Blue Jays Designate Yariel Rodríguez for Assignment, Clearing a Bullpen Spot for Tommy Nance

The Toronto Blue Jays designated right-hander Yariel Rodríguez for assignment on Monday, a roster move that again forces the club to decide whether to keep, trade, or risk losing a major-league bullpen piece on waivers. The transaction also comes with practical fallout, because designating Rodríguez for assignment opens both space in the major-league bullpen and a spot on the Blue Jays’ 40-man roster. MLB Trade Rumors reported the move, first citing Francys Romero.

As the roster spot becomes available, MLB Trade Rumors reported that Tommy Nance is expected to take over bullpen responsibilities as he returns from a roughly three-week injured-list stint. Nance was placed on the 15-day injured list on May 17 due to right forearm discomfort, and the Blue Jays recalled Adam Macko to keep the bullpen supplied in the interim.

Rodríguez’s DFA is notable because it is not a fringe roster decision, at least not based on his contract and earlier role. The Blue Jays agreed to a five-year, $32 million contract with Rodríguez, a deal that reflected both his upside as a reliever and the organization’s willingness to invest in starting depth and multi-role bullpen options.

In the report, MLB Trade Rumors framed Rodríguez’s 2024 arc as a strong start followed by a difficult late season. He started 21 games in 2024, then shifted primarily to the bullpen in 2025, leading Toronto’s relievers with 73 innings. The article credited him with a 3.08 ERA and 4.27 SIERA across those 73 innings, before noting that he struggled in the second half, when his numbers rose and his performance in the postseason carried more trouble.

What makes the Blue Jays’ Monday decision feel urgent is that Rodríguez’s 2026 track record was mixed in both directions. MLB Trade Rumors said he began the year at Triple-A Buffalo and posted a 2.63 ERA in 11 appearances there, prompting a mid-summer return to the majors. But in his subsequent 9 1/3 innings with Toronto, the report said he gave up 11 runs, walked seven, and struck out six of 45 batters faced.

For Toronto, the move is also tied to timing and depth management. MLB Trade Rumors noted that once Nance returns, the Blue Jays would have fewer pitchers on the major-league injured list, suggesting that the club is trying to rebalance its active bullpen as rotation and relief availability continue to fluctuate during the grind of the season. Nance, for his part, was described by at the time of his IL placement as “quietly reliable” over the prior two seasons, including a 1.99 ERA over 30 appearances in 2025, along with a 3.86 ERA in 2026 through that point.

The immediate question after any designation for assignment is whether another team claims Rodríguez, or whether Toronto can keep him in the organization without counting him on the 40-man roster. If Rodríguez clears waivers, the next step would typically be an assignment to the minors, creating a different kind of bullpen insurance. If he is claimed, the Blue Jays will have to fill not only the 40-man vacancy created by the DFA, but also any system gap in right-handed relief depth.