Breaking News :Cuban pitcher, and the Blue Jays reach a five-year, US$32 million agreement.
On Friday, the Toronto Blue Jays bolstered their pitching staff by securing a five-year, $32-million deal with Cuban right-hander Yariel Rodriguez.
With experience in both starting and relieving roles in Cuba and Japan’s top leagues, the 26-year-old Rodriguez offers versatility. He may contend for the fifth spot in Toronto’s starting rotation or be deployed as a bullpen arm.
In the 2022 season, Rodriguez excelled as a reliever, amassing a 6-2 record with an impressive 1.15 earned-run average while playing for the Chunichi Dragons in the Nippon Professional Baseball League.
He amassed 60 strikeouts and 18 walks across 54 2/3 innings.
During last year’s World Baseball Classic, Rodriguez, representing Cuba, did not secure a decision in two starts. He registered a 2.45 earned-run average over 7 1/3 innings, tallying 10 strikeouts and six walks.
Following the WBC, Rodriguez opted not to return to his Japanese team and instead took a hiatus in anticipation of transitioning to MLB as a free agent.
“Yariel brings a diverse arsenal, impressive athleticism, and ability to generate swings and misses to our team,” remarked Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins in a statement. “He enhances the starting depth of our pitching corps and possesses the potential to impact our major-league team in various roles.
“We eagerly welcome Yariel to the Blue Jays and anticipate seeing him on the mound in spring.”
To create space on the 40-man roster, utility player Otto Lopez was designated for assignment.
For the 2024 season, Toronto’s rotation is expected to feature Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios, Chris Bassitt, and Yusei Kikuchi, with right-hander Alek Manoah aiming to rebound after a challenging year. Manoah, who finished third in the American League Cy Young Award voting in 2022, seeks to reclaim his form.
Alongside Rodriguez and Manoah, pitchers Mitch White, Bowden Francis, and top prospect Ricky Tiedemann are also contenders for the fifth spot in the rotation.
After missing out on signing two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, who opted to join the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Blue Jays have had a relatively subdued offseason.
Toronto re-signed outfielder Kevin Kiermaier to a one-year contract and secured utility player Isiah Kiner-Falefa on a two-year deal. Additionally, the Blue Jays recently signed designated hitter Justin Turner to a one-year contract.
Pitchers and catchers are slated to begin spring training in Dunedin, Fla., on Thursday. Toronto’s preseason will commence with a matchup against the Philadelphia Phillies on Feb. 24.
Toronto finished the previous season with an 89-73 record but was swept in the wild-card series by the Minnesota Twins. While the Blue Jays have qualified for the playoffs three times in the last four years, their last postseason victory dates back to their appearance in the AL Championship Series in 2016.
The team’s most recent World Series triumph occurred in 1993.
