The Toronto Blue Jays have released Erik Swanson after he cleared waivers, following a disappointing season where he accumulated a 15.19 ERA in just six appearances. Swanson, who faced nerve and forearm issues earlier this year, had struggled to find his form even after returning from injury. Acquired from the Seattle Mariners in a trade for slugger Teoscar Hernandez, Swanson was once a dependable reliever, posting a stellar 1.68 ERA in 2022. His performance in 2023, however, saw a significant regression, prompting the team's decision to part ways with the 31-year-old.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider reflected on the tough conversation it was to inform Swanson of the decision, noting his contributions over the past years. While Swanson began his career with the Mariners in 2019 and showcased his potential in 2022, his time in Toronto ended under unfortunate circumstances as injuries took a toll on his performance.

The Toronto Blue Jays are navigating through a tough stretch as they announced significant changes to their pitching roster. Starting pitcher Bowden Francis has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to a right shoulder impingement, retroactive to his last start on Sunday. Despite a promising second half of the 2024 season, Francis has struggled this year with a disappointing 2-8 record and a 6.05 ERA over 14 starts. Manager John Schneider noted that while there's no structural damage, there is inflammation that needs to be addressed.

Meanwhile, Erik Swanson has been designated for assignment after a rough start to the season where he recorded a 15.19 ERA across six appearances. Schneider expressed the difficulty of the decision given Swanson's past reliability as a high-leverage reliever, especially considering his injury struggles earlier in the season. To bolster their roster, the Blue Jays have added Justin Bruihl to the major league team and called up Paxton Schultz from Triple-A Buffalo. There's potential good news on the horizon with Max Scherzer set to throw in a minor league rehab appearance soon, alongside fellow injured reliever Yimi Garcia, indicating some relief for a depleted pitching staff.

The Toronto Blue Jays have placed starter Bowden Francis on the 15-day injured list due to a right shoulder impingement, a move retroactive to Sunday. After a promising second half in 2024, Francis has struggled this season, recording a 2-8 record and a 6.05 ERA over 14 starts.

In related moves, the Blue Jays designated reliever Erik Swanson for assignment and promoted left-hander Justin Bruihl to their major-league roster. Swanson, who missed the first two months of the season with a nerve issue, has been ineffective upon his return, posting a 15.19 ERA over six appearances.

The Toronto Blue Jays' offseason acquisition of Max Scherzer comes with high hopes, yet the veteran hurler's thumb injury has limited him to just one outing this season. In that appearance, Scherzer allowed two runs over three innings in a 9-5 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. With a current team ERA of 4.35, the Blue Jays are eager for Scherzer's return, especially given the struggles of their back-end starters like Bowden Francis and Easton Lucas. Encouragingly, Scherzer is set to face live hitters soon, paving the way for his much-anticipated return.

In addition to Scherzer, the team's bullpen is also in transition with Erik Swanson and Ryan Burr on track to return. These developments could significantly bolster Toronto's pitching depth as they battle for positioning in the AL East, currently trailing the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees.