ROSTER MOVES: 🔹 LHP Brendan Cellucci selected to the Major League roster and will be active tonight 🔹 RHP Matt Waldron DFA’d Welcome to The Show, Brendan!
Blue Jays select Brendan Cellucci, designate Matt Waldron for assignment
Photo credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 19, 2026, 15:41 EDTUpdated: Aug 19, 2026, 16:07 EDT
The 2026 Toronto Blue Jays’ bullpen shuffle continued on Tuesday.
Before their contest against the Tampa Bay Rays, the Blue Jays announced that they selected the contract of left-hander Brendan Cellucci and that he will be active for tonight’s contest.
Originally selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 12th round of the 2019 MLB draft, Cellucci was released on July 28, 2025, after spending parts of five seasons within the Red Sox organization.
On January 19, 2026, the Blue Jays signed Cellucci to a minor-league contract and assigned him to Double-A New Hampshire. After one scoreless appearance, the 28-year-old was promoted to Triple-A to join the Buffalo Bisons, a spot where he has spent the rest of 2026.
In 39 games with the Bisons this season, Cellucci is 6-2 with a 3.68 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. The lefty has struck out 44 batters across his 44 innings and held opponents to a .248 average during that span.
If Cellucci makes an appearance for the Blue Jays, it will mark his MLB debut after 219 career outings in the minor leagues in which he went 22-15 with a 4.79 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP.
Fourteen of Cellucci’s 40 appearances this season have been for more than one inning, giving the Blue Jays an option to cover multiple frames should the opportunity present itself.
In a corresponding move, the Blue Jays designated Matt Waldron for assignment. The Blue Jays claimed Waldron off waivers from the San Diego Padres on August 5, and during his two weeks with the club the right-hander appeared in four games.
Across his four outings, Waldron pitched to a 10.38 ERA and a 2.08 WHIP. The 29-year-old struck out three batters over his 4.1 innings pitched, but gave up five earned runs and allowed opponents to hit .389 off him.
For the season between both the Padres and Blue Jays, Waldron has pitched in 14 games (three starts) and is 1-2 with a 7.54 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP. The knuckleballer has struck out 31 in his 37 innings but has allowed an opponent’s average of .327.
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