The Toronto Blue Jays are reportedly close to finalizing a deal for Cuban right-hand pitcher Yariel Rodriguez. The deal is believed to be for four years and $32 million.

Rodriguez will join the Blue Jays without prior MLB experience. He played his early career in his native Cuba before signing with the Nippon Professional Baseball’s Chunichi Dragons. The 26-year-old also pitched for Cuba’s national baseball team at the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

Rodriguez made 79 relief appearances with the Dragons between 2020 and 2022. He had a record of 10-10 during that time while posting a 3.03 ERA and getting 188 strikeouts.

Rodriguez didn’t play at all in 2023, opting not to return to the Dragons. The NPB side eventually released him, clearing the way for Rodriguez to sign with an MLB team. He only pitched in the World Baseball Classic last season, finishing the tournament with a 2.45 ERA and 10 strikeouts.

Reportedly, Rodriguez received quite a lot of interest from MLB teams in recent weeks. However, most of them were only willing to offer him the role of a reliever like he had with the Dragons. The Blue Jays, on the other hand, offered him a path to becoming a starter. 

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The Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk has been placed on his team’s 10-day injured list due to a laceration on his left hand. Catcher Tyler Heineman has been called up from Triple-A Buffalo to fill in as Kirk’s replacement. In addition, the Blue Jays recalled right-hander Trent Thornton and optioned right-hander Bowden Francis to Buffalo.

Kirk was struck on the hand during Toronto’s 7-11 loss to the Texas Rangers on Sunday. In 59 games this season, Kirk has hit .253 with three home runs and 21 RBIs. Over his four seasons with the team, Kirk has emerged as a .272 hitter with 26 home runs and 111 RBIs.

Heineman slotted in for Kirk as a defensive replacement during the Blue Jays’ 11-0 loss to the Miami Marlins on Monday, during which he did not step up to the plate. He was also celebrating his 32nd birthday.

Previously this season, Heineman went 3-for-10 in six games, thus taking himself to 4-for-19 in 10 games for 2023. He is a career .214 hitter with one home run and 12 RBIs in 92 games. Francis has a 3.68 ERA in three relief appearances for the Blue Jays this season.

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The Cincinnati Reds would like to see their All-Star first baseman Joey Votto spend his entire career with the franchise. However, if Votto decides he wants to play for his hometown Toronto Blue Jays at some point in the 2023 MLB season, the Reds would be willing to make that happen for him.

Speaking with CBS Sports’ Jim Bowden on Monday, the Reds’ general manager Nick Krall said that the current plan is for Votto to retire as a Red. But in the case that Cincinnati is out of playoff contention before the trade deadline this upcoming season and Votto asks to go to Toronto, then Krall would give him the green light.

Of course, it isn’t enough for the Reds and Votto to sign in on the deal. The Blue Jays would also have to be interested and think that the 39-year-old can help them win baseball games.

Born and raised in Toronto, Joey Votto was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds out of high school in 2002. He made his majors debut in 2007 and went on to become the face of the franchise in years to come. Votto earned six All-Star appearances over the years while also being named NL MVP in 2010.

Approaching the end of his professional career, Votto would likely appreciate the opportunity to play for a contender and add a World Series ring to his resume. It is unlikely that will happen in Cincinnati, considering that the team is in the midst of a rebuild and have failed to make the playoffs in the past two seasons. The ascending Blue Jays, on the other hand, are establishing themselves as one of the AL powerhouses.

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Slugger Daulton Varsho has expressed his gratitude for being traded to the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday. The former Arizona Diamondbacks player was sent to Toronto in exchange for outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and catching prospect Gabriel Moreno.

“You think you’re going to stay at one spot your whole career and usually that never happens,” Varsho stated in conversation with reporters. “I’m glad I have family to be able to help me through. My dad [Gary Varsho] got traded so he knows exactly the feeling. He was with the Cubs for a long time and [then] going to Pittsburgh. But it was one of the greatest things for him, so I’m thinking the same thing. I’m coming to this winning team here in Toronto and it’s gonna be a lot of fun.”

Varsho appeared to hit peak form last season, ending up as a Gold Glove finalist after hitting 27 home runs. He also scored 74 runs, stole 16 bases, and hit .235 over 151 games in 2022.

The 26-year-old slugger is a versatile player, filling in at right field as well as being a utilityman for the Diamondbacks. He is expected to show the same flexibility during his time with the Blue Jays.

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Add the Toronto Blue Jays to the list of MLB teams that decided to make a managerial change this season. The Blue Jays announced on Wednesday that they had fired manager Charlie Montoyo with bench coach John Schneider set to take his place on an interim basis.

The decision came after the Blue Jays went 2-8 in the past 10 games and slipped to fourth place in AL East.

It’s safe to say that the Blue Jays’ decision to fire Montoyo surprised more than a few people. The 56-year-old signed a new contract back in April after leading the team to a 91-win season in 2021. Toronto was also in a good place to make the postseason this year despite the recent bad form. The difference between them and second-placed Tampa Bay Rays is just 1.5 games.

However, it appears that just barely making the playoffs, if that ends up happening, isn’t good enough for the Blue Jays’ front office. After an encouraging run last year, the expectations were sky-high for the only Canadian MLB team, and so far, they haven’t been met. It now remains to be seen if Schneider can change the team’s course and salvage this season.

Charlie Montoyo leaves the Blue Jays after compiling a 236-236 record in three-and-a-half years in Toronto. He managed to get the team to the postseason during the shortened 2020 campaign when the Blue Jays were swept by Tampa Bay Rays.

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All-Star pitcher Jose Berrios spent less than four months with the Toronto Blue Jays, but even that was enough for him to decide that this is the place where he wants to spend the prime of his career. According to multiple reports, Berrios and Blue Jays have agreed on a seven-year extension earlier this week.

Berrios, who landed in Toronto ahead of the trade deadline from the Minnesota Twins, had one year left on his deal. The new contract, which is reportedly worth $131 million, will now keep him with the Blue Jays through the 2029 MLB season.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports that the agreement between the two sides contains an opt-out clause after the fifth year. Berrios also got limited no-trade protection as part of the package.

The Blue Jays acquired Berrios in a trade that saw them sending top prospect shortstop Austin Martin and talented pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson to Minnesota. The 27-year-old ended up starting 12 games for the franchise in 2021, compiling a 5-4 record with 3.58 ERA and 78 strikeouts. Overall, he had a career-best 3.52 ERA and career-high 204 strikeouts in this past season.

Toronto was motivated to lock Berrios to a long-term deal considering that they have several members of their rotation that could depart the franchise in free agency this offseason. This includes All-Star Robbie Ray, who led the AL in ERA (2.84) and strikeouts (248) in 2021, and veteran Steven Matz. Righty Ross Stripling, on the other hand, has just one more year on his contract.

Jose Berrios has established himself as one of the most reliable and durable pitchers in baseball in recent years. Since 2018, he made an impressive 108 regular-season starts and is second on the list behind only Philadelphia Phillies’ ace Aaron Nola. Berrios has a 60–47 career record with 4.04 ERA and 857 strikeouts. He currently has two All-Star nods to his name.

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One of the biggest prizes of this season’s MLB free agent market has found a new home, as star outfielder George Springer has reportedly agreed to a six-year, $150 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.

After Springer undergoes a physical at the Jays’ facilities in Dunedin, Florida, on Thursday, the contract will be made official.

Springer spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Houston Astros, making three AL All-Star teams and helping propel them to their first ever World Series championship.

The 2017 World Series MVP has hit .270 with 174 home runs and 458 RBI over the past seven seasons in Houston. Last season was more of the same for him, as he put up a .265 average with 14 homers in only 51 games.

Known for his deadly, powerful bat and his quality center field defense, Springer is one of the most well-rounded players in the big leagues and should provide a huge boost for a Toronto team with big hopes for the future.

Expect Springer to immediately take over the job in center field for the Jays and form a powerful combination with Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Lourdes Gurriel at the top of his new team’s lineup.

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The Toronto Blue Jays and starting pitcher Robbie Ray have agreed to a one-year, $8 million deal that will see the veteran lefty return north of the border in the 2021 season.

Ray, who was traded to the Jays from the Arizona Diamondbacks at this season’s trade deadline, will be back in order to help anchor a rotation which is looking to be a major factor as the team battles for another playoff berth.

The 29-year-old Ray didn’t have his best season in 2020, posting a career-worst 6.62 ERA along with a 2-5 record. He was better, though, after joining Toronto, putting up a 4.79 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 20.2 innings.

Ray, a 2017 NL All-Star during his tenure with Arizona, was once considered one of the most promising young lefty arms in baseball. He has always had swing-and-miss stuff and posted plenty of strikeouts, but has at times struggled with control and home runs.

Toronto hopes that they will be able to count on Ray for 30+ starts next season and to help provide consistency and experience in their rotation alongside Hyun-Jin Ryu.

He’ll head to camp in Dunedin next February all but assured a rotation spot, provided that he can stay healthy.

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The Toronto Blue Jays locked up a playoff spot with a 4-1 victory over the New York Yankees.

This wild-card berth will be the first time in four years that the Blue Jays will be participating in the MLB postseason. Starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu had a dominant outing, throwing seven shutout innings in the win.

Toronto now has a record of 30-27 and had to battle in the tough American League East where both the Tampa Bay Rays and Yankees reside. The Rays have already clinched the division, but the Blue Jays can jump the Yankees and take second place. They are only two games behind New York with three games left to play in the regular season.

The first seven spots in the AL have now been locked up. The three aforementioned AL East teams, along with the Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, Minnesota Twins, and Cleveland Indians have all qualified.

The eighth spot is still up for grabs, but the Houston Astros look as if they are in the best position to claim it right now.

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The Toronto Blue Jays, on the edge of the MLB playoff picture with a 15-14 record roughly halfway through the season, have made a move to acquire starting pitcher Taijuan Walker in a bid to bolster their rotation.

Toronto made the deal official on Thursday afternoon, announcing that they had acquired the 28-year-old righty in exchange for cash considerations or a player to be named later.

The Mariners, who would’ve seen Walker hit the free-agent market this winter, are outside of the playoff picture at 12-19 and decided to trade him in order to get a potential piece for their future.

On the flip side, the Blue Jays currently would qualify as one of the two teams outside of the top 2 in their respective divisions to qualify, along with the Cleveland Indians. The MLB’s expanded playoffs in 2020 have allowed teams like the Blue Jays which might not have had a shot to compete for a berth to do so.

Walker could help them do so, as the veteran righty has had some good starts for Seattle this year. In 5 appearances, Walker is 2-2 with a 4.00 ERA.

The Jays currently rank 17th in baseball with a 4.66 starters’ ERA, and Walker will give them important quality depth at the position as they look to make the postseason for the first time since 2016.

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The Toronto Blue Jays are reportedly close to finalizing a deal for Cuban right-hand pitcher Yariel Rodriguez. The deal is believed to be for four years and $32 million.

Rodriguez will join the Blue Jays without prior MLB experience. He played his early career in his native Cuba before signing with the Nippon Professional Baseball’s Chunichi Dragons. The 26-year-old also pitched for Cuba’s national baseball team at the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

Rodriguez made 79 relief appearances with the Dragons between 2020 and 2022. He had a record of 10-10 during that time while posting a 3.03 ERA and getting 188 strikeouts.

Rodriguez didn’t play at all in 2023, opting not to return to the Dragons. The NPB side eventually released him, clearing the way for Rodriguez to sign with an MLB team. He only pitched in the World Baseball Classic last season, finishing the tournament with a 2.45 ERA and 10 strikeouts.

Reportedly, Rodriguez received quite a lot of interest from MLB teams in recent weeks. However, most of them were only willing to offer him the role of a reliever like he had with the Dragons. The Blue Jays, on the other hand, offered him a path to becoming a starter. 

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The Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk has been placed on his team’s 10-day injured list due to a laceration on his left hand. Catcher Tyler Heineman has been called up from Triple-A Buffalo to fill in as Kirk’s replacement. In addition, the Blue Jays recalled right-hander Trent Thornton and optioned right-hander Bowden Francis to Buffalo.

Kirk was struck on the hand during Toronto’s 7-11 loss to the Texas Rangers on Sunday. In 59 games this season, Kirk has hit .253 with three home runs and 21 RBIs. Over his four seasons with the team, Kirk has emerged as a .272 hitter with 26 home runs and 111 RBIs.

Heineman slotted in for Kirk as a defensive replacement during the Blue Jays’ 11-0 loss to the Miami Marlins on Monday, during which he did not step up to the plate. He was also celebrating his 32nd birthday.

Previously this season, Heineman went 3-for-10 in six games, thus taking himself to 4-for-19 in 10 games for 2023. He is a career .214 hitter with one home run and 12 RBIs in 92 games. Francis has a 3.68 ERA in three relief appearances for the Blue Jays this season.

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The Cincinnati Reds would like to see their All-Star first baseman Joey Votto spend his entire career with the franchise. However, if Votto decides he wants to play for his hometown Toronto Blue Jays at some point in the 2023 MLB season, the Reds would be willing to make that happen for him.

Speaking with CBS Sports’ Jim Bowden on Monday, the Reds’ general manager Nick Krall said that the current plan is for Votto to retire as a Red. But in the case that Cincinnati is out of playoff contention before the trade deadline this upcoming season and Votto asks to go to Toronto, then Krall would give him the green light.

Of course, it isn’t enough for the Reds and Votto to sign in on the deal. The Blue Jays would also have to be interested and think that the 39-year-old can help them win baseball games.

Born and raised in Toronto, Joey Votto was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds out of high school in 2002. He made his majors debut in 2007 and went on to become the face of the franchise in years to come. Votto earned six All-Star appearances over the years while also being named NL MVP in 2010.

Approaching the end of his professional career, Votto would likely appreciate the opportunity to play for a contender and add a World Series ring to his resume. It is unlikely that will happen in Cincinnati, considering that the team is in the midst of a rebuild and have failed to make the playoffs in the past two seasons. The ascending Blue Jays, on the other hand, are establishing themselves as one of the AL powerhouses.

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Slugger Daulton Varsho has expressed his gratitude for being traded to the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday. The former Arizona Diamondbacks player was sent to Toronto in exchange for outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and catching prospect Gabriel Moreno.

“You think you’re going to stay at one spot your whole career and usually that never happens,” Varsho stated in conversation with reporters. “I’m glad I have family to be able to help me through. My dad [Gary Varsho] got traded so he knows exactly the feeling. He was with the Cubs for a long time and [then] going to Pittsburgh. But it was one of the greatest things for him, so I’m thinking the same thing. I’m coming to this winning team here in Toronto and it’s gonna be a lot of fun.”

Varsho appeared to hit peak form last season, ending up as a Gold Glove finalist after hitting 27 home runs. He also scored 74 runs, stole 16 bases, and hit .235 over 151 games in 2022.

The 26-year-old slugger is a versatile player, filling in at right field as well as being a utilityman for the Diamondbacks. He is expected to show the same flexibility during his time with the Blue Jays.

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Add the Toronto Blue Jays to the list of MLB teams that decided to make a managerial change this season. The Blue Jays announced on Wednesday that they had fired manager Charlie Montoyo with bench coach John Schneider set to take his place on an interim basis.

The decision came after the Blue Jays went 2-8 in the past 10 games and slipped to fourth place in AL East.

It’s safe to say that the Blue Jays’ decision to fire Montoyo surprised more than a few people. The 56-year-old signed a new contract back in April after leading the team to a 91-win season in 2021. Toronto was also in a good place to make the postseason this year despite the recent bad form. The difference between them and second-placed Tampa Bay Rays is just 1.5 games.

However, it appears that just barely making the playoffs, if that ends up happening, isn’t good enough for the Blue Jays’ front office. After an encouraging run last year, the expectations were sky-high for the only Canadian MLB team, and so far, they haven’t been met. It now remains to be seen if Schneider can change the team’s course and salvage this season.

Charlie Montoyo leaves the Blue Jays after compiling a 236-236 record in three-and-a-half years in Toronto. He managed to get the team to the postseason during the shortened 2020 campaign when the Blue Jays were swept by Tampa Bay Rays.

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All-Star pitcher Jose Berrios spent less than four months with the Toronto Blue Jays, but even that was enough for him to decide that this is the place where he wants to spend the prime of his career. According to multiple reports, Berrios and Blue Jays have agreed on a seven-year extension earlier this week.

Berrios, who landed in Toronto ahead of the trade deadline from the Minnesota Twins, had one year left on his deal. The new contract, which is reportedly worth $131 million, will now keep him with the Blue Jays through the 2029 MLB season.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports that the agreement between the two sides contains an opt-out clause after the fifth year. Berrios also got limited no-trade protection as part of the package.

The Blue Jays acquired Berrios in a trade that saw them sending top prospect shortstop Austin Martin and talented pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson to Minnesota. The 27-year-old ended up starting 12 games for the franchise in 2021, compiling a 5-4 record with 3.58 ERA and 78 strikeouts. Overall, he had a career-best 3.52 ERA and career-high 204 strikeouts in this past season.

Toronto was motivated to lock Berrios to a long-term deal considering that they have several members of their rotation that could depart the franchise in free agency this offseason. This includes All-Star Robbie Ray, who led the AL in ERA (2.84) and strikeouts (248) in 2021, and veteran Steven Matz. Righty Ross Stripling, on the other hand, has just one more year on his contract.

Jose Berrios has established himself as one of the most reliable and durable pitchers in baseball in recent years. Since 2018, he made an impressive 108 regular-season starts and is second on the list behind only Philadelphia Phillies’ ace Aaron Nola. Berrios has a 60–47 career record with 4.04 ERA and 857 strikeouts. He currently has two All-Star nods to his name.

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One of the biggest prizes of this season’s MLB free agent market has found a new home, as star outfielder George Springer has reportedly agreed to a six-year, $150 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.

After Springer undergoes a physical at the Jays’ facilities in Dunedin, Florida, on Thursday, the contract will be made official.

Springer spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Houston Astros, making three AL All-Star teams and helping propel them to their first ever World Series championship.

The 2017 World Series MVP has hit .270 with 174 home runs and 458 RBI over the past seven seasons in Houston. Last season was more of the same for him, as he put up a .265 average with 14 homers in only 51 games.

Known for his deadly, powerful bat and his quality center field defense, Springer is one of the most well-rounded players in the big leagues and should provide a huge boost for a Toronto team with big hopes for the future.

Expect Springer to immediately take over the job in center field for the Jays and form a powerful combination with Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Lourdes Gurriel at the top of his new team’s lineup.

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The Toronto Blue Jays and starting pitcher Robbie Ray have agreed to a one-year, $8 million deal that will see the veteran lefty return north of the border in the 2021 season.

Ray, who was traded to the Jays from the Arizona Diamondbacks at this season’s trade deadline, will be back in order to help anchor a rotation which is looking to be a major factor as the team battles for another playoff berth.

The 29-year-old Ray didn’t have his best season in 2020, posting a career-worst 6.62 ERA along with a 2-5 record. He was better, though, after joining Toronto, putting up a 4.79 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 20.2 innings.

Ray, a 2017 NL All-Star during his tenure with Arizona, was once considered one of the most promising young lefty arms in baseball. He has always had swing-and-miss stuff and posted plenty of strikeouts, but has at times struggled with control and home runs.

Toronto hopes that they will be able to count on Ray for 30+ starts next season and to help provide consistency and experience in their rotation alongside Hyun-Jin Ryu.

He’ll head to camp in Dunedin next February all but assured a rotation spot, provided that he can stay healthy.

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The Toronto Blue Jays locked up a playoff spot with a 4-1 victory over the New York Yankees.

This wild-card berth will be the first time in four years that the Blue Jays will be participating in the MLB postseason. Starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu had a dominant outing, throwing seven shutout innings in the win.

Toronto now has a record of 30-27 and had to battle in the tough American League East where both the Tampa Bay Rays and Yankees reside. The Rays have already clinched the division, but the Blue Jays can jump the Yankees and take second place. They are only two games behind New York with three games left to play in the regular season.

The first seven spots in the AL have now been locked up. The three aforementioned AL East teams, along with the Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, Minnesota Twins, and Cleveland Indians have all qualified.

The eighth spot is still up for grabs, but the Houston Astros look as if they are in the best position to claim it right now.

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The Toronto Blue Jays, on the edge of the MLB playoff picture with a 15-14 record roughly halfway through the season, have made a move to acquire starting pitcher Taijuan Walker in a bid to bolster their rotation.

Toronto made the deal official on Thursday afternoon, announcing that they had acquired the 28-year-old righty in exchange for cash considerations or a player to be named later.

The Mariners, who would’ve seen Walker hit the free-agent market this winter, are outside of the playoff picture at 12-19 and decided to trade him in order to get a potential piece for their future.

On the flip side, the Blue Jays currently would qualify as one of the two teams outside of the top 2 in their respective divisions to qualify, along with the Cleveland Indians. The MLB’s expanded playoffs in 2020 have allowed teams like the Blue Jays which might not have had a shot to compete for a berth to do so.

Walker could help them do so, as the veteran righty has had some good starts for Seattle this year. In 5 appearances, Walker is 2-2 with a 4.00 ERA.

The Jays currently rank 17th in baseball with a 4.66 starters’ ERA, and Walker will give them important quality depth at the position as they look to make the postseason for the first time since 2016.

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