The Toronto Blue Jays have added a seasoned arm to their bullpen by claiming right-handed reliever Paul Sewald off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks.
MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert first reported the move, writing: “Hearing the @BlueJays have claimed Paul Sewald who was DFAed by the @Dbacks this week.”
Sewald, a 10-year major league veteran, had been designated for assignment by Arizona on Monday. The 36-year-old signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Diamondbacks during the offseason and served primarily as their closer for much of 2026.
This season with Arizona, Sewald compiled a 2-5 record with a 6.23 ERA and 1.10 WHIP across 39 innings. He recorded 44 strikeouts and converted 24 saves in 45 appearances. Those numbers reflect a sharp downturn after a strong start. Through mid-June, he maintained a 3.18 ERA while securing 18 saves and limiting walks effectively.
His recent stretch proved costly. Over his final stretch of outings, Sewald allowed a high volume of earned runs and home runs, leading to his removal from high-leverage situations and eventual designation for assignment. Manager Torey Lovullo later described the decision as difficult given Sewald’s contributions during Arizona’s 2023 postseason run and his earlier success this year.
Despite the elevated ERA, several underlying metrics point to potential for improvement. Sewald posted a 32.5% chase rate and a 28.1% whiff rate this season. He limited free passes with a 5.5% walk rate while generating strikeouts at a 27.0% clip, equating to more than 10 strikeouts per nine innings.
Over his full career spanning stints with the New York Mets, Seattle Mariners, Arizona, Cleveland Guardians and Detroit Tigers, Sewald owns a 23-31 record with a 4.30 ERA in 426 relief appearances. He has amassed 110 saves and 514 strikeouts across 435 innings pitched. His peak years came with Seattle from 2021 to 2023, when he posted ERAs under 3.10 and combined for more than 50 saves while regularly missing bats at elite rates.
The Blue Jays, sitting outside the thick of the American League East race with a sub-.500 record in recent weeks, continue to reshuffle their pitching staff after the trade deadline. Toronto has already moved several veterans and added depth options, including other relievers and starters on short-term deals. Adding Sewald requires no additional prospects or cash beyond assuming the remainder of his modest contract.
Bullpen fatigue has been a recurring theme for Toronto in the second half. Several high-leverage arms have logged heavy innings, and the club has turned to waiver claims and free-agent signings to bolster the unit. Sewald’s experience closing games and his history of bouncing back from midseason struggles make him a low-risk addition at this stage of the season.
Sewald debuted with the Mets in 2017 after being selected in the 10th round of the 2012 draft out of the University of San Diego. He struggled early in New York, posting a combined ERA above 5.00 over four seasons before finding consistency in Seattle. There he established himself as a reliable late-inning option, including a career-best 20-save campaign in 2022 with a 2.67 ERA and a microscopic 0.77 WHIP.
He later helped Arizona reach the 2023 World Series, delivering scoreless appearances in the playoffs. Injuries limited him in subsequent seasons, including time spent with Cleveland and Detroit in 2025, before he returned to Arizona on the current deal.
For Toronto, the claim offers a chance to evaluate whether Sewald can recapture the form that once made him one of the more dependable right-handed options in the American League. His ability to generate swings and misses remains intact based on the available data, and the low financial commitment reduces the downside if results do not improve quickly.
The Blue Jays have not yet announced a corresponding roster move or when Sewald will report. At this point in August, any boost to the relief corps carries weight as teams jockey for wild-card positioning and evaluate talent for the stretch run and beyond.
Sewald’s career strikeout rate of roughly 10.6 per nine innings underscores the swing-and-miss potential that has defined his better stretches. If he can reduce the home run rate that spiked in recent weeks — he allowed 12 this season in limited innings — he could provide useful innings in middle relief or occasional late-game spots.
Toronto’s front office has shown a willingness to take calculated chances on veterans with track records.
Claiming Sewald continues that approach while addressing immediate needs in a bullpen that has been taxed by the long season.
