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After a lengthy delay, Cuban right-hander Yariel Rodriguez has finally signed his contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. It's a five-year deal worth $32 million.
While the exact terms weren't known, the deal has been agreed upon for several weeks now. Visa issues caused the delay in getting it officially signed, but we are here now.
Per Sportsnet in Canada:
DONE DEAL. The @BlueJays have signed RHP Yariel Rodriguez to a five-year, $32M contract.
DONE DEAL. ✍️
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 9, 2024
The @BlueJays have signed RHP Yariel Rodriguez to a five-year, $32M contract. pic.twitter.com/gKrwts3ins
It remains to be seen how the Blue Jays will use Rodriguez, though the money given suggests that the Jays see him as a starter. He started for Team Cuba in the 2023 World Baseball Classic but he had success in the NPB as a reliever. He played in the NPB in 2022 and didn't play in 2023 while figuring out his next career moves.
Toronto already has five projected starters with Chris Bassitt, Kevin Gausman, Yusei Kikuchi, Jose Berrios and Alek Manoah. If the team doesn't feel that Manoah can rebound from a disastrous 2023, perhaps Rodriguez could slide in to that spot.
Or as a previous report suggested, the Jays could use him in the minors to start and build him up until they are ready for him to start at the major league level.
Toronto finished third in the American League East a season ago and was beaten in the wild card round of the playoffs by the Minnesota Twins.
It's the second consecutive season that the Jays were swept in that round, having also been swept by the Mariners in 2022.
More must-reads:
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