TORONTO – The Toronto Blue Jays outrighted Yariel Rodriguez off the roster Saturday after he passed through waivers unclaimed, clearing a valuable 40-man spot by parking the right-hander’s contract in the minor-leagues.
Signed to a $32-million, five-year deal two years ago, Rodriguez remains in the organization and can still be added to the big-league club down the road, a situation similar to the one outfielder Myles Straw was in after Cleveland outrighted him in 2024.
Had he been claimed, the acquiring club would have assumed financial responsibility for the 28-year-old, freeing up payroll for the Blue Jays. Instead, the move becomes more of an organizational housekeeping exercise, opening a 40-man roster spot during the off-season, when asset management is more difficult without the 60-day injured list.
The Blue Jays currently have 37 spots filled before the looming addition of right-hander Cody Ponce, who earlier this week agreed to a $30-million, three-year deal that’s pending a physical. They continue to pursue leverage relief help and remain in the hunt for impact position player free agents Bo Bichette and Kyle Tucker ahead of next week’s winter meetings.
Rodriguez posted a 3.08 ERA and 1.151 WHIP in 73 innings across 66 outings last season with two saves. But he was left off the World Series roster after being used sparingly in the first two rounds and getting hit around by the Seattle Mariners in the ALCS.
Initially, the Blue Jays utilized him as a starter in 2024, an experiment that produced mixed results in 21 outings around a stint on the injured list. He was stretched out again this spring but ended up in a relief role and showed flashes of an ability to pitch in leverage, but ultimately didn’t find enough consistency for steady late-game work.
Rodriguez will initially be listed on the Blue Jays’ double-A reserve list, a procedural designation for Rule 5 draft timing reasons that is not indicative of where he’s slated to pitch in 2026.