The Toronto Blue Jays have successfully acquired pitcher Connor Seabold from the Detroit Tigers. This move comes after the Tigers designated Seabold for assignment, paving the way for the transaction. In exchange, the Blue Jays have sent left-handed pitcher Juanmi Vasquez to Detroit.
Details of Seabold’s Acquisition
Connor Seabold, 30, is out of options and requires a spot on the active roster once he joins the Blue Jays. To accommodate his arrival, the team has moved pitcher José Berríos to the 60-day injured list. Berríos underwent Tommy John surgery and will be sidelined for the remainder of the season.
Seabold’s Performance History
Seabold began the season with the Blue Jays on a minor league contract. He has a career earned run average (ERA) of 7.79 across 119 innings, primarily functioning as a swingman. His initial role in the spring was expected to be as a multi-inning depth option.
- Pitching Stats:
- Average fastball velocity: 92 mph (historically); 94.1 mph (current season)
- Spring Training ERA: 6.75 over 6.2 innings
- Strikeout rate during spring: 39.4%
Despite showing promise with increased velocity in spring training, Seabold was unable to secure a roster spot with the Blue Jays. He opted out of his contract, leading to his signing with the Tigers. While pitching for Detroit, he recorded a 3.45 ERA over 15.2 innings across 11 appearances, with a fastball averaging 93.5 mph.
Blue Jays’ Roster Adjustments
With their roster increasingly strained by injuries, the Blue Jays now have more flexibility. Since the season began, they have lost several key players to the injured list, including:
- Dylan Cease
- Cody Ponce
- Lazaro Estrada
- Max Scherzer
- Joe Mantiply
- Tommy Nance
The addition of Connor Seabold could provide the Blue Jays with the depth they need as they navigate through a challenging season. More updates are expected as the situation develops.
