The Toronto Blue Jays have a decision to make regarding left-hander Ryan Yarbrough.
According to Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi, Yarbrough plans to exercise an opt-out clause in his minor-league contract with the club. By triggering this option, the team now has 48 hours to either add him to its 40-man roster or grant him free agency.
The 33-year-old has been in camp as a non-roster invitee after returning to the organization earlier this spring. With at least six seasons of major league service time and after finishing last year on the active roster, he’s considered an Article XX(b) free agent, granting him a guaranteed opt-out date that falls five days before Opening Day.
Yarbrough impressed after arriving via trade as part of last season’s Kevin Kiermaier deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, pitching to a 2.01 ERA and 3.49 FIP with 26 strikeouts and only seven walks across 12 relief appearances. And he’s picked up exactly where he left off this spring.
In four outings thus far, the southpaw has issued eight strikeouts and only one walk while allowing three runs (all earned) on eight hits over 6.2 innings.
Because of that success, most expect Yarbrough to be added to Toronto’s 40-man roster ahead of Sunday’s 2 p.m. ET deadline. If he isn’t, he’ll return to the open market in hopes of catching on with another big-league club.
That outcome would leave the Blue Jays somewhat sort in the bullpen, though, positioning right-hander Yariel Rodríguez as their only true option to pitch multiple innings of relief.
