17-year MLB veteran Fernando Rodney last pitched in the majors during Game 4 of the 2019 World Series, but The Athletic’s Sam Blum reports that the soon to be 47-year-old right-hander continues to pitch in hopes of making it back to the major leagues before he calls it a career.
Rodney has suited up for eleven different clubs in the majors since he debuted with the Tigers back in 2002, compiling a career 3.80 ERA and 3.77 FIP in 951 big league appearances. During that time, he’s gone 48-71 with 327 saves, good for the 18th most in MLB history. He’s perhaps best known for his otherwordly 2012 campaign with the Rays where he pitched to a microscopic 0.60 ERA in 74 2/3 innings. That was good for an unbelievable 614 ERA+ as Rodney earned the first All Star appearance of his career, a fifth-place finish in AL Cy Young award voting, and a top-13 finish in AL MVP voting.
That strong performance kicked off a seven-year stretch where Rodney generally pitched to above average results out of the bullpen, with a 3.14 ERA and 3.34 FIP, though the flashes of his 2012 brilliance came littered with stretches of struggles such as his 39-game stint in Miami where he struggled to a 5.89 ERA in 36 2/3 innings of work. Despite those occasional struggles, Rodney’s stretches of dominance earned him roles in bullpens all across the league until the shortened 2020 season arrived.
While Rodney landed with the Astros on a minor league deal that season, he ultimately was cut from the club without ever suiting up for the team. While that was his last role in affiliated ball, the veteran righty has continued his career in independent leagues around North America in the years since, pitching to a 3.70 ERA in 155 2/3 innings of work over the past four seasons with a 25.5% strikeout rate during that time. Blum notes that even minor league offers from MLB organizations have dried up as Rodney has entered his mid-forties, though it remains at least conceivable that a club could look to bring the veteran hurler into camp on a minor league deal to serve as a mentor for young pitchers in camp while allowing the righty to try and prove himself capable of returning to the majors.
More free agent notes from around the league…
- Rodney isn’t the only former closer hoping to re-establish himself in the majors, as Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports that right-hander Ken Giles is scheduled to throw a bullpen for interested teams this coming Friday. Giles was among the better relievers in the game for a six-year stretch from 2014 to 2019 but has thrown just 44 total innings (8 in the majors) since the start of the 2020 season. While the 33-year-old’s lengthy layoff due to injuries in recent years leaves plenty of question marks in his profile, Heyman adds that Giles is “said to be healthy.” If he can prove he’s still able to pitch competitively at a high level, teams would surely have interest in adding a veteran with a career 2.71 ERA and 2.46 FIP to their bullpen mix this spring, though he’d almost assuredly be limited to minor league offers.
- Also coming off a lost season in hopes of re-establishing himself in the majors is right-hander Vladimir Gutierrez, as a report from Francys Romero indicates the righty hosted a private workout for interested teams in Miami yesterday. Earlier this offseason, reporting from Romero indicated that several clubs had expressed interest in Gutierrez after the Reds outrighted him to the minors back in October, allowing him to elect minor league free agency. The 28-year-old pitched just 43 innings over the past two seasons due to Tommy John surgery but pitched fairly well over 22 starts during the 2021 season with a 4.74 ERA in 114 innings of work. Gutierrez could be among the more interesting depth options available on the starting pitching market due to his relative youth and the fact that he has options remaining.
A’s, Rockies, White Sox gonna eat good with this one.
I might be missing something but…what do you mean?
Sorry, it’s newer slang. These are the type of signings that are right up those three teams’ alleys. I jest of course.
I mean, even in jest, the A’s could use some veteran presence. Rodney and/or Giles would be good moves for them if they could get them cheap on the fly. Wouldn’t turn any heads with the signing, but then again, who on the team really turns any heads as it is.
Dude I would just love to see Rodney pitch again. Let that arrow fly.
Perfect end to this story is Rodney gets identical offers from the Rockies, Red Sox and White Sox and chooses either Colorado or Chicago. Such would be the icing on the cake if how Red Sox ownership totally screwed things up
Best case for those bad/rebuilding teams is if any of those guys are good and healthy, they can trade then out midseason for prospects. Worst case, they paid very little money for guys looking for one last chance to make a team but ultimately get cut.
Shoot for the moon, Fernando! You can make it!
One question mark in Ken Giles profile may come from his propensity to punch himself in the face while walking off the mound.
If Ken Giles can still bring it then PHILLIES is where he belongs.
Are you still sick with that! No one cares but you! His not a wife beater like some of these are! Focus on those! Unless it’s too close to home! Just saying!!!
@Heat21,
And who made you Judge Judy and executioner? Just asking???
Call the Cardinals. Rodney would be a youngster for them.
Said to be healthy, tis just a flesh wound
Fernando Rodney trying to make a comeback?!?!?@ Wow…I always knew it haha I am all for it and I hope he makes it back!
Rodney is not alone. The “retired” Big Sexy was recently drafted by the Karachi Monarchs of the new Baseball United league. 50 is the new 30.
Mets
If Jake Peavy can do an appearance for the savanna bananas, so could FRodney.. but I would give him a nerf bow and arrow to shoot into the crowd after every strikeout.
LOL!!
The braves have so many slots on their 40 man still open, sign him, never put him in a game, but he can be like guillermo heredia with the foam swords, except this time he will be the ome rocking the nerf bow and arrows! Lol
I liked watching Rodney pitch, he was a character
Rodney is a mad man!
Slimmy, Grade A maniac no doubt. I miss the guy and would be his biggest fan wherever he landed if he could make it back to the show.
Of course everyone wants to make a comeback. Just look at how the salaries have escalated. There is so much randomness in a relievers performance. The save rule is ridiculous. There is a lot of variability in small sample sizes. But one good (lucky) season and you’re rich.
Twins should invite all these guys to spring training and see if any stick, we NEED pitching and can’t afford anyone legit…
Don’t go away mad, Fernando. Just go away.
I anticipate Rodney will get no respect, no respect at all.
Jason Hammel was also reported to be working out again in hopes of a return. What became of that?
Gutierrez showed some peomise before the Tommy John issues. Might be a good gamble for some needy team to take.
I’d like to see a 54-year-old Mariano Rivera come out of retirement. He looks basically the same. Pretty sure he could still rack up 30+ saves.
No wonder Rodney wants to make a comeback.
His last appearance was the 7th inning of game 4 of the 2019 World Series and it went like this:
Michael Brantley singles
Alex Bregman hits a grand slam
Yuli Gurriel walks
Carlos Correa walks
Robinson Chirinos grounds out
Jake Marisnick walks.
Rodney is relieved.
Who wants that to he his last memory?
I want Rodney to land somewhere so I can say there’s an MLB player who’s older than me again
This story was in the Athletic early last week
I wonder if Fernando might make it to the HOF… and if so, which hat will he don.
Would love to see the AL name him as one of the honorary all stars, just so we can see him sling one to the moon, like Ralph Cramden one last time. Either that or the Savannah Bananas.