Baltimore, USA – Amidst a doubleheader against the Orioles, the Toronto Blue Jays made a strategic move to bolster their bullpen, acquiring Dominican right-handed pitcher Seranthony Domínguez from Baltimore, according to reports from MLB.com.
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The trade, which has not yet been officially confirmed by the clubs, sends promising minor league right-hander Juaron Watts-Brown, tenth prospect of the Blue Jays according to MLB Pipeline, to the Orioles. Domínguez, 30, didn’t have to change cities or take a flight: he just crossed the field at Oriole Park at Camden Yards to immediately join his new American League team. The veteran reliever arrives with a dominant fastball that averages 97.8 miles per hour and reaches three digits, thus joining a bullpen that has been a priority for improvement for Toronto. In the current season, Domínguez has recorded an ERA of 3.24 in 41 2/3 innings, with 54 strikeouts and a rate of 11.7 K/9, although also with an increase in his number of walks (5.2 BB/9). The Dominican is in the last year of a three-season contract and earns a salary of 8 million dollars. Toronto remains active in the market, showing great interest in the Cardinals’ closer, Ryan Helsley, among other relievers. The recent 16-4 thrashing suffered in Tuesday’s first game reinforced the urgency to shore up the bullpen. Domínguez could take on the role of preparer that Yimi García recently vacated, currently on the injured list. He will join a bullpen that includes Jeff Hoffman, Brendon Little, Braydon Fisher and Yariel Rodríguez, consolidating a more solid and aggressive rearguard. For his part, Watts-Brown, 22, is considered one of the most interesting arms in development in the Toronto system. In High-A and Double-A this season, he has accumulated an ERA of 3.54, with 115 strikeouts in 89 innings, driven by his devastating slider. Curiously, like Domínguez, the young pitcher will also change teams by crossing the diamond, as his affiliate, New Hampshire, faces this week the Bowie team, the Double-A affiliate of the Orioles. With the trade deadline set for this Thursday at 6:00 p.m. (Eastern Time), the Blue Jays are expected to continue to move aggressively in search of the pieces that will keep them competitive in the final stretch of the season.
