By every account, it seems like the American League East is going to be a dogfight this year. And while we haven't even gotten to Opening Day yet, this weekend featured plenty of injury news that will shape how the division race will shake out this summer.
Here's a rundown of what happened.
Toronto Blue Jays
Erik Swanson
The Blue Jays' bullpen depth took a big hit this weekend when Swanson was shut down due to some elbow discomfort. He's going for an MRI and isn't throwing right now, which means he likely won't be ready for Opening Day.
Blue Jays reliever Erik Swanson experienced right elbow discomfort following a bullpen this week. He’s been sent for an MRI; club still awaiting results.
— Arden Zwelling (@ArdenZwelling) March 7, 2025
Swanson isn’t throwing for the time being and will likely begin season on the IL
The Blue Jays added some key pieces to the bullpen in the offseason in the form of Yimi García and Jeff Hoffman, but Swanson was slated to be a key piece.
He had a 2.55 ERA in 24 2/3 innings after being called up from Triple-A last July, and was slated to start the season as the main arm for the sixth or seventh inning. The Blue Jays have plenty of bullpen arms who work as depth pieces, but it'll be tough to replace Swanson's gamesmanship.
Could his injury open the door for an unheralded arm — or a player on another team?