Toronto Blue Jays announce return of Rule 5 pick Angel Bastardo to Boston Red Sox

According to MLB.coms Keegan Matheson, the Toronto Blue Jays announced the return of Rule 5 pick Angel Bastardo to Boston Red Sox on Wednesday.

Following two-year roll of the dice, the Blue Jays officially returned 2024 Rule 5 pick RHP Angel Bastardo to the Boston Red Sox from whence he came.

Recovering from TJ surgery the Blue Jays selected him December ‘24 and left him on IL all year hoping he would make ‘26 roster. Had a solid spring but are Blue Jays in win now mode.

Bastardo, from Morón, Venezuela, was signed for $35,000 during the 2019 International Free Agency by the Boston Red Sox.

Bastardo owns a career 9-21 record with a 4.76 ERA across 78 games pitched in five years at various levels of Boston’s minor-league system.

The 23-year-old Venezuelan did not appear at any level last season while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, and got back into game action this spring where he allowed four earned runs and seven walks in 7 2/3 innings.

The selection still worked to the righty’s benefit financially, as he was paid the $760K major league minimum salary for his time on the injured list.

Toronto designated him for assignment a week ago when setting their Opening Day roster.

This announcement indicates the other 28 clubs passed on grabbing Bastardo via waivers. The Sox do not need to put Bastardo on their 40-man roster.

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