Blue Jays Return Rule 5 Pick Angel Bastardo To Red Sox
MLB Trade Rumors • • sports
Key Points:
- The Toronto Blue Jays have returned Rule 5 pick Angel Bastardo to the Boston Red Sox after designating him for assignment, with no other team claiming him off waivers.
- Bastardo, a Venezuelan international signing in 2018, underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the 2025 season, leading the Red Sox to leave him off their 40-man roster and expose him to the Rule 5 draft.
- The Blue Jays kept Bastardo on the injured list throughout 2025 but needed to keep him on the active roster for 90 days in 2026 to retain him, a requirement Bastardo struggled to meet due to control issues in spring training.
- With high walk rates and wild pitches in camp, the Jays decided to designate him for assignment, and after clearing waivers, Bastardo returns to the Red Sox organization, likely to continue his development at Double-A or Triple-A.
- Despite the organizational change, Bastardo gained a year of major league service time and salary while rehabbing on the Blue Jays' injured list in 2025.
