The Blue Jays designated right-hander Yariel Rodriguez for assignment Saturday, according to MLB insider Francys Romero.
It’s a move that speaks to how quickly things can change when a team starts reshaping its pitching staff.
Rodriguez had carved out a solid role in Toronto’s bullpen after making his MLB debut in 2024. He appeared in 66 games last season, posting a 3.08 ERA with 66 strikeouts across 73 innings. That was a significant improvement from his 4.47 ERA in his rookie campaign.
But the Blue Jays have been busy this offseason, adding Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce to their pitching mix. Those moves created a numbers crunch that ultimately pushed Rodriguez off the 40-man roster.
His postseason struggles probably didn’t help his case either. Rodriguez posted a 10.88 ERA in October, which tends to stick in decision-makers’ minds when they’re evaluating roster spots.
Toronto now has seven days to trade, release, or waive Rodriguez. If he clears waivers and becomes a free agent, there should be interest around the league.
A pitcher with a career 3.83 ERA who can handle multiple roles doesn’t stay unemployed long. Rodriguez has shown he can work as both a starter and long reliever, which makes him valuable to teams looking for rotation depth or bullpen flexibility.
The way I see it, this move says more about Toronto’s confidence in their new additions than any shortcomings with Rodriguez. Sometimes good pitchers become casualties when organizations decide to pivot in a different direction.
