9:40am: According to Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic, the fifth year of Rodriguez’s contract is a player option worth $6 million. If Rodriguez decides not to exercise that option, the team will have the opportunity to activate a $10 million club option. This could potentially bring the total value of the contract to $36 million over five years, although Francys Romero suggests that there may be additional incentives included in the deal that could push the total value up to $40 million.
9:12am: The Blue Jays have officially confirmed the signing of right-handed pitcher Yariel Rodriguez after a significant delay. The team has announced that Rodriguez has agreed to a five-year, $32 million contract, as opposed to the previously reported four-year, $32 million deal. In order to make room on the 40-man roster, Toronto has designated utilityman Otto Lopez for assignment. Rodriguez is represented by WME and Born To Play.
It has been over three weeks since Rodriguez and the Blue Jays reached an agreement on a contract, but the finalization of the deal has been delayed due to Rodriguez’s visa issues. He has been waiting for the necessary documentation to enter either Canada or the United States. Once Rodriguez is able to enter either country, he will undergo a physical examination and the deal will be completed.
At just 26 years old, Rodriguez has had a successful career playing for los Ganaderos de Camaguey in Cuba and the Chunichi Dragons in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. His performance in NPB caught the attention of Major League scouts, and for good reason. Rodriguez’s impressive 3.03 ERA over three seasons with the Dragons is noteworthy, but his most recent season was particularly dominant. In 54 2/3 innings, he posted a 1.15 ERA, a 27.5% strikeout rate, and an 8.2% walk rate out of the Chunichi bullpen.
It is important to note that these numbers were achieved during the 2022 NPB season, not in 2023. While Rodriguez represented Team Cuba in the World Baseball Classic last year, he did not return to the Dragons for the 2023 season as he set his sights on joining Major League Baseball. The Dragons placed him on the restricted list for the 2023 season and released him in early November. Since then, Rodriguez has held multiple showcases for MLB teams and has been considered one of the most intriguing free agents on the market.
However, Rodriguez is also one of the riskier free agents this winter. It is difficult to predict how successful a player will be in the MLB after performing well in the Cuban National Series and/or NPB, especially when they did not pitch in the preceding season apart from a brief appearance in the WBC. While there is significant potential for success, the long layoff, adjustment to a new culture, and increased competition level make it difficult to determine Rodriguez’s performance in his first MLB season.
The Blue Jays have not yet specified the role Rodriguez will play on the team. While he made some starts in NPB, he primarily worked as a reliever, exclusively so in his final season with the Dragons. In Cuba, he mainly pitched as a starter for Camaguey. Toronto’s general manager, Ross Atkins, praised Rodriguez’s ability to generate swings and misses and mentioned that he provides “starting depth” but could also fulfill various roles on the team.
Considering Rodriguez’s extended break from pitching and lack of experience in a full starting pitcher’s workload, it would be surprising to see him immediately join the Blue Jays’ rotation. It is likely that he will have an innings limit this year, and the team might even want him to gain some experience in Triple-A before being thrust into the MLB spotlight. Logically, he could fill a long relief or spot starter role this year to build up innings, with the goal of becoming a permanent member of the 2025 rotation. However, if the Jays have a need for a late-inning pitcher, Rodriguez has the potential to excel in that high-pressure role.
Baseball America’s Kyle Glaser provided a profile on Rodriguez and several other international free agents earlier in the offseason. Glaser noted that Rodriguez’s fastball sits around 96 mph, occasionally reaching triple digits. He described Rodriguez’s slider as above-average but considered his splitter to be “fringey” and his curveball as “below-average.” The Blue Jays have the opportunity to help the 6’1″ Rodriguez refine his offspeed pitches. Even if he only possesses a plus fastball and above-average slider, he could still be a valuable setup man or multi-inning reliever in the big leagues.
Stay tuned for more updates.
According to the Source mlbtraderumors.com