Blue Jays’ latest waiver claim shows deadline pitching additions didn’t end Toronto's search for arms

The Toronto Blue Jays were busy at the trade deadline, but their latest roster move is a reminder that adding to the pitching depth is a job that is never really finished. The Blue Jays claimed right handed pitcher Matt Waldron off waivers from the San Diego Padres.

The move comes after the Blue Jays added José Soriano and Jameson Taillon to the major league roster, while also bringing aboard Spencer Arrighetti (currently on the 15-day IL). Dasan Hill, and John Klein were also acquired as prospects, beefing up the pitching among their minor league depth charts. In a corresponding move, left-hander Patrick Corbin was moved to the 60-day IL.

This is a classic, "get a guy with big league experience who can cover some innings," type move by the Blue Jays. It's someone that may get some rope if he pitches well, but can also be cut loose if it doesn't work out after a couple of appearances.

It would be great if Waldron could stick it out with the Blue Jays for a while though. He's a knuckleball pitcher and as manager John Schneider described him, Waldron has, "A unique profile ... can cover an inning, can cover multiple innings. Excited to have him. Haven't had a knuckleballer."

Waldron has appeared in 46 games at the MLB level over the last four seasons, with 36 of those appearances being as a starter for the Padres. He's accumulated a 5.19 ERA with a 4.69 FIP. He struggled in 2026 as the 29-year-old posted a 7.16 ERA in 32.2 innings in 10 games (three starts). However, in Triple-A, Waldron pitched to a 1.33 ERA in 27 innings in eight games (all starts). He also may have been somewhat unlucky, considering his xERA at the MLB level was 3.92 and his xFIP was 4.36 compared to his actual FIP of 5.09.

Waldron has always shown great command, especially for a guy whose primary pitch is the unforgiving knuckleball. He posted an 8.1% walk rate this season which ranks in the 93rd percentile, but his strikeout rate dipped to 19% after posting a 21.3% K-rate in 2024 and a 22.2% K-rate in Triple-A this year.

Waldron also throws a four-seamer, sinker, cutter, and slider but his bread and butter is the knuckleball, and when it's not doing what he wants it to do, that's when he gets hit. That's because his four-seamer sits at only 90-91 mph and the cutter comes in at 87 mph. The slider is clocked at around 80 mph.

The Blue Jays' bullpen is a bit banged up right now, so the addition of Waldron will really help as they get set to take on the Chicago Cubs in a make up game on Thursday (Aug. 6), weather depending, then they start a three game set on Friday in Philadelphia against the Phillies.

Blue Jays got more than they could have expected out of Patrick Corbin

Corbin's move to the 60-day IL likely means he's pitched his last game with the Blue Jays in 2026. He signed a one-year deal with the Blue Jays in at the beginning of April and made his season debut on Apr. 10 and pitched very effectively through his first ten starts. He posted a 3.65 ERA while tossing 49.1 innings, doing his best to save the Blue Jays at least one spot in their rotation as the injuries piled up.

But Corbin couldn't make the good times last. He made five starts in June and posted an 8.69 ERA in 19.2 innings, before being moved to the bullpen in July where he posted an 8.18 ERA in 11 innings pitched, although he did pick up the first save of his career since his rookie season in 2012 with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

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