CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today claimed right-handed pitcher Julian Merryweather off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays. To make room for Merryweather on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Manuel Rodríguez has been designated for assignment.
Merryweather, 31, appeared in 26 games (one start) for Toronto in 2022, going 0-3 with a 6.75 ERA (20 ER/26.2 IP) and 23 strikeouts, compared to seven walks, contributing to a 1.43 WHIP. The righthander missed from June 14-Sept. 4 with a left abdominal strain. He also appeared in 15 minor league contests (one start) with the Rookie Level FCL Blue Jays, Single-A Dunedin and Triple-A Buffalo, tossing a combined 16.1 IP without allowing an earned run.
The six-foot, four-inch Merryweather made his major league debut with Toronto in 2020 and has gone 0-4 with a 5.64 ERA (33 ER/52.2 IP) and two saves in 47 career major league games (five starts). He missed the majority of the 2021 season (April 14-Sept. 7) with a left oblique strain, but earned both of his major league saves during that season, including his first on opening day at New York (A.L.).
In parts of seven career minor league seasons in the Cleveland (2014-17) and Toronto (2019-22) organizations, Merryweather is 27-20 with a 3.86 ERA (175 ER/408.1 IP) and one save in 106 games (70 starts). He was named a 2016 Carolina League Mid-Season All-Star after going 8-2 with a 1.03 ERA (7 ER/61.0 IP) in 11 starts with High-A Lynchburg. The righthander missed the entire 2018 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery and later that year, was traded to Toronto on Oct. 5 as the player to be named later in the trade involving infielder Josh Donaldson.
A Berkley, Calif. native, Merryweather was selected by Cleveland in the fifth round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of Oklahoma Baptist University.
Rodríguez, 26, went 2-0 with a 3.29 ERA (5 ER/13.2 IP) and four saves in 14 relief outings for the Cubs in 2022. He has appeared in 34 career major league games, all in relief, going 5-3 with a 4.88 ERA (17 ER/31.1 IP) and five saves.
