The Toronto Blue Jays have informed three relievers that they didn’t crack the club’s opening-day roster as the Grapefruit League schedule comes to a close.
Manager John Schneider told reporters Sunday that right-handers Angel Bastardo, Yariel Rodriguez and Jorge Alcala have been informed that they did not make the team out of camp.
Schneider also said during the broadcast of Toronto’s 14-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays that reliever Tommy Nance has made the team.
Bastardo, Toronto’s Rule 5 selection in 2025, will have to be offered back to the Boston Red Sox, or the Blue Jays can try to trade for his full rights.
The 23-year-old from Venezuela missed the entire 2025 season as he worked back from Tommy John surgery. His first game action with the Blue Jays organization came this spring, when he appeared in seven games, posting a 4.70 ERA with five strikeouts and seven walks.
Rodriguez, meanwhile, was outrighted off Toronto’s 40-man roster in December, putting him on the outside of the bullpen picture entering 2026.
He threw just 3.0 innings for the Blue Jays this spring, spending a portion of March with Cuba at the World Baseball Classic, and allowed seven runs.
The 29-year-old was one of Toronto’s most relied upon relievers in 2025, posting a 3.08 ERA over 73 regular-season innings.
Finally, Alcala joined the Blue Jays on a minor-league deal with an invite to spring training in the off-season.
The veteran allowed seven runs in 7.1 spring-training innings with Toronto.
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