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A right-handed fastball pitcher from Cuba who also played in the Japanese Professional Baseball (NPB) is about to join the Toronto Blue Jays.
Ken Rosenthal, a reporter for The Athletic, said on the 17th (Korean time), "The Blue Jays are targeting Cuban starting pitcher Yariel Rodriguez. Over the past 15 days, I have heard countless times that the Blue Jays have made offers to Rodriguez." The contract is optimistic. However, there are still immigration-related procedures, so we have to wait until the end to see whether the contract will be completed.'
Rodriguez was born in March 1997 and turns 27 this year. In Cuba's domestic league, he mainly pitched as a starter for six seasons from 2015 to 2020, recording 31 wins and 26 losses and an ERA of 3.30. In the NPB Chunichi Dragons, he played as a bullpen pitcher for three years from 2020 to 2022, recording 10 wins and 10 losses. He left a record of 3.03 ERA.
Last season, he did not renew his contract with Chunichi and took a break for a season in order to advance to the major leagues. There are predictions that Rodriguez, who gained free agency status when Chunichi released him in October of last year, could join Toronto's starting lineup.
Reporter Rosenthal said, 'Rodriguez can strengthen the starting depth in the Blue Jays. He needs to build up innings because he didn't pitch well last year. “I think it could be helpful starting in the second half of this season, but in that case, it would be a similar situation to the Braves’ Reynaldo Lopez or the Giants’ Jordan Hicks.”
Lopez and Hicks have recently been active as bullpen pitchers, and signed free agent contracts with Atlanta and San Francisco, respectively, this winter and decided to play as starting pitchers.
Rodriguez pitched 54⅔ innings at Chunichi in 2022, recording 6 wins and 2 losses, an ERA of 1.15, WHIP of 0.915, strikeout rate of 27.5%, and walk rate of 8.3%. He participated in the WBC (World Baseball Classic) wearing the Cuban national team uniform in March of last year and started in the quarterfinals against Australia, allowing 2 hits, 5 walks, 4 strikeouts, and 1 run in 3⅓ innings. He throws a fastball that tops out at 97.1 mph, averages 94.7 mph, and has a mid-80s slider as his main weapon.
MLBTR said, 'Many clubs are showing interest in him this offseason and believe he can return as a starting pitcher. He predicted that he could sign a four-year contract worth about $32 million.
Toronto is a team that is certain of its 1st to 4th starters. The four starting pitchers, including Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios, Chris Bassett, and Yusei Kikuchi, all exceeded regulation innings last year, recording double-digit wins and an ERA in the 3-point range. The rotation is evaluated as more stable than the New York Yankees in the AL East Division.
Toronto is struggling to secure a fifth starter. As reporter Rosenthal mentioned, Manoa is unlikely to play his part this year either. Manoa, who was sent down to the minor league twice last year due to poor performance for unknown reasons, ended the season complaining of pain in his right shoulder.
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