Matt Waldron's time with the Blue Jays is officially over after the Nationals claimed him off waivers.
The right-hander had been designated for assignment recently when Toronto needed room for Brendan Cellucci's callup.
Waldron appeared in 13 games for the Blue Jays this season before that move ended his stint in Toronto.
Getting claimed is actually the better outcome for a player in his spot. It means Washington saw enough value to add him straight to their active roster.
That's a different path than clearing waivers and heading to the minors, which has been the fate of a few other Blue Jays arms this season.
-
Why claims like this happen during a stretch run
Teams out of playoff contention often use August waiver claims to check out potential pieces for next season.
Washington isn't chasing a wild-card spot right now, which gives them room to take a flier on a reliever like Waldron without much downside.
For Toronto, this closes the book on a depth arm who never quite settled into a defined bullpen role.
The DFA and subsequent claim also quietly speaks to how competitive Toronto's pitching depth has become during this playoff push.
There's always someone else pushing for a spot, and Waldron becomes the latest reminder of that.
He'll get a fresh look in Washington, away from the pressure of a team fighting for its playoff life every single night.
Whether this claim turns into a real opportunity for him, or just another short stop on a crowded transaction log, is still to be determined as his 2026 season has not gone according to plan.
Will Matt Waldron get more of a chance to pitch with the Nationals than he did with the Blue Jays?
Also read on Blue Jays Insider :
Blue Jays make roster moves as Davis Schneider is done in Toronto
