The Blue Jays claimed Dirk Hayhurst off waivers from the San Diego Padres on Monday.


Hayhurst posted a 9.72 ERA in 10 September appearances for the Padres this year in his first big league action. The 27-year-old spent most of the year in Portland in the Pacific Coast League. In his first full year in Triple-A Hayhurst posted a 3.75 ERA and had 98 strikeouts in 84 innings. In 2007 he posted a 3.51 ERA, spending most of the year at Double-A San Antonio.

To make room on the 40-man roster the Jays placed infielder Kevin Melillo on waivers. Melillo was acquired earlier this year from the Athletics and posted a .797 OPS for Syracuse in 226 at-bats, playing a mixture of third, first and second base.

Normally a waiver claim may not merit its own thread, but this is also an opportunity to publicize the blog Hayhurst has been writing for Baseball America during the season. Hayhurst’s blog contains some of the best writing on baseball I’ve read this year from anyone. One of his best entries was posted on August 16 and was on a particular autograph request Hayhurst received.