Blue Jays add hard-throwing bullpen depth piece from Dodgers as September call-up decisions loom

The Toronto Blue Jays have added another arm to the September roster conversation.

With rosters expanding and the stretch run officially underway, the Blue Jays acquired right-hander José Rodríguez from the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for fellow righty Sebastian Rodriguez, a minor-league deal that fits Toronto's needs as they push for the playoffs.

Trades involving minor leaguers are still permitted after the main trade deadline, and this one gives the Blue Jays a pitcher who is much closer to the majors than the player they gave up. Rodríguez, 25, has spent most of the past two seasons in Triple-A and immediately becomes another name to watch as Toronto sorts through its expanded roster options, which could include a number of familiar names such as Ricky Tiedemann.

Rodriguez has plenty of appeal, including an advanced ability to miss bats. Going back to the start of the 2025 season, he has struck out 33.2 per cent of opposing hitters over 88.2 innings pitched, mostly at Triple-A. This season with Oklahoma City, he has posted a 3.38 ERA in 34.2 innings.

According to the available pitch data via MLB Trade rumors, Rodríguez works with several offerings, including a four-seam fastball and sinker that sit around 96 mph, along with a changeup, cutter, slider and curveball. His changeup profiles as a legitimate swing-and-miss weapon while he's also developed a very good slider.

Of course, there is a reason the Dodgers were willing to move him. Rodríguez’s command remains the biggest red flag. Alongside the strikeout rate, he has also walked 14 per cent of batters since the beginning of last season.

Blue Jays have plenty of choices on who could contribute in the final few weeks of the season

With September call-ups arriving and postseason races being decided by the margins of a bullpen, this is a move that makes sense for the Blue Jays. Rodríguez likely won't become an immediate high-leverage option but he could give manager John Schneider an extra arm to work with who has proven upper-level experience and real swing-and-miss traits.

Plus, the cost to get him was basically a long-term lottery ticket. Sebastian Rodriguez, 20, signed with the Blue Jays as an international free agent this summer and has only nine professional innings in the Dominican Summer League. He may develop into something useful down the road, but José Rodríguez could clearer help them much, much sooner.

The Blue Jays passed on two other options to upgrade the roster over the last week. They didn't pick up Eugenio Suárez when he was put on waivers by the Cincinnati Reds. They also let Luis Robert Jr. get through their hands and instead was picked up by the Baltimore Orioles.

However, they decide to keep adding to their pitcher corps by making a move not many saw coming. Now the question is whether Rodríguez can throw enough strikes to turn that raw stuff into something usable at the big league level. If he does, the Blue Jays may have found a sneaky bullpen depth piece at a crucial moment.

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