The Toronto Blue Jays are in surviving in the midst of the 2025 season. With a pitching rotation already stretched thin and a brutal 22-games-in-23-days stretch ahead, the team was forced to make some tough roster decisions Tuesday.
A most difficult one was cutting ties with reliever Erik Swanson, a player who at one time looked like a key piece of their future.
Toronto Blue Jays Face Pitching Rotation Problem
News that starting pitcher Bowden Francis was going on the 15-day Injured List due to a right shoulder impingement was the first blow. Despite having a 6.05 ERA in 14 starts this season, Francis was still one of the Blue Jays’ few reliable firearms to eat innings.
Only Chris Bassitt, Kevin Gausman, and José Berríos are Toronto’s real starters now that he is out. They are followed by a patchwork group of Triple-A call-ups and lengthy relievers, including swingmen Spencer Turnbull and Eric Lauer and Paxton Schultz, who was recalled from Buffalo.
News: The #BlueJays have placed Bowden Francis on the 15-day IL with a “right shoulder impingement”
Erik Swanson has been designated for assignment.
RHP Paxton Schultz and LHP Justin Bruihl are up from AAA.
— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) June 17, 2025
But the more emotional move was designating Swanson for assignment. Swanson was one of Toronto’s most reliable bullpen arms, coming off a strong 2023 campaign where he posted a 2.97 ERA over nearly 67 innings. He played a major role in late-game situations, locking down high-leverage spots with confidence and poise.
It has been a different tale both on and off the field for the right-hander. Swanson’s personal nightmare of 2024 started when his little son, Toby, was hit by a car while he was in spring training.
Fortunately, Toby made a full recovery, but Swanson’s emotional damage was clear. He also struggled with forearm irritation and missed the season’s first few games. After being optioned to Triple-A, he finished the 2024 season strong but was already behind entering 2025 due to another injury, this time with a nerve problem in his throwing arm.
Struggles and Clause Result In DFA
Nothing had changed since returning to the Blue Jays’ roster. He’s been hammered hard in just over five innings, with just three strikeouts, five walks, and nine earned runs. He no longer appears to be the pitcher he once was, and Swanson’s velocity has significantly decreased.
Swanson cannot be sent back to Triple-A without consenting to it because he has more than five years of MLB service experience. The Blue Jays had to make the decision to DFA him because they needed roster space and time was running out.
It’s a reminder that although baseball is frequently a business, it also has real people with real problems. Despite his uncertain future, Swanson will always be remembered for his perseverance both on and off the mound. The Blue Jays now turn to younger players like Justin Bruihl to fill the void left by Swanson’s departure.