Blue Jays DFA Paxton Schultz

The Toronto Blue Jays made their four-year, $60 million contract with NPB star Kazuma Okamoto official on Sunday, just before his posting window closed. A six-time NPB All-Star, Okamoto was one of the top hitters on the free agent market.

To make room for Okamoto on their 40-man roster, the Jays designated right-handed pitcher Paxton Schultz for assignment. The 28-year-old has been in the organization since May 2021, when he arrived from the Brewers as the player to be named later to complete the Derek Fisher trade. The Jays had acquired Fisher two years earlier in a deal that sent Aaron Sanchez, Joe Biagini, and Cal Stevenson to the Astros. (You can read more about active Blue Jays trade strings at this link.)

Schultz made his MLB debut with Toronto in 2025, pitching to a 4.38 ERA and 3.83 xERA over 24.2 innings. He struck out 28 batters (25.5%) and walked only eight (7.3%).

In his very first outing, Schultz threw 4.1 innings of scoreless relief against the Mariners, striking out eight of the 16 hitters he faced. Unfortunately, he never looked that sharp again. Following a mid-summer IL stint with middle finger inflammation, the righty only made one more appearance for the major league club, a scoreless inning on August 24. He was recalled once more in September but did not pitch in a game, nor did he pitch for Toronto in the playoffs. 

With all that in mind, it's not a shock to see Schultz DFA'd. He gave the Blue Jays some good innings in 2025, but roster spots are a valuable commodity. The Jays have significantly improved their pitching staff this offseason, not only with the likes of Dylan Cease, Cody Ponce, and Tyler Rogers, but also more promising depth arms like Chase Lee and Spencer Miles. Eventually, Schultz became the odd man out. 

If Schultz clears waivers, the Blue Jays will be able to outright him to the minors and keep him in their organization. However, considering the promise he flashed in 2025, it wouldn't be surprising to see another team put in a claim. 

Featured image courtesy of Dan Hamilton, Imagn Images.