Blue Jays Trade for Reliever Seranthony Dominguez from Orioles
The Toronto Blue Jays have made their highly anticipated first move to bolster the team’s bullpen as the MLB Trade Deadline looms, acquiring right-handed reliever Seranthony Domínguez and cash considerations from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for the Blue Jays’ No. 10 prospect, starting pitcher Juaron Watts-Brown, according to Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith and Shai Davidi.
The Blue Jays are not done acquiring arms either. The team remains heavily involved in trade talks surrounding Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley, per MLB Network’s Mark Feinsand, among other names the Blue Jays have reportedly checked in on across the trade market. The bullpen has been the Blue Jays’ most obvious route to upgrading their roster as they prepare to defend their spot atop the AL East in the final two months of the season. After a flurry of rough games on their most recent road trip—including a 16–4 loss in the first game of a doubleheader on Tuesday—their need for bullpen help has only become more obvious.
Domínguez will act as a rental for the Blue Jays, now in the final year of a four-year deal, earning $8 million this season. The Blue Jays know him well, as he was dealt to the Orioles from the Philadelphia Phillies at last year’s trade deadline. Now in his age-30 season, Domínguez adds a flamethrower to the Blue Jays’ bullpen, with a fastball averaging 97.8 mph and frequently flirting with triple digits.
This season, Domínguez has posted a 3.24 ERA with the Orioles. While walks have been an issue for the back-end reliever (5.2 BB/9), he has struck out 54 batters in 41 2/3 innings (11.7 K/9). The Blue Jays need a reliable arm capable of dominating an inning with high swing-and-miss capability—especially with the timetable for Yimi García’s return still uncertain—and Domínguez fits the bill.
For years, including 2024, when the Blue Jays held the second-worst bullpen ERA in MLB, they consistently trailed the rest of the league in high-velocity, high-strikeout relief pitchers. However, that narrative is shifting quickly as they have begun to leap ahead of most of the league. Domínguez should slot into a role similar to the one García held before his ankle and elbow injury. Alongside Jeff Hoffman, Brendon Little, Yariel Rodríguez, and 2025 breakout Braydon Fisher, the back end of the bullpen is taking serious shape—especially with another arm still in their sights.
Going the other way to the Orioles is Watts-Brown, one of several recent pitching success stories emerging from the Blue Jays’ farm system. This season marked a significant step forward for the 2023 third-round draftee, who posted a 3.54 ERA with 115 strikeouts across 89 innings split between High-A Vancouver and Double-A New Hampshire, thanks partly to a devastating 60-grade slider.
In a funny coincidence, both Domínguez and Watts-Brown only had to make the trek across the diamond to join their new clubs: the Blue Jays and Orioles were in the middle of a doubleheader, while their Double-A affiliates—New Hampshire and Chesapeake—were also in the midst of a three-game series.
The Blue Jays’ farm system has significantly improved its league ranking over the past year, supplying five Top 100 MLB prospects. This has granted general manager Ross Atkins and the front office a strong position to deal from—an advantage that should continue to factor in as the Blue Jays look to complete more trades to bolster their first-place roster ahead of Thursday’s 6 p.m. EST trade deadline.
