Ryan Yarbrough Becomes Free Agent After Jays Roster Decisions

Toronto, Ontario – Ryan Yarbrough has opted out of his minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays after learning he would not make the team’s Opening Day roster. This decision comes as the Blue Jays finalize their roster ahead of the 2025 season.

Yarbrough, a left-handed pitcher, had until 2 p.m. ET on March 23 to be added to the 26-man roster for the upcoming season. When an Article XX(B) free agent like Yarbrough opts out, the club has 48 hours to respond, either by adding him to the roster or allowing him to become a free agent.

In Spring Training, Yarbrough posted a 4.05 ERA across 6.2 innings, while striking out 27.6% of batters faced with a low 3.4% walk rate. Despite these numbers, he did not receive a spot on the squad and chose free agency instead.

The Blue Jays acquired Yarbrough from the Los Angeles Dodgers last season in a deal that sent Kevin Kiermaier to L.A. Since joining the Blue Jays, Yarbrough excelled, posting a 2.01 ERA in 31.1 innings over 12 appearances.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider indicated that the team would rely on pitchers Jeff Hoffman, Chad Green, Yimi García, Nick Sandlin, Yariel Rodríguez, Brendon Little, Richard Lovelady, and Jacob Barnes for the bullpen this season. However, without Yarbrough’s experience, depth in the bullpen may be a concern, especially with several pitchers currently sidelined.

“It’s always a tough decision when it comes to final roster spots, especially with a pitcher who has performed well,” Schneider said. “But we had to make strategic choices based on our current roster’s needs and performance.”

The Jays will head into the season with an established starting rotation that includes José Berríos, Kevin Gausman, and Max Scherzer. Scherzer, who faced health concerns in spring training, is expected to take the mound tomorrow.

As the Blue Jays navigate their roster, Yarbrough is now in search of a new opportunity in Major League Baseball. Given his strong performance last season and in Spring Training, he is likely to attract interest from several teams seeking pitching depth.