Blue Jays' Erik Swanson: Avoids arbitration with Toronto
Rotowire
Swanson agreed to a one-year, $3 million contract with the Blue Jays on Friday to avoid arbitration, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Swanson will stick around in Toronto for a third straight season after being acquired from the Mariners in November of 2022. Swanson spent most of the 2024 regulars season in the majors, and across 45 outings with the Blue Jays, he posted a 5.03 ERA and 1.27 WHIP over 39.1 innings. The 31-year-old will provide right-handed relief out of Toronto's bullpen for the 2025 campaign.
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Blue Jays' Erik Swanson: Rejoins major-league roster
Rotowire
The Blue Jays recalled Swanson from Triple-A Buffalo on Friday, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.
Swanson's first 12 appearances at Buffalo didn't go well, as he was tagged for 22 runs (17 earned) over 10 innings. He had been better lately though, yielding two runs with a 5:1 K:BB over his last 5.1 frames. Swanson likely won't see high-leverage work right away, but he could find himself in a prominent role if the Blue Jays ship out relievers like Yimi Garcia and Trevor Richards before the trade deadline.
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Blue Jays' Erik Swanson: Could be recalled soon
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The Blue Jays are considering recalling Swanson from Triple-A Buffalo soon, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Swanson was pulled from his most recent appearance with Buffalo this past Thursday due to a heat-related illness, but he's expected to be fine. The reliever was dreadful in his first 12 appearances with Buffalo after being sent down May 28, posting a 15.30 ERA and 11:12 K:BB. However, he's turned in consecutive scoreless outings, and his improved form of late seems to have convinced the Blue Jays that he's ready to help out the big-league bullpen.
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Blue Jays' Erik Swanson: Demoted to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Blue Jays optioned Swanson to Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday.
After finishing with a sub-3.00 ERA in each of the past two seasons, Swanson has allowed 14 earned runs in 13.2 frames to begin the 2024 campaign. He's been trending in the right direction as of late, posting a 3.52 ERA across 7.2 innings since May 7, but he will head to Triple-A nonetheless to ensure that his struggles will be completely behind him by the time he pitches on a big-league mound again. Chad Green (shoulder) was reinstated from the injured list to take Swanson's roster spot.
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Blue Jays' Erik Swanson: Collects fifth hold
Rotowire
Swanson gave up a run on two hits in one-third of an inning Monday to record his fifth hold of the season in a 5-1 win over the White Sox.
The right-hander served up a solo shot to Gavin Sheets, the fifth homer Swanson has given up in only 13.2 innings this season. He still carries a 9.22 ERA, but most of that damage came early in the season -- over his last nine appearances, Swanson has a 3.52 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 6:2 K:BB in 7.2 innings. Monday's hold was his first in May, and he appears to be close to regaining a regular spot in the Blue Jays' high-leverage crew.
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Blue Jays' Erik Swanson: Struggles in season debut
Rotowire
Swanson (0-1) took the loss Wednesday against the Yankees, allowing three runs on three hits in one-third of an inning.
Jordan Romano had pitched Tuesday, Yimi Garcia had worked three of the past four days and Chad Green was unavailable due to shoulder soreness, so Swanson was brought in to protect a two-run lead in the ninth in his 2024 debut. The right-hander gave up a leadoff homer to Giancarlo Stanton followed by two more hits. Swanson would coax a groundout from Oswaldo Cabrera before he was replaced by Tim Mayza, who allowed both inherited runners to score. Swanson pitched to a 2.97 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 75:12 K:BB across 66.2 innings last season, and while the Blue Jays likely would have preferred not to thrust him into a high-leverage spot so soon after his return from a forearm issue, he would have been in the late-inning mix eventually.
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Blue Jays' Erik Swanson: Rejoins Toronto bullpen
Rotowire
Swanson (forearm) was activated from the 15-day injured list by the Blue Jays on Tuesday, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.
Swanson got a late start to the season because of right forearm inflammation but has been cleared to return following three rehab appearances. He is in line for a setup role in the Blue Jays' bullpen, although it's possible he'll be eased back into high-leverage situations.
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Blue Jays' Erik Swanson: Expected back Tuesday
Rotowire
Swanson (forearm) is likely to be activated from the injured list Tuesday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Swanson has been out all season with right forearm inflammation but is ready to roll after making three rehab appearances. He will be in line for setup duties ahead of closer Jordan Romano (elbow), who is also on track for activation Tuesday.
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Blue Jays' Erik Swanson: Return from IL imminent
Rotowire
Swanson (forearm) has pronounced himself ready to go after pitching with Triple-A Buffalo on Thursday and Saturday, Mike Wilner of The Toronto Star reports.
The Blue Jays have been getting by with Chad Green and Yimi Garcia at the back end of the bullpen so far, but they're getting reinforcements back this week with Swanson and Jordan Romano. We'll see how quickly they get inserted into high-leverage roles.
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Blue Jays' Erik Swanson: Throws another BP session
Rotowire
Swanson (forearm) threw another bullpen session Monday, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.
Swanson opened the season on the 15-day injured list due to forearm tightness. He threw off the mound Saturday, and Blue Jays manager John Schneider noted that Monday's follow-up session went well. Swanson appears to be trending towards a minimum stay on the injured list.
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Blue Jays' Erik Swanson: Throws off mound
Rotowire
Swanson (forearm) threw a bullpen session Saturday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Swanson felt "really good" after his session Saturday, and the right-hander will likely throw another bullpen before progressing to facing live hitters. Swanson has been battling forearm inflammation since mid-March but seems to be trending toward a short stay on the injured list.
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Blue Jays' Erik Swanson: Bound for IL
Rotowire
Blue Jays manager John Schneider confirmed Wednesday that Swanson (forearm) will begin the season on the injured list, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
It's confirmation of what had been expected, though an official IL move is still pending. Swanson has been throwing on flat ground as he works his way back from right forearm tightness, and a return to mound work is expected soon. With both Swanson and Jordan Romano (elbow) out, the Blue Jays are expected to use a committee at closer to start the season. Chad Green, Yimi Garcia and Tim Mayza seem to be the most likely candidates.
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Blue Jays' Erik Swanson: Likely ticketed for IL
Rotowire
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Monday that Swanson (forearm) will likely begin the season on the 15-day injured list, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Toronto appears set to head into Opening Day without its top setup man in Swanson and its closer in Jordan Romano, who is unlikely to be available for the first couple weeks of the season while building back up from an elbow injury. Swanson seems to be in a similar spot to Romano in his recovery from a right forearm tightness, as the former has been able to play catch in recent days and is expected to resume throwing off a mound around the middle of the week. If Swanson is able to throw multiple bullpen and live batting practice sessions without issue, he could head out on a brief minor-league rehab assignment before joining the Toronto bullpen when or shortly after he's eligible to come off the IL on April 9. While Swanson and Romano are both temporarily out of the Blue Jays' bullpen mix, Yimi Garcia, Chad Green and Tim Mayza could be candidates to pick up saves.
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Blue Jays' Erik Swanson: Plays catch again
Rotowire
Swanson (forearm) played catch again Friday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
The right-hander has played catch two days in a row after a brief shutdown period with forearm tightness. The Blue Jays' intention is wait until the end of camp before deciding whether Swanson will be part of the Opening Day roster or need a stay on the injured list.
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Blue Jays' Erik Swanson: Plays catch Thursday
Rotowire
Swanson (forearm) played catch Thursday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Swanson "felt great" during the session, per Blue Jays manager John Schneider. More should be known within the next few days as to whether Swanson will be able to avoid a stint on the injured list to start the season, but he took a nice step Thursday.
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Blue Jays' Erik Swanson: Returns to Blue Jays' camp
Rotowire
Swanson (personal) has returned to Blue Jays' camp, Mike Wilner of the Toronto Star reports.
Swanson was away for a few days after his son, Toby, was struck by an SUV on Sunday in Florida. Most importantly, this means Toby's condition is improving. Secondarily, Swanson can now resume his throwing program and has plenty of time to get ready for Opening Day.
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Blue Jays' Erik Swanson: Gets $2.75 million
Rotowire
Swanson agreed to a one-year, $2.75 million deal with the Blue Jays on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Swanson was an excellent setup man for closer Jordan Romano in his first year with the Blue Jays after getting traded from Seattle. Swanson had a 2.97 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 75 strikeouts, four wins and four saves in 66.2 innings.
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Blue Jays' Erik Swanson: Returns from IL
Rotowire
The Blue Jays activated Swanson (back) from the 15-day injured list Monday.
As anticipated, Swanson will rejoin the Toronto bullpen after a minimum-length stay on the shelf while he recovered from thoracic spine inflammation. Swanson delivered a perfect inning of relief in his lone rehab appearance at Triple-A Buffalo over the weekend and should be ready to step back into a key setup role in front of closer Jordan Romano.
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Blue Jays' Erik Swanson: Could be in line for brief IL stint
Rotowire
The Blue Jays are optimistic that Swanson (spine) will be in store for an abbreviated stay on the 15-day injured list, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Swanson landed on the IL on Sunday with thoracic spine inflammation, an injury that cropped up a day earlier in his relief appearance against the Guardians. While Swanson may still face an uphill battle to be ready to return from the IL when first eligible Sept. 11, the Blue Jays expect that he'll be cleared to start throwing again following a 10-day shutdown period. A precise target date for his return would then be established based on how his spine responds after he gradually ramps up the intensity of his throwing.
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Blue Jays' Erik Swanson: Hits IL with spine inflammation
Rotowire
Swanson was placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday with thoracic spine inflammation.
Swanson left early in his relief appearance in Saturday's game against Cleveland with what the Blue Jays initially labeled as right mid-back discomfort, but the right-hander later underwent an MRI that revealed a more precise diagnosis, per Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca. The Blue Jays called up right-hander Jay Jackson from Triple-A Buffalo to take over the active roster spot of Swanson, who has picked up three wins, four saves and 28 holds to go with a 3.10 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 67:19 K:BB across 58 innings this season.
