The Rangers and Blue Jays have completed a trade, as both clubs announced that right-hander Yerry Rodriguez is heading to Toronto in exchange for minor league righty Josh Mollerus. Rodriguez has been optioned to Triple-A Buffalo, while the Rangers assigned Mollerus to their high-A affiliate.
Texas designated Rodriguez for assignment earlier this week, and today’s trade officially ends Rodriguez’s decade-long run in the Rangers organization. An international signing out of the Dominican Republic in September 2015, Rodriguez made his MLB debut in 2022 and has a 7.11 ERA over 31 2/3 big league innings for the Rangers over the last three seasons. This year in particular, Rodriguez has a 6.88 ERA in 17 frames, allowing five homers and recording almost as many walks (11) as strikeouts (12).
Almost something of a control specialist during his earliest days as a prospect, Rodriguez’s walk rates have become increasingly problematic over three-plus years at the Triple-A level. The righty has a 5.42 ERA in 151 career Triple-A innings, and his walk rate spiked up to 15.2% this season over 13 1/3 frames at Round Rock.
On the plus side, Rodriguez is a hard thrower who has a 28.16% strikeout rate in his Triple-A career. While this swing-and-miss ability hasn’t translated yet to Rodriguez’s big league work (18.9K% in the majors), Rodriguez has stuff to appeal to other teams, and Toronto scouts may have seen something to make them think they can fix Rodriguez’s control problems.
If nothing else, the trade adds an MLB-ready reliever to the depth chart of a Blue Jays team in sore need of bullpen help. Between the number of injuries and ineffective arms in the Jays relief corps, Rodriguez is an optionable reliever who can shuttled up and down from Triple-A a few more times when the Blue Jays are in need of a fresh arm. A starter earlier in his career, Rodriguez has mostly transitioned over to full-time relief work, and can operate as a multi-inning reliever.
Mollerus is a University of Oregon product who was a 10th-round pick for Toronto in last year’s draft. Mollerus’ early results have also yielded a high number of strikeouts and walks, as the right-hander has a 32.26% strikeout rate and a 15.05% walk rate over 42 1/3 pro innings. Starting at A-level Dunedin last season, Mollerus has pitched with high-A Vancouver in 2024.
Blue Chipper.
Thanks Ross, this’ll do it……
This is a stupid trade for the Blue Jays. We have 10 of these guys in AAA already.
Seriously, the guy they traded is probably just as good if not better even if he hasn’t pitched above a ball yet
They gave up a 10th rd pick who hasn’t been doing much of anything. Deeming that as stupid seems absolutely off base here.
He was just drafted last season, so I’m not sure how productive you wanted him to be in that time, but he’s produced solid numbers. I would take that over an older player whose production is only poor.
He’s a 24 yr old whose pitched to the tune of 4.03 era and 1.276 whip in A ball. He was traded for a 26 yr old who has MLB experience.
Trade wasn’t necessary.
Jays bullpen has been horrible. Not that I see this doing all that much to correct it,at least it’s trade addressing an area of need.
They already have a Rodriguez as a starter.
Little Yerry could get hurt!
You want Little Yerry to take a dive?
If it gets my clown check taken down from the bodega, then yes.
I’m just thankful someone got it.
Tidy piece of business here
Looks like an even swap to me. Both pitchers give up too many walks, but have high strikeout numbers. Texas needs to clear off 25/40 man spots for mahle and jung, so taking a lottery ticket in Mollerus is the right move He’s only in his second year in pro ball but he’s pretty old for high a
Toronto needs help in the bullpen. If they can solve yerry’s confidence and control, he’ll be ok. He has a good arm but it’s a low risk giving up mollerus
What a breath of fresh air to read a well thought out review of the trade. Well Done Mr. ALMOND Joy.
Thanks! Careful, I might post more often. Haha
World Series here we come…..attaboy Ross……now the Jays fans will show the love lol
Did they fire the front office yet? Did they get rid of Don Sidal as a color commentator? No… notjhing to talk about then!!!!!
This is what happens when a big market team is owed by a small market minded owner who says he wants to win a championship bus will not spend the money it takes to do so.
Obviously Jack, you don’t have a clue what you are talking about. The Jays have a current 247 million payroll, When it is changed from Canadian funds to US funds to pay players, the team is spending over 300 Million Canadian to field the team. That is third behind the Yankees and Dodgers, so if you say Jays ownership are cheap, you are also referring to the Dodgers, Mets, Yankees as being cheap. Unlike their US counterparts, the Jays are paying the luxury tax, plus expenses that MUST be converted to US funds.
I look at their roster and it doesn’t add up to $247M(Not saying your wrong).
Small minded mentality until it was clear the team needed to spend over the luxury to contend. They haven’t drafted, developed or scouted as well as their counterparts.
The laundry manager gotta be careful when Yerri gets called up and Yari goes down
Yerry and Yariel, sounds like some sort of business.
Yup, after today’s loss to the Yankees 8-1, Our Jays are on track for a 76-78 win season. Thanks Mark and carryon atkins. Great Job
74-88. Long time since they played a 154 game season. Jus sayin
Nothing to see here.
More evidence of the Jays lack of depth and poor executive leadership. It is way overdiue for the BlueJays to punt on the year and trade for genuine high level prospects.
The Jays have a pitcher named Yimi Garcia but the “Y” is prounced as a “J” so it’s like Jimmy Garcia. But Yerry Rodriguez does not pronounce his name as “Jerry” Rodriguez. It’s still just Yerry. (rhymes with fairy.) Does anybody know the Spanish pronunciation rule with the ‘ J vs. Y’ ??? It’s very confusing.
Jou yust don’t understand
I Juanderstand
Jour yust yoking?
Ja! Ja! Ja!