Blair and Barker offer instant analysis of the Toronto Blue Jays acquiring right-hander Seranthony Dominguez from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for pitching prospect Juaron Watts-Brown.
BALTIMORE The Toronto Blue Jays made their first move to bolster a bullpen in need of help ahead of the trade deadline, acquiring right-hander Seranthony Dominguez from the Baltimore Orioles for pitching prospect Juaron Watts-Brown, an industry source told Sportsnet.
Completed between games of a doubleheader between the clubs, the 30-year-old right-hander with a fastball that averages 97.7 m.p.h. adds the type of power reliever essential for contending clubs.
Dominguez also throws a sweeper, sinker, splitter and curveball, helping him strike out 54 batters in 41.2 innings with the Orioles, although hes also walked 24 and his 5.2 walks-per-nine is the highest of his career.
Regardless, with the status of Yimi Garcia uncertain and needing to bolster around a leverage group featuring closer Jeff Hoffman and set-up men Brendon Little and Yariel Rodriguez, Dominguez offers a major boost.
For the pending free agent, the Blue Jays surrendered Watts-Brown, a third-rounder in 2023 who jumped from high-A Vancouver to double-A New Hampshire this season, posting a 3.84 ERA in 89 innings across 19 innings with 115 strikeouts between the two levels.
