TORONTO -- The Blue Jays made a minor move to adjust their bullpen depth on Tuesday, claiming right-hander Anthony Bass off waivers from the Mariners.

Bass, 31, appeared in 44 games for the Mariners in 2019, posting a 3.56 ERA with 43 strikeouts over 48 innings. In a corresponding move, the Blue Jays designated right-hander Ryan Dull for assignment.

This is the first transaction to come across the Blue Jays’ wire in nearly a month as the MLB postseason nears its end, but the club is expected to be active in both free agency and the trade market this offseason. Starting pitching remains the club’s primary focus, but there will be plenty of jobs available in the bullpen along the way.

Bass opened the 2019 season with the Reds, where he pitched to a 2.21 ERA over 19 appearances at Triple-A Louisville before exercising an opt-out clause in his Minor League contract. He quickly landed in Seattle, where he was trusted to pitch in high-leverage situations. Of Bass’ 44 appearances, 34 saw him enter in the eighth inning or later, and he recorded five saves.

A veteran of eight Major League seasons with the Padres, Rangers, Cubs, Astros and Mariners, Bass experienced an uptick in velocity last season. His sinker and fastball both averaged 95.3 mph, a new career high, according to Statcast, and he held opponents to a .136 average against his slider, which he threw 31.1% of the time.

Beyond closer Ken Giles, who is expected to generate plenty of trade interest over the coming months, the Blue Jays’ bullpen is open for competition. The club used 21 starting pitchers in 2019 -- many as part of the opener strategy -- and 39 pitchers in total.