Blue Jays agree to 5-year deal with pitcher Yariel Rodriguez
Right-hander, 26, has experience as starter and reliever in top leagues in Cuba, Japan
Cuban pitcher Yariel Rodriguez's five-year, $32-million US contract with the Toronto Blue Jays contains options, escalators and performance bonuses that allow the 26-year-old right-hander to earn up to $47.5 million as a starter and $37.5 million as a reliever.
He has experience as both a starter and a reliever in top leagues in Cuba and Japan. Rodriguez could battle for the fifth spot in Toronto's starting rotation or may be used out of the bullpen.
Rodriguez gets an $8 million signing bonus payable upon approval of the deal by the commissioner's office, according to contract terms obtained by The Associated Press.
His deal, announced on Feb. 9, calls for salaries of $2 million this year, $5 million each in 2025 and 2026 and $6 million in 2027. Rodriguez has a $6 million player option for 2028 and if he declines that option, the Blue Jays have a $10 million club option.
Toronto's option can escalate up to $14 million based on innings in the first four seasons:
- For 2024, $100,000 each for 60, 70, 80 and 90;
- For 2025: $100,000 each for 110, 120, 130 and 140, and $200,000 apiece for 150, 160, 170 and 180;
- For 2026 and 2027: $100,000 each for 120, 130, 140 and 150, and $200,000 apiece for 160, 170, 180 and 190.
Rodriguez can earn $250,000 in performance bonuses for games finished this year: $50,000 each for 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60.
For 2025-27, he can earn $50,000 each for 30, 40 and 50 games finished and $100,000 for 60.
His innings bonuses are $100,000 each for 130, 140, 150, 160 and 170 in 2025, and $100,000 apiece for 140, 150, 160, 170 and 180 from 2026-28.
1.15 ERA as reliever in 2022
Rodriguez will become a free agent when the contract expires.
As a reliever in 2022, Rodriguez was 6-2 with a 1.15 earned-run average with the Chunichi Dragons of the Nippon Professional Baseball League.
He had 60 strikeouts and 18 walks over 54 2/3 innings.
At last year's World Baseball Classic, Rodriguez did not record a decision over two starts for Cuba. He posted a 2.45 ERA over 7 1/3 innings with 10 strikeouts and six walks.
Rodriguez did not return to his Japanese team after the WBC and instead sat out the year in anticipation of making the move to MLB as a free agent.
"Yariel brings a diverse arsenal, impressive athleticism, and ability to get swing and miss to our team," Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said in a news release last week. "He adds starting depth to our pitching group and has a chance to impact our major-league team in multiple roles.
"We're excited to welcome Yariel to the Blue Jays and look forward to seeing him on the mound in [the] spring."
To make room on the 40-man roster, utilityman Otto Lopez was designated for assignment.
5 pitchers in mix for final rotation spot
Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios, Chris Bassitt and Yusei Kikuchi are pegged for Toronto's rotation in 2024 with right-hander Alek Manoah looking to return to the mix after a down year. Manoah finished third in American League Cy Young Award voting in 2022.
In addition to Rodriguez and Manoah, pitchers Mitch White, Bowden Francis and top prospect Ricky Tiedemann could also be in the mix for the fifth spot in the rotation.
The Blue Jays have had a rather quiet off-season after missing out on two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, who opted to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Toronto brought back outfielder Kevin Kiermaier on a one-year deal and signed utilityman Isiah Kiner-Falefa to a two-year contract. The Blue Jays recently signed designated hitter Justin Turner to a one-year deal.
Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to spring training in Dunedin, Fla., on Thursday. Toronto will open its pre-season schedule against the Philadelphia Phillies on Feb. 24.
The Blue Jays will kick off their regular season on the road against the Tampa Bay Rays on March 28.
Toronto had an 89-73 record last year and was swept in the wild-card series by the Minnesota Twins. The Blue Jays have made the playoffs in three of the last four years but haven't won a game since reaching the AL Championship Series in 2016.
Toronto's last World Series title came in 1993.
With files from The Canadian Press
