DETROIT, MI – JULY 16: A detailed view of a Toronto Blue Jays baseball hat and glove sitting on the dugout steps during the game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on July 16, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers defeated the Blue Jays 6-5. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
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The Toronto Blue Jays have spent much of the season searching for reliable pitching depth, forcing the organization to take chances on veteran arms who could provide innings when needed.
Those gambles have included the acquisitions of veteran hurlers Patrick Corbin and Simeon Woods-Richardson this season, among others. And one of those gambles was particularly unique and short-lived, when the Blue Jays acquired Matt Waldron, whose unusual knuckleball repertoire made him an especially intriguing addition.
But the move did not work out as Toronto hoped.
“Waldron first came to Toronto in early August when he was claimed off waivers from the San Diego Padres,” Sportsnet reported. “The 29-year-old registered a 10.38 ERA and three strikeouts over 4.1 innings with the Blue Jays, making four appearances with the club.”
After the Blue Jays designated him for assignment, Waldron landed with the Washington Nationals. But after a scary injury, that latest stop was quickly interrupted as well.
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The Nationals placed Waldron on the injured list this week, retroactive to last week, because of a chest injury suffered during a comebacker while he was on the mound.
“The Nationals placed Waldron on the 15-day injured list Tuesday, retroactive to Saturday, with chest inflammation,” CBS Sports reported. “Waldron has pitched 5.2 shutout innings since joining the Nationals in late August, but the team will now be without his services until at least Sept. 20 as he manages his chest injury.”
Waldron had made just one start with the Nationals after his brief and difficult stint with Toronto, and he had managed to find some immediate success with his new club, before the unfortunate injury setback.
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Waldon’s journey to Washington followed an eventful season in San Diego.
Waldron dealt with an extended absence early in the year before returning to the Padres, but he struggled over 10 appearances, including three starts, before San Diego designated him for assignment in late July.
The Blue Jays then gave him another opportunity, but his short stay in Toronto produced little improvement. Still, despite those struggles, Waldron possesses something few pitchers in Major League Baseball can offer.
“In claiming Waldron, the Jays are adding the only active knuckleballer in the sport,” Steve Adams noted for MLB Trade Rumors at the time. “About 29% of his pitches this season — and nearly 36% of his career pitches in the majors — have been knucklers.”
His unusual arsenal gives him a potential path to remaining useful as a starter, bulk reliever or depth option when healthy. For now, though, the Nationals will have to wait to see what he can offer at the end of the season.
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