Yariel Rodriguez, the closer, has a $25,000,000 contract with the Blue Jays…….

Yariel Rodriguez, the closer, has a $25,000,000 contract with the Blue Jays…….

                 Right-handed pitcher Yariel Rodríguez, a native of Cuba, has inked a contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. According to reports, the deal is for $32 million over four years, subject to a physical in Toronto in the coming days.

Rodríguez became a free agency in November, and organisations like the Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds, and San Diego Padres were among those interested in him. But according to recent sources, the Blue Jays were the front-runners to sign him. The agreement was confirmed by MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, who added that some details still needed to be worked out.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic noted that Rodriguez’s immigration status is one of the remaining obstacles. In Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, Rodriguez spent three seasons with the Chunichi Dragons. However, he did not pitch in 2023 and was released from his contract on October 5.

The 26-year-old Cuban pitcher pitched in the Cuban National Series when he first turned pro, going 31-26 in seven seasons with a 3.30 ERA. After joining the Dragons in 2020, Rodríguez finished 79 games and 175.1 innings later with a 10-10 record and 3.03 ERA.

In the World Baseball Classic, Rodríguez displayed his abilities as a starter for Team Cuba, recording 7.1 innings of strikeouts and just two earned runs allowed. Whether Rodríguez will start or relieve, the Blue Jays have not yet stated.

In the mix are pitchers like Yusei Kikuchi, Alek Manoah, Chris Bassitt, Kevin Gausman, and José Berríos; Rodríguez’s signing gives the Blue Jays’ pitching staff more depth. Should Manoah encounter difficulties recuperating after the 2023 season, Rodríguez or highly skilled youngster Ricky Tiedemann may be taken into consideration as possible rotational substitutes.