Prior to Monday night’s series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays, the Toronto Blue Jays officially selected the contract of Yariel Rodríguez to the Major League roster and announced he would be active for Monday’s contest. Rodríguez has spent the entire duration of the 2026 season with the Buffalo Bisons after being designated for assignment by the Blue Jays over the winter. Rodríguez cleared waivers, partially due to still being owed $21.3 million from the five-year, $32 million contract he signed with the Blue Jays on February 9, 2024. Through 11 games with the Bisons this season, Rodríguez is 1-0 with a 2.63 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. The right-hander has held opposing batters to a .146 average against, to go along with his 25 strikeouts across 13 2/3 innings pitched.
The 29-year-old returns to the big league after spending large portions of both the 2024 and 2025 campaigns with the Blue Jays. Last year, working exclusively out of the bullpen after spending 2024 as a starter, Rodríguez went 3-2 with a 3.08 ERA and 1.15 WHIP across 73 innings.
Rodríguez was a big piece of the Blue Jays’ bullpen, going 2-for-3 in save opportunities, holding opposing hitters to a .196 average against, and often being thrown into high-level situations through much of the regular season. The one area of concern for Rodríguez last season was his control. Rodríguez finished 2025 with an 11.4% walk rate, placing him in the bottom eight percent of all qualified pitchers. The walks became an issue in the postseason, as during Game 2 of the ALCS against the Seattle Mariners, Rodríguez walked three straight Mariners before being pulled. Following the ALCS, Rodríguez was replaced on the World Series roster, ending his 2025 season.
While walks have still been an issue with Buffalo, highlighted by nine through his 13 2/3 innings, the strikeout potential Rodríguez is showing, coupled with some struggling Blue Jays arms, has led to him being called back up to Toronto.
In a corresponding move, left-hander Eric Lauer was designated for assignment. Through eight games (six starts) this season, Lauer was 1-5 with a 6.69 ERA and 1.49 WHIP. After being a bright spot on the Blue Jays’ pitching staff a season ago, Lauer struggled through 2026’s opening months, dealing with a flu bug and a lack of velocity. The Blue Jays have yet to disclose the rotation plans for when Lauer’s spot comes around again. The injured trio of José Berríos, Shane Bieber, and Max Scherzer all remain without a timeline for their return.
