Toronto Blue Jays Remain Favorite For International Hurler, Here's Why Deal Isn't Done Yet

The Toronto Blue Jays are reportedly still the favorite for Cuban pitcher Yariel Rodriguez and a report from 'The Athletic' indicates why the deal isn't done yet.

Just as we heard a few weeks ago, the Toronto Blue Jays are the favorite for Cuban right-hander Yariel Rodriguez, but now we have an idea as to why a contract may not have been signed yet.

Per Ken Rosenthal of 'The Athletic'

The Jays are optimistic they will land Rodríguez, according to a source briefed on their pursuits. But hurdles evidently remain in his immigration, preventing the Jays from completing a deal.

Rodríguez, who turns 27 on March 10, pitched mainly as a starter in Cuba from 2015 to ’19. He joined a Japanese club, the Chunichi Dragons, in ’20, and produced a monster season as a reliever in ’22. After starting again for Cuba last spring in the World Baseball Classic, he sat out the season rather than report back to the Dragons. Major League Baseball recognized him as a free agent in November after the Dragons released him.

It still remains to be seen how the Blue Jays would deploy Rodriguez. They already have projected starters in Yusei Kikuchi, Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios, Chris Bassitt, and Alek Manoah, as well as top prospect Ricky Tiedemann, so perhaps they could use him in the bullpen.

According to Rosenthal, they also could take time in the first half of the season to build him up, perhaps at the minor league level, and then use him as a starter. It's worth reminding that he really didn't pitch for all of 2023 so the team could elect to take it slow.

However, before you worry about any of that, they have to actually sign Rodriguez. Spring training begins in a little less than one month.

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