Projecting the Toronto Blue Jays' Starting Rotation Following Yariel Rodríguez Signing
The Toronto Blue Jays managed to bolster a position of strength when they agreed to a four-year deal with Cuban free agent right-hander Yariel Rodríguez on Wednesday.
Toronto already had five major league starting pitchers in place before the signing, plus another top prospect waiting in the wings. While it remains to be seen whether the Blue Jays plan to use Rodríguez as a starting pitcher or long reliever, this is what their rotation could look like to open 2024:
1. Kevin Gausman, RHP
2. José Berríos, RHP
3. Chris Bassitt, RHP
4. Yusei Kikuchi, LHP
5. Yariel Rodríguez, RHP
The trio of Gausman, Berríos and Bassitt headline the group, as they did went they all posted double-digit wins, ERAs under 3.66 and WHIPs under 1.187 in 2023. Toronto acquired Berríos from the Minnesota Twins at the 2021 MLB Trade Deadline, then signed Gausman and Bassitt in the 2022 and 2023 offseasons, respectively.
Gausman, Berríos and Bassitt combined for an 8.2 WAR last year.
Kikuchi is the Blue Jays' only left-handed starting pitcher, making him a critical piece of the puzzle. The 32-year-old southpaw had a career year in 2023, going 11-6 with a 3.86 ERA, 1.270 WHIP and 9.7 strikeouts per nine innings.
Rodríguez has found success in several leagues overseas, but this will be his first shot going against MLB batters. The 26-year-old went 31-26 with a 3.30 ERA during his time in Cuba, then 10-10 with a 3.03 ERA when he was playing in Japan.
Alek Manoah is also a threat to draw starts, despite his disastrous 2023 campaign. After finishing third in AL Cy Young voting with a 16-7 record, 2.24 ERA and 0.994 WHIP in 2022, Manoah went 3-9 with a 5.87 ERA and 1.740 WHIP in 2023 and got sent down the minors several times.
Still just 26 years old, the former All-Star has shown he has the stuff to be an elite starting pitcher, so long as his mechanics and head are in the right place.
Ricky Tiedemann could wiggle his way into the rotation at some point in 2024 as well. The 21-year-old left-hander is the No. 1 prospect in the Blue Jays' farm system and the No. 5 pitching prospect in all of baseball.
In 37 starts across six levels over the past two seasons, Tiedemann is 7-10 with a 2.69 ERA, 1.009 WHIP and 14.2 strikeouts per nine innings.
Regardless of who makes the final cut of five, the Blue Jays could have two high-end long relievers and injury replacements in their back pocket as the season progresses.
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