Originally published by DodgerBlue.com
The Los Angeles Dodgers traded José Rodríguez to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for fellow right-handed Minor League pitcher Sebastian Rodriguez.
Jose Rodríguez signed with the Dodgers as an international free agent out of Mexico in 2019. He debuted in the Dominican Summer League two years later and also spent the 2022 season with one of two affiliates on the island as well.
The right-hander arrived stateside in 2023 and moved up the Minor League ranks each season. Rodríguez first reported to the Arizona Complex League and only made one appearance for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga in 2023.
Rodríguez was back with the Quakes to begin the 2024 season but earned a promotion to High-A Great Lakes. He then spent 2025 primarily pitching for Double-A Tulsa but also spent some time with Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Other than four games with the Arizona League Dodgers, Rodríguez had been with the Comets this year. Dating back to 2025, the 25-year-old has gone 12-5 with a 4.16 ERA and 1.42 WHIP with 100 strikeouts in 77.1 innings pitched across 58 games (four starts) at the Triple-A level.
Rodríguez throws a four-seam fastball, sinker, cutter, changeup, slider and curveball. The changeup is considered his best pitch with the slider also a plus-offering.
As for Sebastian Rodriguez, he is just into his professional career after signing as an international free agent with the Blue Jays in June 2026. Rodriguez went 4-0 with a 6.00 ERA over seven appearances for the Blue Jays’ Dominican Summer League affiliate. He had 11 strikeouts against three walks in nine innings.
The Venezuelan native is further away from possibly reaching the Majors, which suggests it’s possible the Dodgers were likely to lose José Rodríguez as a Minor League free agent this offseason.
Dodgers and Blue Jays trade after deadline
The 2026 MLB trade deadline passed on Aug. 3, during which the Dodgers notably pulled off a blockbuster to acquire Tarik Skubal. And although MLB has long eliminated the waiver trade deadline, player movement in August and September is still possible under certain criteria, as the Dodgers and Blue Jays demonstrated.
Players signed to Minor League contracts are eligible to be traded through the conclusion of the World Series. Though, that only applies to such players who have yet not been promoted to an active Major League roster at any point while under their current Minor League deal.
Other restrictions include players currently on a 40-man roster or the 60-day injured list. Those that fall under these categories cannot be traded in any circumstance once the deadline has passed.
Likewise, players who are signed to Major League contracts but have not appeared above the Minor League level this season are not eligible to be traded either.
Teams can also add players that were designated for assignment and placed on waivers — the only difference being they cannot do so via trade.
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