The Blue Jays introduced right now that right-hander Paxton Schultz has been recalled from Triple-A Buffalo. Left-hander Justin Bruihl was additionally chosen to the roster. In corresponding strikes, the membership positioned right-hander Bowden Francis on the 15-day injured checklist on account of a proper shoulder impingement and designated right-hander Erik Swanson for task.
Swanson, 31, was acquired from the Mariners forward of the 2023 season as a part of the commerce that despatched outfielder Teoscar Hernández to Seattle. Swanson’s first season with the Jays was glorious, as he posted a 2.97 earned run common over 66 2/3 innings. He struck out 28.6% of opponents whereas solely giving out walks at an 8% clip. He turned a key cog within the bullpen, incomes 4 saves and 29 holds.
That model of Swanson hasn’t appeared a lot since then. His 2024 acquired out to a scary begin when his son Toby was hospitalized after being struck by a automotive throughout spring coaching. Fortuitously, Toby was launched from hospital inside two weeks, however Swanson additionally confronted some extra conventional baseball challenges at the moment. He was coping with some forearm irritation and began the season on the 15-day IL. After being reinstated, he struggled sufficient to get optioned to the minors, having a 9.22 ERA by the top of Might.
He did end 2024 on a excessive word, as he was recalled on the finish of June and posted a 2.81 ERA the remainder of the way in which, however his 2025 has began equally to final yr. He began the season on the IL on account of a proper median nerve entrapment and has struggled since being reinstated. He has tossed 5 1/3 innings with 9 earned runs allowed, surrendering 5 walks whereas hanging out simply three opponents.
That’s clearly a tiny pattern dimension however the Jays presumably don’t think about Swanson getting again on observe. His fastball velocity is down by a mile per hour relative to final yr, 92.9 in comparison with 93.9 in 2024. His splitter has fallen even farther, from 84.9 mph to 83.3 mph. On his rehab task earlier than being activated, he allowed six earned runs in 5 1/3 innings.
Swanson now has over 5 years of main league service time, which means he can’t be optioned to the minors with out his consent, so the Jays can’t give him a break in Triple-A like they did final yr. As a substitute, they’ve bumped him off the 40-man fully. Surpassing 5 years of service additionally means he can reject an outright task whereas retaining this yr’s wage commitments. He and the Jays prevented arbitration within the offseason by agreeing to a $3MM wage.
DFA limbo can final so long as per week however the waiver course of takes 48 hours, so the Jays can take as much as 5 days to discover commerce curiosity. Primarily based on his wage and his current efficiency, there’s not prone to be a ton of curiosity except they wish to eat a number of the cash to facilitate a deal. If Swanson clears waivers and elects free company, the Jays will stay on the hook for that cash. Every other membership would then be capable of signal him and pay him simply the prorated portion of the league minimal wage, with that quantity subtracted from what the Jays are paying.
The lack of Francis to the IL is a notable improvement for the Jays, although there’s little details about his anticipated damage absence, because it opens a gap of their rotation. Francis hasn’t been good this yr, with a 6.05 ERA in 14 begins, however he has continued to get begins largely on account of a scarcity of higher choices.
The Jays have a stable veteran trio in Jose Berrios, Kevin Gausman and Chris Bassitt however these three have been joined by a struggling Francis and a patchwork of swingmen. Guys like Eric Lauer, Easton Lucas, Jose Urena, Spencer Turnbull and Schultz have been making spot begins or multi-inning reduction appearances.
That’s on account of Max Scherzer touchdown on the injured checklist after only one begin on account of proper thumb irritation. He tossed 4 1/3 innings on a rehab begin on Friday and will maybe rejoin the massive league membership after yet one more.
Beginning tonight, the Jays play six straight and have one off-day earlier than a 16-game stretch, making for 22 video games in 23 days. Heading into that with solely three true starters is clearly lower than very best. Maybe Scherzer and/or Francis might return to the roster earlier than that’s all completed, however the Jays will likely be cobbling issues collectively for now. Lauer and Turnbull are nonetheless on the roster and Schultz has now joined them, giving them three potential bulk guys. Lucas and Adam Macko are on the 40-man roster and on elective task, so they might find yourself getting recalled within the coming weeks as nicely. Urena lately elected free company after a stint with the Dodgers, so maybe the Jays will give him one other name.
Regardless of all of the rotation challenges, the Jays presently maintain a Wild Card spot and determine to be out there for beginning pitching forward of the deadline. That was true earlier than Francis landed on the IL nevertheless it presumably solely exacerbates the necessity.
Additionally offering the bullpen with a recent arm is Bruihl. The 27-year-old signed a minor league take care of the Jays in March and has been pitching in Triple-A since then, with a 3.81 ERA in 28 1/3 innings. His 10% stroll fee is a bit excessive however he has struck out 30% of opponents whereas getting grounders on 61.5% of balls in play.
He additionally has some main league expertise beneath his belt, although with out that type of strikeout stuff. He logged 76 innings between the Dodgers, Rockies and Pirates over the previous few years with a 4.62 ERA and a 15.9% strikeout fee. He nonetheless has an possibility remaining so the Jays might ship him again to Buffalo pretty simply in the event that they wish to cycle some extra recent arms by the roster.
Picture courtesy of Eric Hartline, Imagn Photographs
