Fastball

Toronto Blue Jays Make Surprising Move with Big Free Agent Acquisition

After being signed to a five-year contract this offseason, right-handed pitcher Yariel Rodriguez has been sent to Triple-A for the Toronto Blue Jays and won't be on the Opening Day roster.

Brady Farkas

MLB Toronto Blue Jays starter Yariel Rodriguez
MLB Toronto Blue Jays starter Yariel Rodriguez / MLB Photos- USA TODAY NETWORK
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In a somewhat surprising move, the Toronto Blue Jays have sent down free agent acquisition Yariel Rodriguez to Triple-A Buffalo.

The news came from Cuban Baseball Insider Francys Romero on social media:

Cuban right-hander Yariel Rodriguez (27) was sent to Triple-A, Buffalo, and won’t be on the Blue Jays' Opening Day roster.

Most logical decision taking care of his health and giving him the chance to properly build up.

He is expected to get 2-3 starts at Triple-A.

Rodriguez signed a five-year deal this offseason but dealt with visa issues and back spasms at the beginning of camp and was delayed in preparing. This decision will allow him to get built back up fully and we should see him in the rotation before the end of April.

In the meantime, Toronto figures to break camp with Jose Berrios, Chris Bassit and Yusei Kikuchi in the starting rotation. It's still unknown if Kevin Gausman will be healthy enough to start the year on the Opening Day roster but Rodriguez's absence opens the door for Bowden Francis to make the team.

Rodriguez served as a starter for Team Cuba in the 2023 World Baseball Classic but he had success in the NPB as a reliever. He played in the NPB in 2022 and didn't play in 2023 while figuring out his next career moves. That ultimately landed him in Toronto this offseason.

The Blue Jays are coming off a season in which they made the playoffs for the second straight year. However, they were swept in two games during the wild card round by the Minnesota Twins.

They'll open up against the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday.

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Brady Farkas
BRADY FARKAS

Brady Farkas is a baseball writer for Fastball on Sports Illustrated/FanNation and the host of 'The Payoff Pitch' podcast which can be found on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Videos on baseball also posted to YouTube. Brady has spent nearly a decade in sports talk radio and is a graduate of Oswego State University. You can follow him on Twitter @WDEVRadioBrady. 

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