Three Pitchers Miss the Cut
Ottawa baseball fans tuning in ahead of the new MLB season got a reminder Sunday that spring training cuts can be ruthless — Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider informed reporters that right-handed pitchers Angel Bastardo, Yariel Rodriguez, and Jorge Alcala have all been told they did not make the team's opening-day roster.
The announcement caps off a spring training period that had many hopefuls vying for spots in what remains a competitive bullpen. All three pitchers now face the likelihood of starting the season in the minors or searching for opportunities elsewhere in the league.
What This Means for the Bullpen
Yariel Rodriguez had been one of the more intriguing names heading into camp after flashing solid stuff in previous appearances. Jorge Alcala, a veteran arm with big-league experience, and Angel Bastardo, a promising right-hander, also failed to lock down roster spots before Schneider made his decisions.
With the bullpen a perennial area of focus for Toronto, the cuts signal that the Jays are going into the season leaning on more established arms to bridge the gap to the back end of the rotation and into the closer role.
Ottawa Fans Keep a Close Eye on the Jays
Here in Ottawa, the Blue Jays remain the team of choice for thousands of passionate baseball fans. As Canada's only MLB franchise, Toronto's fortunes are followed closely across the country — and the nation's capital is no exception. Bars along Elgin Street and in the Glebe regularly fill up for Jays games, and the team's roster moves generate plenty of chatter on local sports talk.
With opening day just around the corner, Ottawa fans will be watching to see how the revamped roster performs out of the gate and whether the bullpen, even with these cuts, has enough depth to carry the team through the early part of a long season.
What's Next for the Cut Players
For Bastardo, Rodriguez, and Alcala, the path forward likely runs through Triple-A Buffalo, where players can continue to develop and position themselves for a call-up if injuries or performance issues create openings on the big-league club. It's a well-worn route in modern baseball, and all three will have opportunities to force their way back into the conversation.
Blue Jays fans — whether watching from Toronto or Ottawa — know that a 162-game season creates plenty of roster churn. The players cut today could very well find themselves back in the majors by June.
Source: Sportsnet — Blue Jays Opening Day Roster Report
