The Blue Jays are not adding Ryan Yarbrough, who was slated to pitch today, but packed up his locker and left the PDC. He'll become a free agent at 2 pm ET.
Ryan Yarbrough becomes a free agent after the Blue Jays don’t add him to the Opening Day roster
Photo credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Mar 23, 2025, 14:45 EDTUpdated: Mar 23, 2025, 14:44 EDT
The Toronto Blue Jays 26-man roster is set and Ryan Yarbrough didn’t make it.
It was reported by Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi on Sunday morning that Ryan Yarbrough didn’t make the team’s Opening Day roster and he has elected to become a free agent.
Had he not opted out, Yarbrough would’ve been sent to Triple-A Buffalo Bisons with another opt-out date after the end of April. However, it makes sense for Yarbrough to opt out as he had a good Spring Training, posting a 4.05 ERA and a 1.81 FIP in 6.2 innings pitched, with a 27.6 K% and a 3.4 BB%.
Yarbrough signed a minor-league deal with the Blue Jays on Feb. 21. It was a return of sorts, as the Blue Jays traded Kevin Kiermaier to the Los Angeles Dodgers before the 2024 trade deadline for the left-handed pitcher.
Post-trade, Yarbrough had a 2.01 ERA and a 3.49 FIP in 31.1 innings pitched in 12 appearances. He pitched in more than one inning in nine of his 12 starts, including a five-inning game on Aug. 22 against the Los Angeles Angels.
Instead of adding Yarbrough, the Blue Jays decided to add Richard Lovelady and Jacob Barnes to the 40-man and 26-man roster to round out their Opening Day, 26-man roster. It’s a bit of a confusing decision as Yarbrough performed better than both Lovelady and Barnes and the team is more familiar to Yarbrough than the other two.
What happens next for the left-handed pitcher is anyone’s guess. He’s now free to sign with any team in the league and given his strong Spring Training and second half of the 2024 season, he will likely land a major-league deal with a big league team.
The bullpen is set with Jeff Hoffman, Chad Green, Yimi García, Nick Sandlin, Yariel Rodríguez, Brendon Little, Lovelady, and Barnes. However, their depth is a little weaker without Yarbrough. Erik Swanson, Zach Pop, and Ryan Burr are currently injured, while they have Nick Robertson, Josh Walker, Dillon Tate, and Easton Lucas on the 40-man roster in the minor leagues.
Best of luck to Yarbrough wherever he ends up.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. They can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.
Breaking News
- The Blue Jays should clutch onto their starting pitching depth
- Blue Jays sign International Free Agent prospect Alieski Torres
- MLB Notebook: Bo Bichette featured on Brazil’s WBC roster, Dodgers open to trading Teoscar Hernández?
- Blue Jays: The case to sign both Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette
- Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor wins 2025 Tip O’Neill Award