<p>With the offseason in full swing, multiple unaddressed subjects remain regarding the Toronto Blue Jays and their roster. One of those subjects includes right-handed pitcher Yariel Rodríguez and his role with the pitching staff next year.</p>
<p>The Jays have been on a spree in the rumours department &#8211; finishing all bark and no bite. Their success in building a well-oiled offensive machine has been slowed by non-interest in the market and internal questions that have yet to be answered. Another area of concern will be with the pitching staff.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Currently, the Jays have some question marks surrounding their rotation, with the core group of Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt and Jose Berrios the only names pencilled in. The remaining two spots are up for grabs, with Rodríguez and the likes of Bowden Francis in the mix. However, while Rodríguez may be a candidate for the rotation, there is a fair argument to be made that a move to the bullpen may be for the Cuban product next season.</p>
<h2>Rodríguez adds depth to the bullpen</h2>
<p>The Blue Jays had an extravagant rotation on paper last season. The rotation was well-built with depth, options, and diversity but they struggled to find success as a unit &#8211; ranking towards the bottom in the AL.</p>
<p>The bullpen was of a similar story &#8211; painful and destructive, Blue Jays relievers totalled a gruesome 4.82 ERA with only a 20.7% strikeout rate. Turning to the bullpen was a lottery, and there was no guarantee the group could keep the game close. They often ruined what otherwise was a good start or a winnable game.</p>
<div class="bam-inline-promotion-block" data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2110" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="330"></div>
<p>Rodríguez in a bullpen role for 2025 will give depth and reliability to manager John Schnieder when wanting to make a change on the bump. In 2024, Rodríguez only pitched 86 and 2 / 3 innings, going 1-8 with a .111 win-loss percentage and a 4.47 ERA. After sitting out most of the 2023 season waiting to be deemed eligible for the MLB, the Jays had him on an innings limit.</p>
<p>His first year in the big leagues was an eye-opener, and maybe starting in the bullpen with a reduced role, to begin with, could have helped the 27-year-old adjust to the stronger opposition &#8211; getting his feet wet and gradually easing into the pace of the game would have done him justice.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Yariel Rodríguez has a 2.35 ERA with 13 strikeouts in his first 2 <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MLB</a> starts! <a href="https://t.co/rEytd3EZhZ">pic.twitter.com/rEytd3EZhZ</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) <a href="https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/1781705657923805498?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>He did not provide as much depth, capping his innings and keeping him on somewhat of a short leash. Five pitchers on the Jays roster pitched more than 100 innings; Rodríguez was the only starter not included in that list although he did miss some time on the IL which brought the innings pitched number down. His limited innings of work could have provided more value to the Blue Jays in relief.</p>
<h2>Rodríguez could be a candidate for the set-up role</h2>
<p>Former Blue Jay, and now Philadelphia Phillies pitcher, Jordan Romano was Toronto’s closer last season. The Jays decided to let Romano walk into free agency, leading him to a new home in the National League.</p>
<p>This ultimately weakens the back end of the bullpen &#8211; the Jays are now without an established closer in place. Chad Green will be the interim closer, and, by the looks of it, he may have to become the guy for 2025.</p>
<p>This creates a shift in roles: with Green becoming the closer, Toronto will need a competent set-up man to precede his innings alongside Erik Swanson and newcomer Yimi Garcia. The Blue Jays lost Genesis Cabrera to the New York Mets; he would have been a solid candidate to be considered for that role from the left side as well.</p>
<p>Rodríguez may be the best guy in this newly needed set-up role, helping the save situation in the late innings, as his repertoire and punch-out ability fit the job description perfectly.</p>
<h2>The right-hander could work in a long-man role if needed</h2>
<p>Rodrigues was built for a rotation but will generate more success for the Blue Jays in relief with his offerings. The right-hander currently holds a five-pitch mix, but he could find more success by selecting, polishing, and perfecting just three options to big league calibre.</p>
<p>His four-seam fastball and his slider are the foundation of his repertoire. He commands his fastball well, and his slider is his out-pitch. His slider holds the highest put-away rate at 25.9% with a 33.4% whiff and a 2719 spin rate. It drops 36.4 inches vertically and 9.2 inches glove-side.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">OFFICIAL: We&#39;ve signed the NPB&#39;s Central League Most Valuable Setup Pitcher and Team Cuba starter Yariel Rodríguez to a five-year contract! <a href="https://t.co/mAtXzXXoad">pic.twitter.com/mAtXzXXoad</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) <a href="https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/1755970736202584191?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>If he could keep one more pitch, it would be between the split finger and the curveball. His sinker was the third most used, but it is not a put-away pitch and often could be found hanging in the danger zones. The curveball has good depth and deception, while the split-finger works down and out with only a .194 batting average against.</p>
<p>If Rodríguez could emphasize three pitch options with at least one extremely effective put-away, a set-up or even back-up closer option would be a great fit. He’s a strikeout pitcher and works aggressively in his matchups. A move to the bullpen could benefit both Rodríguez and the Blue Jays moving forward.</p>
<hr />
<div class="bam-inline-promotion-block" data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2110" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="330"></div>

With the offseason in full swing, multiple unaddressed subjects remain regarding the Toronto Blue Jays and their roster. One of those subjects includes right-handed pitcher Yariel Rodríguez and his role with the pitching staff next year.

The Jays have been on a spree in the rumours department - finishing all bark and no bite. Their success in building a well-oiled offensive machine has been slowed by non-interest in the market and internal questions that have yet to be answered. Another area of concern will be with the pitching staff.



Currently, the Jays have some question marks surrounding their rotation, with the core group of Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt and Jose Berrios the only names pencilled in. The remaining two spots are up for grabs, with Rodríguez and the likes of Bowden Francis in the mix. However, while Rodríguez may be a candidate for the rotation, there is a fair argument to be made that a move to the bullpen may be for the Cuban product next season.
<h2>Rodríguez adds depth to the bullpen</h2>
The Blue Jays had an extravagant rotation on paper last season. The rotation was well-built with depth, options, and diversity but they struggled to find success as a unit - ranking towards the bottom in the AL.

The bullpen was of a similar story - painful and destructive, Blue Jays relievers totalled a gruesome 4.82 ERA with only a 20.7% strikeout rate. Turning to the bullpen was a lottery, and there was no guarantee the group could keep the game close. They often ruined what otherwise was a good start or a winnable game.
<div class="bam-inline-promotion-block" data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2110" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="330"></div>
Rodríguez in a bullpen role for 2025 will give depth and reliability to manager John Schnieder when wanting to make a change on the bump. In 2024, Rodríguez only pitched 86 and 2 / 3 innings, going 1-8 with a .111 win-loss percentage and a 4.47 ERA. After sitting out most of the 2023 season waiting to be deemed eligible for the MLB, the Jays had him on an innings limit.

His first year in the big leagues was an eye-opener, and maybe starting in the bullpen with a reduced role, to begin with, could have helped the 27-year-old adjust to the stronger opposition - getting his feet wet and gradually easing into the pace of the game would have done him justice.

https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/1781705657923805498

He did not provide as much depth, capping his innings and keeping him on somewhat of a short leash. Five pitchers on the Jays roster pitched more than 100 innings; Rodríguez was the only starter not included in that list although he did miss some time on the IL which brought the innings pitched number down. His limited innings of work could have provided more value to the Blue Jays in relief.
<h2>Rodríguez could be a candidate for the set-up role</h2>
Former Blue Jay, and now Philadelphia Phillies pitcher, Jordan Romano was Toronto’s closer last season. The Jays decided to let Romano walk into free agency, leading him to a new home in the National League.

This ultimately weakens the back end of the bullpen - the Jays are now without an established closer in place. Chad Green will be the interim closer, and, by the looks of it, he may have to become the guy for 2025.

This creates a shift in roles: with Green becoming the closer, Toronto will need a competent set-up man to precede his innings alongside Erik Swanson and newcomer Yimi Garcia. The Blue Jays lost Genesis Cabrera to the New York Mets; he would have been a solid candidate to be considered for that role from the left side as well.

Rodríguez may be the best guy in this newly needed set-up role, helping the save situation in the late innings, as his repertoire and punch-out ability fit the job description perfectly.
<h2>The right-hander could work in a long-man role if needed</h2>
Rodrigues was built for a rotation but will generate more success for the Blue Jays in relief with his offerings. The right-hander currently holds a five-pitch mix, but he could find more success by selecting, polishing, and perfecting just three options to big league calibre.

His four-seam fastball and his slider are the foundation of his repertoire. He commands his fastball well, and his slider is his out-pitch. His slider holds the highest put-away rate at 25.9% with a 33.4% whiff and a 2719 spin rate. It drops 36.4 inches vertically and 9.2 inches glove-side.

https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/1755970736202584191

If he could keep one more pitch, it would be between the split finger and the curveball. His sinker was the third most used, but it is not a put-away pitch and often could be found hanging in the danger zones. The curveball has good depth and deception, while the split-finger works down and out with only a .194 batting average against.

If Rodríguez could emphasize three pitch options with at least one extremely effective put-away, a set-up or even back-up closer option would be a great fit. He’s a strikeout pitcher and works aggressively in his matchups. A move to the bullpen could benefit both Rodríguez and the Blue Jays moving forward.

<hr />

<div class="bam-inline-promotion-block" data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2110" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="330"></div>

The Toronto Blue Jays should move Yariel Rodríguez to the bullpen next season

Recent articles from Nick Prasad

Breaking News