*Photo from CBS News*
The other shoe finally dropped in Canada. RHP Yariel Rodriguez and the Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to a multi year contract, according to Cuban reporter Francys Romero. The team has confirmed the agreement.
Rodriguez was one of the biggest wild cards on the free agent market. He has plenty of success and upside from pitching in Cuba and Japan in his career, but he didn't pitch competitively in 2023 after the World Baseball Classic ended. With what is effectively a year off from game action, he'll bring intrigue to the Blue Jays pitching staff.
From 2020 to 2022, Rodriguez played for the Chunichi Dragons of Japan's NPB league, where he became a dominant reliever. In 2022, he had a 1.15 ERA and 0.915 WHIP, striking out 60 hitters and allowing zero home runs in 54 2/3 innings across 56 appearances.
He played in the World Baseball Classic in March with Cuba, where he served as a starting pitcher. He didn't return to Japan to pitch in 2023 and was declared a MLB free agent. He struck out 10 hitters and had a 2.45 ERA in two starts for Cuba in the World Baseball Classic, throwing 7 1/3 innings.
Rodriguez could serve in either the rotation or bullpen for the Blue Jays, giving them a swingman they can use in either spot throughout the year. He could compete for the 5th spot in the rotation in spring training, adding some valuable depth to a starting rotation that has now 6 starting pitching options.
Right now, the Blue Jays have rotation spots earmarked for Chris Bassitt, Jose Berrios, Kevin Gausman, and Yusei Kikuchi, with Rodriguez and Manoah likely set to compete with each other for the final spot.
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