OFFICIAL: President Mark Shapiro shocks fans by naming 4 players the Blue Jays may choose to protect from the Rule 5 Draft, unexpected choices spark even more controversy than last year’s decision to protect no one.
Toronto, ON – In a move that’s sent shockwaves through the Blue Jays’ fanbase, team president Mark Shapiro has publicly outlined four potential candidates for protection ahead of the November 18, 2025, deadline to finalize the 40-man roster, just days before the annual Rule 5 Draft. The announcement, made during a surprise press conference at Rogers Centre on Friday afternoon, comes on the heels of last winter’s infamous decision to leave every eligible prospect exposed—a gamble that resulted in no major losses but drew widespread criticism for its perceived recklessness. This time, Shapiro’s selections have ignited an even fiercer debate, with fans and analysts alike questioning whether these “safe bets” truly safeguard the organization’s future or merely plug holes in an already leaky farm system.
For the uninitiated, the Rule 5 Draft is MLB’s quirky mechanism to prevent teams from hoarding talent indefinitely in the minors. Players signed at 18 or younger must be added to the 40-man roster after five professional seasons, or they become fair game for other clubs to select for $100,000. Selected players must then spend the entire following season on their new team’s active major league roster, or risk being returned. Last year, the Blue Jays opted for a bold all-in strategy, protecting zero prospects and exposing a laundry list of promising names like outfielder Phil Clarke and infielder Damiano Palmegiani. The ploy worked in the short term—no one was poached in the major league phase—but it left supporters fuming, accusing management of undervaluing homegrown talent amid a disappointing 74-88 campaign that saw Toronto miss the playoffs for the second straight year.
Shapiro, ever the calculated risk-taker since joining the organization in 2015, defended the 2024 approach as a “strategic reset” to prioritize free-agent spending on veterans like third baseman Troy Johnson and reliever Elena Vasquez. But with the Jays sitting at 38 players on the 40-man roster and a pressing need to bolster pitching depth for a 2026 contention push, this year’s deliberations carry higher stakes. Shapiro’s named quartet: left-handed pitcher Ricky Tiedemann, outfielder Yohendrick Pinango, shortstop Josh Kasevich, and catcher Edward Duran. “These are the cornerstones we’re building around,” Shapiro stated, his voice steady amid a barrage of shouted questions. “They’re not just prospects; they’re the foundation of our next championship window.”
At first glance, Tiedemann seems like a no-brainer. The 23-year-old southpaw, once a consensus top-100 prospect, rocketed through the system with a 2.45 ERA across Double-A and Triple-A in 2023 before a devastating elbow injury sidelined him for all of 2024 and most of 2025. He underwent Tommy John surgery in March 2024 but has since logged rehab innings in the Arizona Fall League, touching 94 mph with his fastball and showing vintage bite on his slider. “Ricky’s our ace in waiting,” Shapiro emphasized. “Protecting him ensures we control his timeline—no other team gets to rush him back or misuse his arm.” Yet even here, skeptics point to his injury history; Toronto’s rotation is already crowded with Alek Manoah’s resurgence and Kevin Gausman’s contract extension. Why burn a spot on a pitcher who might not debut until mid-2026?
The real head-scratchers, however, are Pinango and Kasevich—two position players whose stock has fluctuated wildly. Pinango, 24, was acquired from the Oakland Athletics in a mid-2024 trade deadline deal that sent utility man Davis Schneider packing. The switch-hitting outfielder mashed 18 homers and posted a .285/.362/.478 slash line in Triple-A Buffalo this season, blending gap power with plus speed that could make him a dynamic leadoff option. Acquired for his international scouting ties, Pinango’s versatility—he’s playable in all three outfield spots—makes him a depth piece Shapiro covets. But with George Springer entrenched in right field, Daulton Varsho patrolling center, and prospects like Alan Roden waiting in the wings, critics argue Pinango is expendable. “He’s solid, but is he untouchable?” tweeted Jays superfan @MapleLeafMLB, whose post garnered over 5,000 likes in hours. “Last year we risked stars and kept everyone. Now we’re shielding benchwarmers?”
Kasevich’s inclusion has sparked the loudest backlash. The 2022 fourth-round pick out of the University of Oregon struggled mightily in 2025, batting just .231/.312/.378 in 112 games split between Double-A New Hampshire and Triple-A Buffalo, plagued by a nagging hamstring strain that cost him six weeks. His glove remains elite—scouts clock him as a potential Gold Glove shortstop with quick feet and soft hands—but his bat has regressed from the .290/.380/.450 promise of his 2024 campaign. Shapiro called him “the defensive anchor we can’t afford to lose,” hinting at Bo Bichette’s trade rumors swirling since July. Yet fans see it differently: exposing Kasevich could net a compensatory pick or force a low-risk experiment elsewhere, much like the Rays’ success with Wander Franco years back. “This is Shapiro gaslighting us again,” fumed Toronto Sun columnist Arden Zwolak. “Josh is talented, but after that injury-marred year? Let the market decide.”
Rounding out the list is Duran, the 22-year-old Venezuelan catcher whose quiet ascent has flown under the radar. Signed as an international free agent in 2021 for $800,000, Duran impressed in High-A Vancouver with a .278 average, 15 homers, and a cannon arm that gunned down 38% of basestealing attempts. Behind the plate, his game-calling draws comparisons to a young Danny Jansen, and his pop from both sides of the plate addresses Toronto’s long-standing catcher conundrum post-Alejandro Kirk’s 2024 knee surgery. “Edward’s the real steal here,” Shapiro noted, praising his leadership in the clubhouse during instructional league. Still, with Kirk’s $20 million extension and veteran’s min Gabriel Moreno as backup, Duran’s path is blocked. Detractors wonder if protecting him ties up a spot better used for arms like reliever Ryan Jennings, who posted a sub-4.00 ERA in 45 Triple-A outings but was conspicuously omitted.
The fallout has been swift and savage. Social media erupted within minutes of Shapiro’s remarks, with #ShapiroOut trending in Canada for the first time since the 2024 playoff snub. Fan forums like Bluebird Banter overflowed with threads dissecting the “mystery meat” selections—why not infielder Victor Arias, whose .312 average in Double-A screams upside, or outfielder Brandon Valenzuela, whose defense could supplant aging Alejandro Kirk? Pundits on Sportsnet’s Prime Time debated for two hours, with host Jeff Blair labeling it “a half-measure worse than nothing.” Even neutral observers, like ESPN’s Jeff Passan, chimed in: “Toronto’s playing chess while the AL East plays checkers. Bold? Sure. Smart? Jury’s out.”
Shapiro, unflappable as ever, doubled down post-conference. “We weighed every angle—scouting reports, analytics, long-term projections. This isn’t about headlines; it’s about contention by 2027.” He hinted at potential designations for assignment to clear space, possibly veterans like outfielder Nathan Lukes or reliever Mitch White, whose options are expiring. As the deadline looms, all eyes are on general manager Ross Atkins, who must execute these moves amid whispers of a blockbuster trade involving Bichette.
For Blue Jays Nation, still nursing wounds from last year’s non-protection fiasco, this feels like déjà vu with a twist. The selections protect talent, yes, but at what cost? Exposed players like Arias or Jennings could still be snagged, diluting the farm further. As one season bleeds into the next, Shapiro’s high-wire act continues—teetering between innovation and insanity. Will these four propel Toronto back to October glory, or will they become footnotes in another offseason of what-ifs? With the Rule 5 Draft set for December 12 in Dallas, the answers can’t come soon enough. For now, the Rogers Centre faithful can only watch, wonder, and wait.
