The Toronto Blue Jays just designated right-hander Matt Waldron for assignment, officially cutting ties with one of the league’s last knuckleballers after a blink-and-you-miss-it two-week stint with the club. Talk about a quick turnaround, right? This move comes on the heels of the Blue Jays selecting the contract of left-hander Brendan Celluci.
Two Weeks, Four Appearances, Then Out
Waldron, who’s 29, was only claimed off waivers from the San Diego Padres a couple of weeks ago. He barely had time to unpack his bags before getting the axe. In his four relief appearances for the Blue Jays, he threw just 4.1 innings. During that short stretch, the numbers weren’t pretty, giving up five earned runs on seven hits and only striking out three of the 22 batters he faced. You gotta wonder what the Jays were seeing in those two weeks to make such a swift decision. That’s a rough go for any pitcher, especially one trying to make an impression.
What’s Next for the Knuckleballer?
So, what’s the deal with Waldron’s unique pitch mix? He was reportedly throwing his knuckleball 30% of the time in 2026, which is pretty wild in today’s game. But he wasn’t just a one-trick pony; he also mixes in a cutter, sinker, sweeper, and a four-seam fastball. Interestingly, his best season was back in 2024 with the Padres, where he racked up 146.2 innings, a 4.91 ERA, and 133 strikeouts. That’s a stark contrast to his recent performance.
Now, despite being DFA’d, there’s still a shot for Waldron to stick around the Blue Jays organization. As Darragh McDonald of MLB Trade Rumors pointed out, he’s still in his pre-arbitration years, making him a “cheap pick-up.” If he clears waivers, he’d stay with the Jays as non-roster depth. Since he hasn’t been outrighted before and has less than three years of service time, he can’t reject an outright assignment and elect free agency. So, his future is definitely up in the air, but the door isn’t completely shut for this unique hurler.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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