The Toronto Blue Jays will have one less pitcher with them heading into the new season than they may have hoped.
They had removed Paxton Schultz from the 40-man roster earlier this season, and that meant he had to pass through waivers.
The Washington Nationals didn't let that happen. They claimed Schultz on Friday, with the move announced by the Blue Jays.
Schultz made his MLB debut in 2025 and pitched in 13 games for Toronto. He had a 4.38 ERA.
He allowed 12 earned runs in 24.2 innings pitched. He struck out 28 batters and walked eight.
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Schultz just turned 28 years old on Jan. 5. He's 6-foot-3, a big right-hander. He was originally a 14th-round pick of the Brewers in 2019 out of Utah Valley University.
He did most of his 2025 pitching at Triple-A Buffalo. There, he had a 3.31 ERA in 25 appearances.
Schultz has a career minor league strikeouts per nine innings ratio of 9.5.
If he can keep his walks in check, he can stick around in the major leagues.
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The Nationals are a lot lower down the competitiveness ladder than the Blue Jays, which should allow Schultz a better chance to make the roster and stick around the majors.
Back in Toronto, the active offseason Blue Jays seem likely to just keep adding players in a way that will mean they don't miss Schultz much at all.
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