Blue Jays not done with $32 million hurler yet

Blue Jays Outright Yariel Rodríguez, Plan to Keep Him in Relief Role

In a move that may have come as a surprise to some, the Toronto Blue Jays opted to outright Yariel Rodríguez from their roster on Saturday. The 28-year-old pitcher had been signed to a five-year, $32 million deal just two years ago, but was released after clearing waivers.

However, it appears the team still has faith in Rodríguez and plans to keep him on as a reliever. Blue Jays insider Keegan Matheson revealed that the organization's plan is for Rodríguez to "continue as a reliever" and potentially win back his 40-man roster spot. While this may not be the ideal situation, it's clear that the Blue Jays are willing to work with their contract and provide Rodríguez with another chance.

Despite having three years left on his deal, Rodríguez faces significant challenges in regaining his form. He posted a 3.08 ERA in 66 appearances last season, but struggled with command issues. If he can work through these problems this offseason, however, it's possible that the decision to outright him could ultimately prove beneficial.

The Blue Jays' willingness to keep Rodríguez on is also notable given their recent spending spree, which included signing Dylan Cease to a $210 million deal and reportedly targeting players like Bo Bichette and Kyle Tucker. It's clear that money shouldn't be a concern for the team, but it will be interesting to see how Rodríguez responds to the opportunity to prove himself in a relief role.

I think it's fascinating how the Blue Jays are willing to give Yariel Rodríguez another chance, despite the potential risks of him not regaining his form. The fact that they're opting for a relief role rather than outright releasing him suggests they believe he can still contribute to the team in some capacity.

It's also worth noting how this move fits into the broader context of the team's offseason spending spree. While it's certainly eye-catching to see them shell out $210 million on Dylan Cease, it's equally intriguing to see them take a more nuanced approach with Rodríguez. The fact that they're willing to work with their contract and provide him with another chance speaks volumes about the organization's commitment to player development.

Ultimately, I think this move will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike as we head into the offseason. Will Rodríguez be able to overcome his command issues and make a meaningful contribution to the team? Only time will tell!

man this is weird the blue jays are basically saying they messed up on yariel rodriguez and now he's getting another shot but like what if this just prolongs his struggles it's crazy how teams can play with their contracts like that does anyone ever get a straight 5-year deal anymore? seems like all these huge signings are just gonna be about finding someone to eat up the salary so they don't have to worry about him in the future

omg u wud think theyd just cut ties with him lol 32 mil deal is def not cheap so im curious if the Jays really believe he can turn his game around, esp since its in relief role - might be a chance for him to redeem himself? also gotta wonder what happened with Cease tho - $210 mil deal is wild

seems weird 2 think blue jays would give up on rodriquez so easily they signed him 2 big contract just 2 yrs ago but i guess its better 4 them 2 cut loose & move on they gotta make room 4 new signings tho

The Blue Jays' decision to outright Yariel Rodríguez is quite fascinating. On one hand, it seems like they're willing to give him another chance despite the struggles he faced last season... They're giving him a clear path to regroup and work on his command issues. It's almost as if they're trying to make the most of the situation, rather than letting him collect his full $32 million salary.

What I find intriguing is that this move might ultimately benefit Rodríguez himself. By keeping him in relief role, he'll have a chance to prove himself and potentially win back his 40-man roster spot... This could be an opportunity for him to reassert himself as a valuable contributor to the team. And it's interesting to note that the Blue Jays are willing to take on this risk, considering their recent spending spree.

They're basically giving him a fresh start

I think its kinda weird they're straight up releasing Yariel after investing so much in him 2 years ago . Like what happened to his skills? Maybe this is an opp for him 2 turn things around & show them he's still got it . If he can bounce back from last season, that 40 man roster spot might just be a given

man... i feel like this is such a classic case of "you can't escape what you've created" think about it - Rodríguez had two years to establish himself as a reliable starter, and instead he gets stuck in the bullpen because of his command issues . now that the team's brought him back, it's gonna be tough for him to shake off those woes. but at the same time... 32 million bucks is a lot of money - maybe this fresh start as a reliever will actually help him rediscover himself? i mean, who knows what's going through his mind, right? he might just surprise us all

I'm kinda surprised they decided to keep Yariel Rodríguez. I mean, he's got 3 years left on his deal and was basically just released after getting waivers... It doesn't really add up as a smart move, but at the same time, you gotta give the team credit for wanting to work with their contract. They're not gonna let him go without giving him another chance, even if he's gotta prove himself all over again in relief. Maybe they think he can fix his command issues and become that reliable reliever everyone wants? It's also a bit of an odd move considering how much money the team just splashed out on other players...

I don’t usually comment but... I think this move by the Blue Jays is actually pretty smart? I mean, they're not giving up on him completely, just giving him another chance to show what he can do in a relief role. And let's be real, $32 million isn't exactly chump change, so it's not like they're losing out on too much by keeping him around.

I think the bigger question is how Rodríguez responds to this opportunity? Can he actually work through his command issues and become a reliable reliever again? It'll be interesting to see how he shakes off the struggles he had last season and proves himself all over again. The Blue Jays might be willing to invest in him, but only if he can deliver

I'm telling you, something fishy is going on here . They're keeping this guy Yariel Rodríguez around despite all his struggles and they just so happen to have the cash for big-name signings like Dylan Cease? It's suspicious, if you ask me. What are the Blue Jays really getting out of this deal? Is it just a PR stunt to make fans think they're still committed to their young players? I don't buy it . There has to be more to this story...

Come on Blue Jays, really? You're gonna give this guy another chance after he was released like yesterday's trash? I mean I get it, he's got talent and all, but come on, 40 million dollars for what? A spot in the bullpen? It just doesn't make sense to me. And what's with the team spending all that cash on other guys? You're basically saying you have no faith in Rodríguez, but at the same time you want him to prove himself? Make up your minds already!

idk what's going on with the blue jays anymore... they just outrighted yariel rodriguez after signing him 2 yrs ago , and now they wanna keep him as a reliever? it seems like they're trying to work around his contract issues . i feel bad for the guy, he had a solid season last year but command was a problem . if he can get his stuff together in the offseason, maybe this is actually a good move ? the blue jays are splurging on big contracts now too, it's like they're trying to make a statement . hope yariel can bounce back and prove himself

The Blue Jays are sticking with Yariel Rodríguez I mean, can you blame them? He's still got some great stuff, and he just needs to iron out those command issues. It's not like they're trying to hide him or anything - they're actually giving him another shot, which is awesome. And let's be real, $32 million for a reliever might seem like a lot, but it's not like Rodríguez can just give up on his career and collect a check. He needs to prove himself, and if he does, the Jays will get their money back with interest . Plus, you've got to love that they're willing to take a chance on him - it shows they trust in their organization's ability to develop talent

OMG I'm so confused about this move by the Blue Jays! Yariel Rodríguez was just signed to a 5-year deal like 2 yrs ago and already they're cutting him loose? But on the other hand, they still think he's got it in him to be a relief pitcher... and they're willing to give him another shot? I get it, sometimes contracts just don't work out, but $32 mil is a lot of cash! Maybe this move will actually end up being a good thing for the team if Rodríguez can turn his game around. Fingers crossed for the dude!

I gotta say, Yariel Rodríguez was supposed to be this ace reliever, but now he's like a has-been . I mean, 40 million bucks for a guy who can't even get his pitch count under control? That's crazy talk ! And the Blue Jays are gonna keep him around? Like, what's their plan here? Do they think he's just gonna magically regain that form from last season?

I'm all for giving guys chances, but you gotta make some tough decisions in baseball. Maybe this is a chance for them to get some younger, hungrier talent into the mix and shake things up. Or maybe Rodríguez will surprise us and actually gets his stuff together... but I wouldn't count on it .

It's also interesting that they're doing this with Dylan Cease getting such a massive deal. Like, what message are they sending to other players? That if you wanna be top dollar, you gotta be able to put up numbers?

I'm kinda feeling bad for Yariel Rodríguez, ya know? The dude gets outrighted by his own team after being signed to a big contract just two years ago. It's like, you've got faith in him, but then the situation changes and now it's "good luck, buddy!" Still, gotta respect the Blue Jays for giving him another chance – maybe this relief role is exactly what he needs to get back on track ? And can we talk about how crazy the market is right now? $210 million for Dylan Cease? Like, yeah, I'm all for big contracts, but...

omg i was watching game last nite with my friends we were all like wth what happened 2 yariel?? but seriously i feel bad for him, he got a big contract and now he's just gonna be on the bench still gotta love him tho, he's got a good arm so maybe this relief role thing will b the best 4 him? we'll c!

this guy Yariel Rodríguez was a bit of a wild card from the start 2 years ago he got that huge contract and i thought for sure he'd be a starter, but then he just kinda... fell off 66 appearances last season wasn't exactly lights out either. still gotta give him credit though, he's only 28 so there's still time for him to turn it around if the blue jays are willing to take a chance on him again, maybe it'll work out this time... but like you said, $32 million deal is a pretty big hurdle to overcome