Blue Jays Reportedly Nearing Deal With Rumored Yankees Target

New York could miss out on one of its targets to one of the club's biggest rivals

It sounds like one rumored New York Yankees target could be off the market soon.

New York has been linked to numerous players this offseason and has been one of the most active teams in baseball. The Yankees already have significantly improved the club with a plethora of moves -- including landing Juan Soto and Marcus Stroman. 

At this point, it seems like the Yankees may be done adding aside from possibly a reliever or two. 

One team that still is looking to add is the rival Toronto Blue Jays and it sounds like they may end up landing one rumored Yankees target. New York was mentioned as one of the "strongest candidates" to land Cuban fireballer Yariel Rodríguez, but it sounds like Toronto will end up signing him, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.

"On Dec. 29, ESPN's Enrique Rojas reported that the Blue Jays had 'taken the lead' in the bidding for Cuban free-agent right-handed Yariel Rodríguez," Rosenthal said. "Over the past 2 1/2 weeks, I have consistently heard the same. 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 2019. He joined a Japanese club, the Chunichi Dragons, in 2020, and produced a monster season as a reliever in 2022. 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."

Now that New York has made a handful of other moves, Rodríguez hasn't seemed like an option. While this is the case, it sounds like New York may end up having to face off against him consistently in the division.