Blue Jays: Reliever Tyler Chatwood designated for assignment

The Toronto Blue Jays have announced that right-hander Tyler Chatwood has been designated for assignment in order to make room for newly acquired starter Jose Berrios.

The Blue Jays pulled off a significant trade earlier today, sending top prospects Austin Martin and Simeon Woods-Richardson to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for Berrios. With his addition and with both prospects not on the 40-man roster, somebody would have to either be designated for assignment (DFA) or put on the 60-day IL to accommodate the new starter.

The organization has chosen to DFA Chatwood, a relief pitcher who has had his fair share of triumphs and tragedies since joining the Blue Jays.

The Toronto Blue Jays announced earlier today that Tyler Chatwood has been designated for assignment to make room for Jose Berrios on the roster.

Signed to a $3 million dollar deal this past off-season, Chatwood was coming off a rough 2020 campaign that saw his ERA inflate to 5.30 while being used as a starter with the Chicago Cubs. For his career, the Redlands, California product has produced a career 4.43 ERA through 874.2 innings with 654 strikeouts and 461 walks across four different organizations.

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This season, Chatwood would be moved to the back end of the Blue Jays bullpen to be entrusted with high-leverage situations given the younger options amongst the relief corps. The right-hander had a great start to the campaign and would not allow an earned run until his ninth appearance of the season against the Oakland Athletics on May 5th.

The end of May/start of June is where Chatwood started to run into trouble, being lit up for 11 earned runs through four games before finally settling down midway through June. The righty pitcher has been on the injured list as of late and has not appeared in a major league game since July 1st and was currently in AAA on a rehab assignment when he was DFA.

The biggest issue for Chatwood was his control and consistency, as he struggled to keep the walks down and most of the games he struggled to pitch well were a result of the free passes. He also would have stretches where he was dominant, not allowing an earned run while striking out multiple batters but would then get lit up through a three to five-game stretch and costing the Blue Jays. You also can’t forget about his outburst on the mound when manager Charlie Montoyo took him out of the game back in late May, which soured his stature amongst the Blue Jays fan base.

There is the potential that another team may take a flier on the veteran hurler given his modest remaining salary but he will most likely be released and become a free agent when all is said and done.

Farewell Chatwood, we hardly knew ye.