Blue Jays Predicted to Trade $32M Pitcher in Intriguing 1-for-1 Swap
he Toronto Blue Jays have been active this offseason, as their two major signings have both been pitchers.
Toronto’s first move of the offseason was signing starting pitcher Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million deal. The Blue Jays then added Cody Ponce to a three-year, $30 million deal.
With the Blue Jays putting an emphasis on pitching, Toronto has been linked to trading away pitchers. Jose Berrios’ name has come up as a potential trade candidate. But The Athletic’s Blue Jays reporter Mitch Bannon predicts Toronto will trade Yariel Rodriguez to the Texas Rangers.
The proposed deal does make sense for both teams. The Blue Jays get another utility bench bat. Texas, meanwhile, gets a pitcher who can be a high-leverage reliever or potentially start.
Duran is under team control through the 2029 season and gives Blue Jays manager John Schneider more flexibility. The 26-year-old hit .224 with zero home runs and 14 RBIs last season, as he’s more of a contact bat, which is what made Toronto so successful last season.
Rodriguez, meanwhile, did struggle down the stretch for the Blue Jays and was left off the World Series roster. He’s in the midst of a five-year, $32 million deal, as he’s under contract for two more seasons with a $6.3 million player option for 2028. Rodriguez went 3-2 with a 3.08 ERA in 66 games last season.
Analyst Explains Blue Jays-Rangers Swap
The one-for-one swap does make sense for both teams, especially if the Blue Jays land another reliever.
Bannon predicts Toronto will sign reliever Tyler Kinley to a one-year, $3.5 million deal, which makes Rodriguez expendable.
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