Blue Jays claim Zack Godley from Arizona Diamondbacks

The Blue Jays have added a depth arm, claiming RHP Zack Godley off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks, per a team release.

According to an official team release, the Blue Jays have claimed RHP Zack Godley off outright waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks, adding him to their 40-man roster.

Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic was the first to report that the Blue Jays had claimed Godley.

As a corresponding move, the team has designated RHP David Paulino for assignment.

Godley, 29, was designated for assignment by Arizona on August 5th after pitching to an ERA of 6.39 in 27 games, nine of which he started.

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Still, the native of Bamberg, South Carolina has two good seasons under his belt, having performed admirably in 2017 (3.37 ERA, 155.0 IP, 1.14 WHIP, 8-9, 185 SO) and 2018 (4.74 ERA, 178.1 IP, 1.45 WHIP, 15-11, 185 SO).

For his career, the former Chicago Cubs draft pick has appeared in 122 games, pitching to an ERA of 4.70 over 520.2 innings, and has racked up 502 strikeouts and 36 wins.

Paulino, 25, was acquired by the Blue Jays in last summer’s Roberto Osuna trade and has since spent most of his time with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons.

Though he did have a cup of coffee with the big club late last year (6.2 IP, 1.35 ERA, 6 SO, W), he has pitched to an ERA of 3.45 in 28.2 frames with Buffalo this season.

Still an intriguing young arm, the Blue Jays are evidently hopeful that he can pass through waivers without being claimed, though it’s perhaps unlikely that no other club will pass on him, especially at this point in the season. He was signed by the Detroit Tigers as an international free agent in 2010.

Godley finishes his Diamondbacks career tied for 12th in wins, 14th in innings pitched, ninth in strikeouts, 13th in starts, 31st in games played for a pitcher, and 37th in ERA in franchise history.