The Dodgers on Tuesday made a minor trade, sending Triple-A right-hander José Rodríguez to the Toronto Blue Jays for minor league pitcher Sebastian Rodríguez.
I know what you’re thinking — maybe the various minor league affiliates the 25-year-old José Rodríguez pitched at might still have some old Rodríguez jerseys lying around. But the 20-year-old Sebastian Rodríguez is only 5’10, a full eight inches shorter than Jose.
José did well this year, after missing the first two and a half months while recovering
from an ACL injury suffered at the end of the 2025 season. With Oklahoma City, Rodríguez had a 3.38 ERA in 21 games with 36 strikeouts and 18 walks and only one home run allowed in 29 1/3 innings.
This was likely the case of the Dodgers getting something in return for someone they might have lost in the Rule 5 Draft, though admittedly with the pending lockout coming on December 1, whether the Rule 5 Draft even happens this offseason is unknown. Either way, José Rodríguez likely didn’t figure to land on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster this offseason.
Rodríguez was listed last December as someone likely to be plucked in the Rule 5 Draft, but he stayed put.
Nicknamed Tibu (or Shark, in English), José Rodríguez was on my radar for the three three-inning saves between High-A Great Lakes and Class-A Rancho Cucamonga in 2024, plus a five-inning save that season for Great Lakes.
Sebastian Rodríguez was signed by Toronto out of Venezuela in June, and pitched in seven games this season in the Dominican Summer League. The right-hander struck out 11 of his 36 batters faced and allowed seven runs (six earned) on six hits and three walks in his first experience pitching professionally. Rodríguez turned 20 years old on August 13.
