Blue Jays claim Paul Sewald after he was DFA’d by Diamondbacks

PHOENIX — The Toronto Blue Jays claimed relief pitcher Paul Sewald on Wednesday after the Arizona Diamondbacks designated him for assignment before Monday’s game.

Sewald will report to the Blue Jays’ major league club, which entered Wednesday 2.5 games back of the third American League Wild Card spot. Toronto won the AL pennant last season but has struggled to reclaim that form with a 58-63 record.

Sewald signed with the Diamondbacks during spring training and became Arizona’s closer, as he was from the 2023 trade deadline through July 2024.

The arrangement worked out well for the two parties, as Sewald started the year 23-for-24 in save opportunities. A stretch of five appearances in which he blew two saves and allowed 11 runs spelled the end of his second stint in Arizona.

The Diamondbacks let him go to add Zack Littell, a swing man who has already provided bulk innings out of the Diamondbacks’ bullpen.

Sewald became the first Diamondbacks pitcher with 20 saves in a season since Brad Boxberger in 2018, and his 53 saves with the franchise are sixth all-time. He was nine away from tying Brad Ziegler for a spot in the top five.

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