The Blue Jays will be picking up the right-hander’s contract Yariel Rodriguez from Triple-A Buffalo, according to reporter Francis Romero. Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith and Shi Davidi note that Rodriguez will be added to the roster before Monday’s game against the Rays. Toronto only has 39 players on its 40-man roster, so a 26-man move will have to be made as a complement to Rodriguez’s arrival.
After signing a five-year, $32MM contract with the Jays before the 2024 season, Rodriguez started the Show by posting a 4.47 ERA, a 23.1% strikeout rate, and a 10.9% walk rate over 86 2/3 innings. While Rodriguez technically started all 21 of his games in 2024, he was used as a starter or piggyback on multiple occasions. Rodriguez then made one “start” as a starter in 2025, and otherwise worked in a relief role while posting a 3.08 ERA, 22.1K%, and 11.4BB% over 73 innings and 66 appearances.
A poor walk rate is the most obvious red flag in Rodriguez’s first two MLB seasons, and his strikeout rates sit just about league average. His 4.27 SIERA for the 2025 season is a much better reflection of his performance than his 3.08 ERA, as Rodriguez enjoyed a .228 BABIP and an 81.2% strikeout rate. On the other hand, the move to the bullpen helped Rodriguez hit his fastball up to 95.7mph (up from 93.9mph in 2024), and he did a good job of limiting hard contact, though the righty allowed eight homers in his 73 frames.
The Blue Jays made the decision to return Rodriguez to Triple-A in December, removing him from the 40-man roster. The Jays likely wouldn’t be too upset if another club wanted Rodriguez off waivers and cleared the $17MM in salary remaining on Toronto’s books, however that salary may be the reason the Blue Jays feel confident in releasing Rodriguez to clear the 40-man roster spot.
After posting a 1.50 ERA over six innings of relief in Cuba during the World Baseball Classic, Rodriguez has a 2.63 ERA and a 43.1% strikeout rate over 13 2/3 starts for Buffalo this season. These outstanding numbers are tempered, however, by a 15.5% walk rate, as Rodriguez’s control has become an even bigger problem. This makes Rodriguez an interesting addition to the Jays bullpen entering Sunday’s action leading the majors in strikeouts (26.1%) and tied for the second-lowest walk rate (8.3%) of any reliever in the game.
Mason Fluharty doesn’t sit well and you have two minor league options, either selecting Fluharty to make room for Rodriguez to go. Joe Mantiply as the only lefty in Toronto’s bullpen. Among right-handed users, Tommy Nance is out of options, then choose Rule 5 Spencer Miles cannot be optioned to the minors unless sent back to the Giants. (Miles is also pitching so well that the Jays are keeping him around.) Unless there are unknown injuries affecting the pitching staff, it will be interesting to see what the corresponding moves are when Rodriguez is officially selected.
