Blue Jays’ Yariel Rodriguez gets early start on make-or-break 2027 season

Yariel Rodríguez is getting an early start on his preparation for Spring Training. After an injury-shortened season, the Toronto Blue Jays right-hander will head to Puerto Rico to pitch in winter ball.
According to baseball insider Francys Romero, the Cuban-born pitcher has signed with the Indios de Mayagüez of the Puerto Rico Winter League for the 2026-27 season.

The move gives Rodríguez an opportunity to make up for lost time after physical issues, including a back injury, limited him throughout 2026. More importantly, it gives him a chance to rediscover his rhythm before reporting to camp for what could be a pivotal 2027 season with the Blue Jays.

Yariel Rodriguez begins early push to revive Blue Jays career in 2027

It has been a difficult stretch for Rodríguez over the last 12 months, especially after he showed signs of breaking through in the first half of 2025. Across 47.1 innings, he held opponents to a .176 batting average and a .267 on-base percentage while striking out 46 batters and posting a 2.47 ERA.

That success did not carry into the second half. Over his final 25.2 innings, opponents slashed .229/.362/.323 against him, and his command slipped as he issued 18 walks compared with 20 strikeouts. His ERA during that stretch climbed to 4.21.

Rodríguez’s role diminished even further in the postseason. He pitched only 2.2 innings out of the bullpen, allowing three runs on two home runs while walking four and recording just one strikeout.

His struggles continued in 2026. Rodríguez appeared in 10 games for Toronto and finished with a 7.71 ERA across 9.1 innings. His walk rate of 6.75 per nine innings exceeded his 5.79 strikeout rate, while opponents batted .324 against him.

There were more encouraging signs at Triple-A Buffalo, even though injuries limited him to 15.2 innings before his season ended in June. In 13 appearances, Rodríguez posted a 2.87 ERA and a 2.66 FIP while striking out 14.94 batters per nine innings.

Those flashes of effectiveness are why the Blue Jays still have reason to see what Rodríguez can offer. Toronto signed him to a five-year, $32-million contract before the 2024 season, initially viewing him as a starter. He made 21 starts that year but went 1-8 with a 4.47 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP.

A year later, Toronto shifted him almost entirely to the bullpen. Rodríguez appeared in 66 games, making only one start, and looked like a useful relief weapon during the first half. However, his late-season fade and limited postseason role prevented him from fully establishing himself as a dependable part of the staff. He was also DFA'd after his stint with the Blue Jays during the 2026 season, but none of the other 29 MLB teams decided to pick him up.

At his best, Rodríguez could become a secondary version of what Spencer Miles provided for the Blue Jays in 2026: a versatile arm capable of working as a starter, opener or multi-inning reliever. The difference is that Miles consistently recorded outs wherever Toronto used him, while Rodríguez has yet to show he can do the same over a full season.

That leaves Rodríguez with plenty at stake this winter. The Blue Jays already removed him from their 40-man roster once, and another season spent primarily in the minors would make his contract look like an incredibly regrettable bit of business. He has an option for 2028, but unless he has a massive turnaround in 2027, Toronto will have little reason to make him part of their long-term pitching plans.

A strong showing in Puerto Rico could be the first step toward giving the Blue Jays something to think about next spring.

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