Blue Jays Announce Roster News on Friday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Jan 9, 2026 3:01 PM ET

The Toronto Blue Jays have emerged as a legitimate long-term contender in MLB following last year’s breakthrough run to the World Series.

Determined to sustain that success, the front office has operated aggressively this offseason, positioning itself as one of the clear winners.

The club’s latest move was the addition of Japanese infielder Kazuma Okamoto, who agreed to a four-year, $60 million contract.

The 29-year-old right-handed slugger is expected to provide even more depth to an already loaded lineup and bring valuable international experience.

In his final season overseas with the Yomiuri Giants, Okamoto delivered standout production, posting a .322 batting average, .416 on-base percentage, 1.014 OPS, 15 home runs and 51 RBIs across 77 games.

Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider (14) © Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

With Okamoto’s deal finalized and his addition to the 40-man roster complete, the Blue Jays were forced to designate a player for assignment to clear space. That player was right-handed reliever Paxton Schultz.

Toronto had hoped he would pass through waivers, allowing the club to keep him in the minors as a depth option with big-league experience. Instead, the Nationals swooped in.

On Friday, the Blue Jays announced that Schultz had been claimed off waivers by Washington, officially ending his tenure with the organization.

ROSTER MOVE:

RHP Paxton Schultz has been claimed off waivers by the Nationals pic.twitter.com/jQ3EStsfnI
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) January 9, 2026

Schultz’s path in MLB began when the Milwaukee Brewers selected him in the 14th round of the 2019 draft.

He was traded to Toronto in 2021 and steadily climbed through the system, logging more than 200 innings at Triple-A with mixed results as a starter before finding success in a relief role. That transition opened the door for his debut in 2025, when he worked primarily as a multi-inning option out of the bullpen.

Schultz finished with a 4.38 ERA across 24 2/3 innings, showing flashes of reliability despite a small sample size. His designation for assignment came just before his 28th birthday, and with two minor league option years remaining, Washington saw value in claiming him as a controllable bullpen piece.

For Toronto, Schultz’s departure trims depth but underscores the front office’s aggressive pursuit of upgrades. With Okamoto secured, the Blue Jays remain focused on building a roster capable of sustaining championship contention well beyond 2026.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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