The Mariners have designated former closer Fernando Rodney for assignment, the club announced following Saturday’s loss to the White Sox. In corresponding moves, the M’s also optioned righty Danny Farquhar to Triple-A, called up southpaw Roenis Elias and purchased the contract of right-hander Logan Kensing.
Thanks in large part to a 1.42 HR/9 (more than double his career average) and his lowest K/9 total (7.6) in four seasons, Rodney posted a 5.68 ERA over 50 2/3 IP this season, a performance that cost him his job as the Mariners’ closer. It’s probably unlikely that Rodney will be claimed or traded during his DFA period given that he already cleared revocable trade waivers last week. Rodney is still averaging 94.8mph on his fastball (same as last season) so it’s possible another team could look to sign the 38-year-old veteran as bullpen depth before the rosters expand on September 1.
The Mariners are responsible for the approximately $1.5MM in salary still owed to Rodney for the remainder of the season, except for the pro-rated portion of the minimum salary should Rodney sign elsewhere. The right-hander signed a two-year, $14MM free agent deal in the 2013-14 offseason and performed extremely well in the contract’s first year, posting a 2.85 ERA, 10.3 K/9 and 2.71 K/BB rate over 66 1/3 innings en route to a league-best 48 saves. Rodney and his new agents will undoubtedly point to his 2012-14 dominance when the righty looks for a new contract in free agency this year, though obviously this year’s numbers will greatly diminish his market.
Kensing has spent the last two seasons with the Mariners’ Triple-A affiliate, and he has a 2.30 ERA, 6.6 K/9 and 2.56 K/BB rate over 31 1/3 innings this season. Kensing has appeared in just one Major League game since 2009, pitching two-thirds of an inning for the Rockies in 2013.
About time.. He has been dead weight for almost the entire season..
With Rodney’s dramatic decline this season while maintaining his velocity, perhaps he might just need a switch to a different pitch framer, pitching coach or perhaps just a change of scenery.. He had a couple of rough seasons when he was with the Angels and as soon as he moved to the Rays his peripherals did a 180 (he went from an ERA+ of 85 to an ERA+ of 641 and received strong Cy Young consideration).. I am wondering if another team with an excellent pitch framing catcher and coach like the Royals, Pirates, Yankees, or Cardinals might resurrect his season.. A move to any of those teams would also give him a solid chance at the post season and he wouldn’t have the expectation to perform like an everyday closer..
Or….he could just be getting old.
Not out there to insult you with regards to Rodney here..
The guy still throws BB’s.. Still regularly sits upper 90’s, he just has NO clue where the ball is going. No pitch framer is going to help with that and can’t see how a pitching coach is the problem, with Rick Waits doing pretty well these past few seasons with an otherwise decent Mariners staff.. It’s just plain old Rodney himself that’s fallen apart.. Had that one flukey year with TB, cashed in on it with the M’s (to their detriment) and they have been forced to pay for it these last 2 seasons.
Last year, it was on the edge when he entered the game, despite those on the surface glittering numbers and this year it all fell apart.. The arrows into the arrow are (thankfully) a thing of the past, which he would still do, even after one of his self caused tightrope games.
Seems like a pitch framer being a large part of his troubles is a stretch. I’m not underestimating a catchers ability to add value to a pitcher….but Rodney has imploded.
When Tampa played the Yankees for Mariano’s last game Rodney was signing autographs for the fans in the stadium. The only thing he requested was that the person say Please when they asked him to sign. He signed more autographs than anyone else there.
That’s a great story and kind of peek into some of his generosity to the fans there.
Remember years back, when I would get autographs, some of the Sox guys were great with the fans and some would go to any lengths to avoid them.. Some would hang around outside the clubhouse, waiting for them to exit after ST.. Yaz would not leave until he had signed each and everyone, even chat it up with the fans. Some.. Like Jim Rice would nearly always walk out the clubhouse with some small item in each hand.. Usually a shoe and say “my hands are full” and walk right on by.. George Scott’s favorite line was “I’ve got to take my wife to the airport” every day.. That’s the wife he had been divorced from for several years I guess?
Cecil Cooper was terrific, he’d sign every time, chatting away. Bill Lee would have something comical to say, while signing. Tiant was terrific also.. He ALWAYS had on some flashy, sportsuit and that beret he was known for with a HUGE cigar sticking out of his mouth. He’d happily sign and talk away, couldn’t hardly understand him with that cigar, but he signed.. You didn’t ask him for 2 tho.. He’d firmly plant both hands on his hips and give an evil stare.
Ted Williams was difficult.. He was at ST as a coach and I even had access to the clubhouse at certain times (friend in fairly high places), that guy just didn’t like signing.. In 3y Ted was there? I got him to sign FINALLY 1 time.. He’d get on a golf cart and was like he could sniff out a fan approaching.. He’d get back on and run off again when 1 got close.
Some guys don’t like signing… I don’t think Mantle or Kirby Puckett did either. Mutt Mantle would take Mickey to games in St. Louis and not let him get autographs…Mutt said that they paid to get in to see the players and the players didn’t owe them anything else.
I can understand why some players would be careful with so much being sold on EBay….some could take issue with that. I’ve seen some pretty ridiculous adults lining up with multiple objects that are obviously going to be sold.
Some players won’t sign on the sweet spot….etc
I know mantle signed a lot after he retired. He signed a deal with a casino in Atlantic city where he would just show up, hang out, gamble, interact with fans, and sign autos. I’m not sure how he was during his playing days tho
Maybe when he clears waivers, he could come back to the rays where he was a superstar?
He has to be better than most of the guys the Red Sox have been using.
He misses Jim Hickey.
Can they dfa Jack Z?
I just wonder if his hat was crooked enough this year.
We can’t even comment about players wearing hats crooked now?
-over-policing the comments section I’d say.
Rodney didn’t show much respect for the game with his crooked hat and over the top celebrations.
I’m glad it caught up to him …again.