The Toronto Blue Jays are saying goodbye to a depth arm from the 2025 season.

Paxton Schultz has been claimed off waivers by the Washington Nationals, the Blue Jays announced on Friday.

Schultz was designated for assignment on Jan .4 to make room on Toronto’s 40-man roster for Kazuma Okamoto.

The 28-year-old right-hander made his major league debut for the Blue Jays last season and tied the MLB record for strikeouts by a reliever in their debut with eight against the Seattle Mariners on April 20. He made 13 appearances (two opener starts) and pitched to a 4.38 ERA and 1.42 WHIP with 28 strikeouts and eight walks over 24.2 innings.

Schultz also spent a good portion of the season in Buffalo, logging a 3.31 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 46 strikeouts, and 17 walks over 49 innings.

Drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 14th round of the 2019 MLB Amateur Draft, Schultz was traded to Toronto in 2021 as the player to be named later in Milwaukee’s previous trade for Derek Fisher.

Considering the formidable rotation depth the Blue Jays have amassed this season, including Shane Bieber picking up his player option and the signings of Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce, Toronto has less of a need for a player who can make spot starts and throw bulk innings than they previously.

Ponce and Bowden Francis are both potential candidates to occupy a swingman role, as is Eric Lauer, who did not come to an agreement with the Blue Jays ahead of Thursday’s arbitration deadline and is set for a hearing.