Multiple reports say the Mariners have agreed to terms with former Tampa Bay closer Fernando Rodney on a two-year deal worth $14 million. There has been no confirmation from the club, but the deal was first reported on Twitter by Jonah Keri of Grantland.com. The News Tribune and other media outlets soon verified the report.
Rodney has agreed to a contract but has not completed a routine physical examination. Once that occurs, the Mariners must make a corresponding move on their 40-man roster to accommodate Rodney.
Rodney, who turns 37 next month, a native of the Dominican Republic, began his major league career as a set-up man with Detroit in 2002 and has also pitched for the L.A. Angels and Tampa Bay Rays. He saved 85 games (out of 95 opportunities) for the Rays over the past two seasons while posting a 1.91 ERA.
Rodney had his best year in 2012 when he saved 45 games, made the American League All-Star team and won the AL Comeback Player of the Year award. He was 13th in Cy Young voting.
Rodney is 2-2 with 15 career saves against the Mariners, who targeted Rodney after blowing 23 saves last year while suffering 13 walk-off losses.
3 Comments
Is Lincoln still there? Then who cares?
I’m a bit surprised the club did this signing as that it seemed that Jack Z. had the same philosophy as Billy Beane when it comes to closers, that they’re a dime a dozen. He’s had good luck finding one after trading away JJ Putz but Danny Farquahr was too inconsistent last season. However Rodney tends to have a good season/bad season during his career but since he had something of a down year last season (after having an incredible one the year before) the M’s might have picked him up at the right time. At least they got an AL player who’s familar with the league rather than an NL player who would have to learn on the job how the AL works.
You kind of hold your breath when you commit eight figures to a 37-year-old closer with past consistency problems, but Rodney HAS had success in the past and is an upgrade over what was available on the current roster.
Will we see the lights-out Rodney of 2012 or the Rodney whose ERA never went below 4.24 with WHIPs in the 1.5 range the five years preceding that season? That’s the $14 million question.