


The Blue Jays beefed up their bullpen in a big way just two days before MLB’s trade deadline.
Toronto acquired reliever Seranthony Dominguez from the Orioles for pitching prospect Juaron Watts-Brown — in between games of their Tuesday doubleheader.
Dominguez is one of the hardest-throwing relievers in the game, with his fastball averaging 97.8 mph, ranking in the 94th percentile in all of baseball.
Acquired by the Orioles from the Phillies last season, the 30-year-old has bounced back after a topsy-turvy 2024, lowering his home runs allowed per nine innings from 2.4 a year ago to 0.9 this season.
Overall, the right-hander has a 3.24 ERA (3.47 FIP) with 54 strikeouts over 41 2/3 innings.
With the move, Toronto adds a key piece to its bullpen that ranks 17th in bullpen ERA (3.94) and seventh in WHIP (1.23).
The Blue Jays have surged into the American League East lead over the past month and hold a five-game edge over the scuffling Yankees, who have already shored up their infield with the acquisitions of Ryan McMahon of the Rockies and Amed Rosario from the Nationals.

On the flip side, the Orioles sold a second hard-throwing reliever in the last week after they dealt lefty Gregory Soto to the Mets.
Baltimore came into the year with sky-high expectations after two straight seasons of postseason berths and a young core in tow.
But things have veered off course for the Orioles, who sit in last place in the AL East at 49-58 — the only team in the division with a record below .500.

Watts-Brown, going back to Baltimore, ranked 10th in Toronto’s farm system on MLB Pipeline, thanks in part to a 60-grade slider.
In 11 starts at Double-A this year, he holds a 3.48 ERA with 53 strikeouts.