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.
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. 
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
seems weird 2 think blue jays would give up on rodriquez so easily 
but i guess its better 4 them 2 cut loose & move on 
they gotta make room 4 new signings tho 
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.
. 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 
. 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 
. 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 
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! 
. if he can get his stuff together in the offseason, maybe this is actually a good move 
. 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 
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! 
. I mean, 40 million bucks for a guy who can't even get his pitch count under control? That's crazy talk 
.
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