Yariel Rodríguez. Photo by YUHKI OHBOSHI/TWITTER
According to a report on Saturday by Francys Romero of MLB.com, the New York Mets are one of the 10 teams considered as the strongest candidates to sign Cuban right-handed pitcher Yariel Rodríguez. Rodríguez was also officially declared a free agent by the MLB Commissioner’s Office on Saturday, officially opening his free agency. The intriguing pitcher is officially on the market, and one of the bigger bullpen names available — if that is indeed where he will serve in the majors.
Rodríguez, 26 years old, has forged a career by playing outside the United States. After spending six seasons in the Cuban National Series, where he posted a 3.07 ERA serving predominately as a starter, he moved over to Japan in 2020. Since then, he was tasked with a relief role, where he has really taken the next step in his career.
Rodríguez posted ERAs of 2.90, 2.95 and 1.15, respectively, over the last three seasons, in Japan, as a reliever. Most notably, this season, he tossed 54 2/3 innings in the Japan Central League allowing only 32 hits and striking out 60, leading to a career-best 1.15 ERA. He posted a SO/9 of 9.9, well above his career average of 7.9, and a BB/9 of 3.0, comfortably below his career average of 4.4. The best number of all last season? He did not allow a single home run across those 54 2/3 innings. An impressive and important feat for any relief pitcher.
Rodríguez also pitched for Team Cuba in the most recent World Baseball Classic, starting two games and striking out 10 over 7 1/3 innings.
As for what he has in his repertoire, Rodríguez has the ability to throw the kitchen sink at opposing hitters. He features a fastball, slider, curveball, splitter and changeup. His fastball varies from 94-to-97 mph, averaging 96.2 mph at a tryout in front of several teams, including the Mets, in the Dominican Republic three weeks ago. It is said that his slider and curveball are his best off-speed pitches.
It is still unclear what teams scouting him envision for the right-handed pitcher in terms of rotation or bullpen. However, as Romero reported, industry members believe he can command anywhere from $40 million to $70 million on the open market over multiple years. He will not come cheap regardless the role he plays.
Luckily, for the Mets, they are in need of both starters and bullpen pieces, and also have the riches owner in all of sports. As it currently sits, New York only has two of the five rotation spots cemented and two-to-three of their bullpen slots penciled. Worth mentioning, it is well documented that New York is not shy on taking chances on pricey, import pitchers, as the Mets brought in Kodai Senga last year, and are rumored to one of the teams highly-involved in the Yoshinobu Yamamoto sweepstakes.
Just another name to monitor as the offseason really starts to take off in the next couple of days.
