Domínguez Dealt Mid-Doubleheader in Orioles-Blue Jays Swap \ TezzBuzz \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The Baltimore Orioles traded reliever Seranthony Domínguez to the Toronto Blue Jays between games of Tuesday’s doubleheader. In exchange, Baltimore received Juaron Watts-Brown, a promising 23-year-old pitching prospect. Domínguez joins a Blue Jays bullpen seeking reinforcement for a playoff push.
In a rare and unconventional mid-series move, the Baltimore Orioles traded veteran reliever Seranthony Domínguez to the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday—in between games of a day-night doubleheader between the two American League East rivals. The surprising in-game trade added a dramatic twist to an otherwise routine July matchup, highlighting each team’s drastically different position in the standings and strategy heading into the season’s final stretch.
The Oriolesfirmly in last place and entering sell mode, sent Domínguez to Toronto in exchange for Juaron Watts-Browna highly-touted pitching prospect ranked No. 10 in the Blue Jays’ system by MLB Pipeline. While the Orioles cruised to a 16-4 blowout win in the afternoon game, the transaction was announced just an hour before the first pitch of the nightcap.
Domínguez did not appear in the opener and was pulled from availability once trade talks reached their final stages. The Blue Jays, who are fighting to stay atop the AL East, were seeking immediate bullpen help—and Domínguez’s consistency and postseason experience made him a fitting target.
Mid-series trades are rare in Major League Baseball—mid-doubleheader trades are almost unheard of. But the Orioles and Blue Jays found a unique alignment of timing, need, and logistics that made the deal unusually seamless.
Both teams were already in Baltimore. More interestingly, both of their Double-A affiliates—the New Hampshire Fisher Cats and the Chesapeake Baybirds—were also playing each other Tuesday night, allowing Watts-Brown to transition to his new club immediately. It was a trade built for convenience and mutual gain.
Seranthony Domínguez29, is in his seventh Major League seasonoriginally debuting with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2018. Known for his electric fastball and tough-to-hit slider, Domínguez was once considered one of the most dominant young relievers in the game before injuries briefly derailed his momentum.
He joined the Orioles last year in a midseason trade and has since posted solid numbers in Baltimore. Through 43 appearances this season, Domínguez owns a 2-3 record with a 3.24 ERAstriking out nearly a batter per inning while limiting opponents to a .219 average.
He brings with him valuable playoff experience from his time in Philadelphia, including high-leverage performances during their 2022 National League pennant run.
With Toronto currently sitting atop the AL East but with only average bullpen performance (3.94 ERA, ranked 14th in MLB), the need for a reliable right-handed setup man or closer was urgent.
Toronto’s bullpen has been serviceable but inconsistent, especially in close games. While Jordan Romano has held his own as the primary closer, injuries and workload concerns have made late innings unpredictable. The acquisition of Domínguez adds not only depth but veteran savvy to a bullpen that has lacked big-game polish.
Domínguez is expected to immediately slot into seventh or eighth-inning dutiesbridging the gap between starters and Romano. His contract is also appealing—he remains under team control beyond this season, giving Toronto flexibility in bullpen planning.
The Orioles, despite a promising farm system and signs of growth in recent years, have struggled to climb out of the AL East cellar. With the trade deadline approaching and postseason hopes fading, Baltimore has embraced a modest sell-off strategy focused on relievers with value.
In addition to Domínguez, the Orioles also traded away Gregory Soto and Bryan Baker earlier this month. These moves open bullpen slots for younger arms while replenishing their minor league ranks.
Though far from a full rebuild, the Orioles appear committed to restructuring their bullpen and acquiring young, controllable talent for the future.
The Orioles’ return in the deal, Juaron Watts-Brownis a 23-year-old right-hander from California who was drafted by Toronto in 2022. At 6’3”, 190 lbs., he features a mid-90s fastballan above-average sliderand a developing changeup—an arsenal that has intrigued scouts since college.
Watts-Brown has logged a 2-5 record with a 3.54 ERA across 19 starts between Class A and Double-A this year. He’s struck out over 100 batters in under 90 innings, showing swing-and-miss potential and above-average control.
His transition to the Orioles system will likely be immediate, given that he was already in town playing against their Double-A affiliate.
This trade highlights a broader trend across MLB this trade season: contenders are searching for bullpen help while non-contenders are flipping relievers for future assets. With the trade deadline just days away, executives believe we’ll see a flurry of similar dealsparticularly involving mid-tier relievers and top-30 prospects.
The Blue Jays may not be done. Insiders say they’re monitoring additional bullpen arms, as well as exploring options to shore up infield depth and corner outfield power. The Orioles, meanwhile, could still look to move veteran position players or starters if the price is right.
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