By The Canadian Press on January 17, 2023.
TORONTO – Right-handed pitcher Julian Merryweather is no longer with the Toronto Blue Jays. The 31-year-old reliever was claimed off outright waivers by the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday evening. Righty Junior Fernández cleared waivers was assigned outright to triple-A Buffalo by the Blue Jays. Merryweather had been designated for assignment by Toronto last week. He had a 6.75 earned-run average in 26 games for the Blue Jays last season, striking out 23 over 26 2/3 innings. Merryweather had a 5.64 ERA with an 0-4 record over three seasons with the Blue Jays. The 25-year-old Fernandez split time between the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates last season with a 2.41 ERA over 18 2/3 innings pitched. He had a career 5.17 ERA over 54 innings in four Major League Baseball seasons. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 17, 2023. 10