Two Teams Known to Be Showing Real Interest in Cuban Right-Hander

As Cuban right-hander Yariel Rodriguez makes the move to the major leagues, the Cincinnati Reds and Boston Red Sox are two of the teams showing the strongest interest.

Cuban right-hander Yariel Rodriguez is making the jump to the major leagues and the Boston Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds are two of the teams showing the strongest interest.

Per Francys Romero on social media:

Boston Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds remain among the teams interested in the Cuban right-hander Yariel Rodriguez (26), per sources.

Boston Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds remain among the teams interested in the Cuban right-hander Yariel Rodriguez (26), per sources. pic.twitter.com/DlY2ne4x55

— Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) December 27, 2023

Our colleague, Sam Connon, has been chronicling Rodriguez's journey to the US and the following comes from some of his work thus far:

Rodriguez spent three seasons with the Chunichi Dragons of Nippon Professional Baseball, but he did not pitch in 2023 and he was released from his contract on Oct. 5...

Over half the league showed up to Rodriguez's first tryout in the Dominican Republic on Oct. 10. That day, Rodriguez averaged 96.2 miles per hour on his fastball, 84.9 miles per hour on his slider, 76.7 miles per hour on his curveball, 88.9 miles per hour on his splitter and 86.2 miles per hour on his changeup, per Romero.

Rodriguez started his professional career at 18 years old in the Cuban National Series. Across seven seasons with Ganaderos de Camaguey, Lenadores de Las Tunas and Gallos de Sancti Spiritus, Rodriguez went 31-26 with a 3.30 ERA, primarily as a starter.

After going to Japan to join the Dragons in 2020, Rodriguez went 10-10 with a 3.03 ERA over the course of 79 appearances and 175.1 innings.

As a starter for Team Cuba in the World Baseball Classic in March, Rodriguez allowed just two earned runs with 10 strikeouts in 7.1 innings of work. Rodriguez did walk six batters and hit two more, though.

The interest from both the Reds and Red Sox makes perfect sense. The Red Sox currently need to make a big splash in the starting pitcher market, as they feature a rotation of Chris Sale, Brayan Bello, Nick Pivetta, Tanner Houck and Garrett Whitlock at the moment. Sale's health is a constant question mark and Pivetta/Houck/Whitlock all have questions as well.

The Reds are in a similar boat. They have young and exciting starters like Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, Andrew Abbott and Brandon Williamson, but youth and injury concerns are very real for them. Adding Rodriguez would help give them a stabilizing force.

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