Padres moved on.
Across parts of four seasons in San Diego, Waldron finished with a 5.19 ERA and 195 strikeouts over 225.1 innings.
And he may not be the only pitcher the Padres lose this week. San Diego has to activate trade deadline addition Robbie Ray on Wednesday, and that means another move is coming. The club will need to either place someone on the injured list or designate a player for assignment, with right-handers Germán Márquez and Griffin Canning listed as the most obvious DFA candidates.
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