SAN DIEGO, CA - APRIL 18: The San Diego Padres celebrate after defeating the Cincinnati Reds 4-1 at Petco Park on April 18, 2022 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images)
Padres Bullpen Target Reportedly Signs With AL East Squad
The San Diego Padres have lost out on a potential bullpen target.
Baseball and sports reporter Francys Romero reported free agent right-handed pitcher Yariel Rodríguez has signed a deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. The physical is expected in the next few days.
This will be the 26-year-old’s first go-around in the major leagues. Before joining Major League Baseball, Rodríguez spent three seasons with the Chunichi Dragons in the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
In those three seasons, the reliever went 10-10 with a 3.03 ERA, 188 strikeouts, and a 1.22 WHIP in 175.1 innings pitched and 79 games. According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, Rodríguez was among the Top 25 free agents of the 2023-2024 offseason, ranking at No. 19.
