The Washington Nationals added a unique arm to their pitching staff on Saturday, claiming right-hander Matt Waldron off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays. To clear a spot on the 40-man roster, the Nationals transferred left-hander Connelly Early to the 60-day injured list.

Waldron, 29, is one of the few active knuckleball pitchers in Major League Baseball. The Omaha, Nebraska native and former University of Nebraska pitcher has spent most of his career with the San Diego Padres after being acquired in the 2020 trade that sent Mike Clevinger to San Diego.

He made his MLB debut in 2023 against the Nationals at Petco Park and has since carved out a niche as a versatile starter and long reliever who mixes a four-seam fastball with a knuckleball that has accounted for roughly 30 percent of his pitches this season.

This year has been challenging at the major league level. Across stints with the Padres and a brief stay in Toronto, Waldron has posted a 7.54 ERA in 37 innings over 14 appearances (three starts).

He allowed five runs in 4⅓ innings across four relief outings with the Blue Jays after they claimed him from San Diego on August 5. In contrast, he dominated at Triple-A with a 1.33 ERA and 1.000 WHIP in eight starts.

The Blue Jays designated Waldron for assignment earlier this week after selecting the contract of left-hander Brendan Cellucci. Toronto had claimed him as organizational depth for a banged-up staff, but limited results led to another quick exit.

Waldron is out of minor-league options and remains under team control for several more years as a pre-arbitration player.

For the Nationals, the move brings a low-cost, high-upside flier with a rare pitch repertoire. Waldron’s career numbers (9-17, 5.29 ERA, 198 strikeouts in 229⅔ innings) show flashes of competence as a fifth starter or multi-inning reliever, particularly when the knuckleball is working.

Nationals reporters noted that while he throws the knuckleball less frequently than during his earlier Padres days, it remains his most-used offering.

Early’s transfer to the 60-day IL does not alter his recovery timeline and simply creates the necessary roster space. With the season in its final stretch, Washington continues to evaluate depth options as it looks ahead.

Waldron provides the Nationals with an unconventional weapon that few other clubs can match.

Whether he sticks in the bullpen or earns another look in the rotation will depend on how quickly he can translate his minor-league success to the big leagues once again.