Blue Jays claim former Diamondbacks 6.23 ERA reliever to aid bulllpen

The Toronto Blue Jays might've sold at the 2026 MLB trade deadline, but this team does still actually have a chance of making the postseason.

Sitting at 58-63, the Blue Jays are only 2.5 games out of the Wild Card right now. So, while it might be an uphill battle and the 2026 season has been a huge letdown so far, they still have a chance of going on a run.

So, it shouldn't be a surprise they're still looking for ways to get better. That's exactly the kind of addition they've just made, as according to Steve Gilbert of MLB.com, the Blue Jays have claimed Paul Sewald off waivers to take a chance on the righty reliever.

Blue Jays claim Paul Sewald as intriguing reliever depth

"Hearing the @BlueJays have claimed Paul Sewald who was DFA'd by the @Dbacks this week," Gilbert reports.

This is an interesting addition for the Blue Jays' bullpen. They already have Louis Varland playing at an incredibly high level, so Sewald will not be a closer like he was for a while with the Diamondbacks.

Sewald will join Tyler Rogers, Braydon Fisher, Mason Fluharty, Brendon Little, Spencer Miles, Matt Waldron, Chase Lee, and Simeon Woods Richardson in the bullpen. But to make room for Sewald, one of those relievers is likely to be DFAd or sent down.

While this is an interesting addition for the Blue Jays, Sewald hasn't actually been a good pitcher this year for Arizona. He has -1.2 bWAR this year with a 6.23 ERA and a 2-5 record.

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He might have 24 saves this season, but his ERA+ of 68 tells the story that he's been well below average this year out of the bullpen for Arizona.

But even though he might not be as good as he once was, Sewald is an interesting addition who could help the Blue Jays out of the bullpen in lower-leverage situations.

Considering the Blue Jays aren't actually perceived as a top contender, taking a chance on Sewald to turn things around isn't a bad idea.

This is a low-risk move for the Blue Jays, as even if Sewald struggles, he's someone they could easily DFA without much regret. 

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