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Blue Jays tender contracts to relievers Zach Pop and Erik Swanson

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Erik Swanson #50 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches during the game between the Los Angeles Angels and the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Friday, August 23, 2024
Erik Swanson #50 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches during the game between the Los Angeles Angels and the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Friday, August 23, 2024 | Photo by Bailey McLean/MLB Photos via Getty Images

Jordan Romano and Dillon Tate were non-tendered.

Toronto Blue Jays have tendered contracts to relievers Zach Pop and Erik Swanson, according to Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith.

A duo whose name evokes of a bachelor’s stereotypical choice for dinner in the 1970s, Pop and Swanson were certainly candidates to be non-tendered this offseason, having both had a rough 2024.

Pop, qualifying for arbitration through super-two status, struggled mightily (5.59 ERA) but still made 58 appearances because he was part of a desperate bullpen. Although he did have a few appearances where he looked like he had put it together, he didn’t manage to put together a consistent enough season to be effective. However, with an MLB Trade Rumors projected arbitration salary of $1 million, Pop may just be worth a roster spot to see if he can turn the corner in 2025.

Swanson had three solid seasons as a reliever for the Mariners and the Blue Jays prior to 2024, so it wasn’t terribly surprising to see the Blue Jays holding onto him for another crack at it next year. Swanson’s spring training was interrupted when his son was hit by a car and suffered a life-threatening injury, so it was understandable that the righty struggled out of the gate after he returned to the club. An arm injury also landed him on the injured list to start the regular season.

Coming back in April, Swanson never looked right and May with an ERA in the nine’s. After spending some time optioned to triple-A, he returned to the fold after the All-Star Game and made 27 appearances down the stretch pitching to a 2.55 ERA with opposing batters hitting .172/.265/.391 against him. His track record and the bounce back in the second half of the season clearly gave the Blue Jays front office enough reasons to tender him a contract for 2025.

MLB Trade Rumors projected a $3.2 million arbitration salary for Swanson, but Nicholson-Smith reports that the player and the team had agreed to a salary and will not go to arbitration.

UPDATE: The Blue Jays announced that Erik Swanson re-signed for $3 million.