MONDAY: The Orioles are one of four teams showing "significant" interest in Rodney, Connolly reports. Baltimore's decision not to sign Balfour has "unquestionably" intensified the Rodney market, Connolly's source added. Baltimore likes Rodney's recent AL East success, but there's a sense that he could require a larger deal than the two-year, $15MM agreement with Balfour that crumbled, and that could be beyond the Orioles' comfort limit, says Connolly.
The team has also checked in on Francisco Rodriguez, Connolly adds. One source told him that the O's have reached out to K-Rod very recently, but the sense is that it was more due diligence than genuine interest. Rodriguez wasn't happy with his role in Baltimore's bullpen in 2013, as he rarely worked high leverage innings after being acquired from the Brewers for infield prospect Nick Delmonico.
FRIDAY: With the Grant Balfour decision in limbo, the Orioles are turning their attention to Fernando Rodney, an industry source tells Dan Connolly of The Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). The O's had discussions with and about Rodney earlier this winter but negotiations didn't progress (link).
Rodney is reportedly seeking as much as $10MM per year, which would make him a considerably more expensive option than Balfour. However, with many closing vacancies already filled, Rodney's leverage may not be as great as it was early in the offseason. By that same token, his agents at the MVP Sports group can make the case that Rodney is the best closer left on the market to try to get the Orioles to pay a premium.
Rodney is coming off a strong season in which he pitched to a 3.38 ERA with 11.1 K/9 and 4.9 BB/9 in 66 2/3 innings for the Rays. Though he racked up another 37 saves, Rodney's history of command issues resurfaced in 2013 after it looked like he may have overcome that problem a year prior. In his free agent profile of Rodney back on Nov. 1, our own Steve Adams predicted a two-year, $18MM contract for the soon-to-be 37-year-old.
Steve Adams contributed to this post.
Hate the idea of signing Rodney, but I guess there isn’t that much better left.
BAL not comfortable giving O’Day or Hunter a shot to close?
They like O’Day as setup man, not sure about Hunter working everyday as a closer
I think the problem with Hunter is that he’s just can’t pitch that often, plus he’s to prone to the long ball.
Yeah you’re right he was a disaster when he pitched back-to-back nights last year.
Lefties light up O’day and Hunter. Righties light up Matusz. There isn’t an answer for closer on the team at the moment.
Is a closer by committee so terrible that they should spend $10M on Rodney?
Lefties light up O’day and Hunter. Righties light up Matusz. There isn’t an answer for closer on the team at the moment.
O’Day and Hunter heavily favor righties. They would have to platoon the role with someone like Matusz.
Talk about Matusz to the rotation and Norris closing not an option anymore….not saying it’s a great option…just wondering if it still should be considered now.
I’m sure they’ll still consider it. I hate the idea of Matusz being back in the rotation though
One problem with this option is that Norris has scary splits against him, too. Norris could probably be a great role-player in the bullpen a la Hunter, but when looking for a closer, you really need a guy who doesn’t get categorically destroyed by opposite-handed players.
Talk about Matusz to the rotation and Norris closing not an option anymore….not saying it’s a great option…just wondering if it still should be considered now.
Hindsight 20/20 and not really fair to act like the FO would know about the injury but the Orioles being “cheap” has bit them hard
I wonder if BAL or Balfour’s reps will let out what the physical found that halted the deal?
I’m sure its the shoulder. Probably scar tissue, minor tear, etc.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) normally creates privatization of medical information, but professional teams often create their own HIPAA exemptions through the use of contract clauses that allow team doctors and trainers to release private medical information to coaches, front office personnel, and owners.
Such as with Pedroia’s thumb I believe.
those exemptions are much like the exemptions each of us have with our insurance carriers that allows them access to our medical records. however, there’s nothing in HIPAA that says it’s okay for those team doctors, trainers, coaches, personnel, and owners to make that knowledge known to the public. it’s something that i still don’t understand isn’t a bigger issue with this information always being leaked. if you were an employee at a hospital and did any miniscule thing to violate HIPAA, it would be a big deal. it seems to be a different story in sports.
It is his right shoulder possibly related to a torn rotator cuff earlier in his career
Well, my joke falls flat when it’s referencing a different guy. Carry on…
The O’s have competition with the Ms to get Rodney. I would say the Ms have a better chance at getting him since Rodney and McClendon know each other
You’re correct but it all comes down to years and money. Balfour might be a cheap pickup now.
Yup, I wonder what went wrong with the physical?
It was something with his right shoulder. I think Rodney would be too expensive for the Ms now but I could see them signing Balfour for cheap after this.
They have more payroll flexibility this yr. So over 90mil
True but there has been a lot of talk that they are close to their payroll limit.
I’ve heard a lot of things but they’re still not to last years payroll. I think its a strategy to make other teams think they’re done.
They cant be done, because spending all that money on Cano and already being done wouldnt make sense. I agree with you. Just a false rumor
The O’s messed up when they let Johnson walk.
They traded him to the A’s.
That’s what I meant, the O’s should have just hung on to him for a year. They were competitive last year, this offseason hasn’t been kind to Baltimore, and might be a last place finish for next season.
Prior to Balfour’s physical, trading Johnson looked like one of the best decisions of the winter. They got a lottery ticket former prospect at second base plus had Balfour (a better pitcher than Johnson) and Ryan Webb on board for a combined total that was less than Johnson was going to earn in arbitration.
Having that close role filled helps to win ball games. I remember when San Diego had Hoffmen, that dude was Mr. Lights out. the Padres weren’t much but if they had a lead going into the ninth they won, with Hoffmen.
Hoffman is one of the best closers of all time, I think everyone remembers him.
Having that close role filled helps to win ball games. I remember when San Diego had Hoffmen, that dude was Mr. Lights out. the Padres weren’t much but if they had a lead going into the ninth they won, with Hoffmen.
They were going to DFA him if they didn’t trade him. 10.5 million for a closer is to pricey for everyone not named Rivera
Not in today’s market.
It’s plenty expensive. Look at the closers around the game. The only ones making $10MM+ anymore are Johnson, Papelbon Soriano and Nathan. And the Phillies are desperately shopping Papelbon because of that salary.
No-no my friend they are trying to dump Papelbon because of his mouth & public statements.
I mean it sort of is. How many teams are truly happy with their 10 million a year closers?
Dodgers are.
They don’t have one. They do have Brandon League which would’ve been enough to scare any other team away from signing another big money reliever but the Dodgers have a big pot of gold.
yeah the TV deal is really helping out. But since League was a disaster they really needed to do something, Jansen can’t close every game.
They have the beard and unlimited funds, they are good
I would say he most certainly can. his WHIP was 0.861 last year with an FIP of 1.99. His K rates have been ridiculous since he’s been a pro. He’s gotten better every year ! He looks pretty much like the second coming of Kimbrel
yeah the TV deal is really helping out. But since League was a disaster they really needed to do something, Jansen can’t close every game.
They weren’t just going to DFA Jim Johnson, they would’ve kept him and ended up paying him. If they DFAed Johnson then they would lost him for nothing.
Yep they were prepared to lose him for nothing to dump his salary. Orioles writer Britt Geruli confirmed that he would have been DFA if he was not traded
He would have never been DFA’d just saying
It’s the market some teams are paying that price
Severe overpays don’t set the market, and non-elite relievers are not worth >$10M, period.
Or Kimbrel
Or Kimbrel
If Rodney agrees to a deal similar to Balfore’s except with a team option for a third year then I’m all for it… if not I say pass. As for Balfore, I think a 500K base with incentives up to the 7mil for days off the DL is fair, maybe a team option for an additional year for 7mil.
I don’t think Rodney is all that great, Certainly better than Brandon League but he’s no Brian Wilson.
As far as Balfore goes I think another team will pick him up PDQ if the O’s don’t
Don’t like the name “Ball Four” for a closer.
Certainly haven’t heard that 9 million times…
Maybe he just doesn’t want to take the joke for Grant-ed. 🙂
That is PUNny!
I am bitter with his disrespect of VMART. Tigers could have used him.. but NO GO with Vmart on the roster.
Rodney limits the running game with his slightly off center hat. Overlooked brilliance masked by an apparent “disrespect of the game” fashion statement.
At $10mm per for Rodney the orioles might be better served working out a deal for papelbon
At $10mm per for Rodney the orioles might be better served working out a deal for papelbon
I wouldn’t mind signing Hanrahan and using a combo of Matusz/Hunter/O’day until he’s ready to pitch
Hanrahan was not the same guy in the last half of 2011 with the Bucs, and that was before he got hurt. His command was flat out awful. What makes that a little more scary is that, if you go back to when he was a National and to immediately after Pittsburgh acquired him, he also had control problems. Between that and last year’s injury, signing Hanrahan should be a team’s version of taking a flier, not a solution to a closer problem.
just what i want a closer with a 1.335 whip
Peter Angelos is not good at this.
I really doubt Rodney will get 10m given the Balfour, Nathan and Benoit’s deals(/almost deals).
Rodney’s 2012 is looking pretty fluky. I’m pretty sure the author of this post is trolling, calling a season where he posted a 4.9BB/9 a “strong season.” The man’s career walk rate is worse than Kevin Gregg’s…
Kevin Gregg never even dreamed of a season with 11 K/9.
Rodney may have ticked up the Ks in 2013, but the two are very similar pitchers over the course of their careers.
1.33 WHIP (Rodney) / 1.36 WHIP (Gregg)
11.4% BB% (Rodney)/ 10.5% BB% (Gregg)
22.1% K % (Rodney)/ 21.0% K% (Gregg)
3.71 SIERA (Rodney)/ 3.92 SIERA (Gregg)
Rodney may have ticked up the Ks in 2013, but the two are very similar pitchers over the course of their careers.
1.33 WHIP (Rodney) / 1.36 WHIP (Gregg)
11.4% BB% (Rodney)/ 10.5% BB% (Gregg)
22.1% K % (Rodney)/ 21.0% K% (Gregg)
3.71 SIERA (Rodney)/ 3.92 SIERA (Gregg)
Rodney’s 2012 is looking pretty fluky. I’m pretty sure the author of this post is trolling, calling a season where he posted a 4.9BB/9 a “strong season.” The man’s career walk rate is worse than Kevin Gregg’s…
“With many closing vacancies already filled”
What that means is that Dan Duquette waited too long before making any moves.
Then when his choice fell through, as it apparently has, he is left with no options.
This is why you should move early, instead of late, and this is why Dan’s apparent lack of planning is a terrible flaw.
Yes, it is not, perhaps, Dan’s fault that his eventual choice turned out to be damaged goods.
But it is most definitely Dan’s fault that he waited so long that now he has almost no options.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Balfour just took less to still sign with Baltimore.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he took less to sign with TB or NYY on a 1 year deal just to show the O’s he’s as healthy and angry as ever!
Even with the potential injury issue to Balfour, I’d still rather have him than Rodney.
Owch! There is no such thing as a stress free save from Rodney.
In 2012, he was as stress free as could be.
0.60 ERA, 0.78 WHIP.
And in 2011 he had a 43% save rate, that about as stress full as could be. He has a career save rate of 79% and a BB/9 of 4.5. 2012 happens to be the one year he had BB/9 under 3.5 (1.8 in 2012). It was nothing more than an anomaly. Expecting that level of performance from him is nothing short of insane.
Considering he wasn’t even a closer in 2011, using save rate to draw a conclusion is curious.
He was the closer to start the year for LAA in 2011, he was just so terrible from 2010-2011 he lost the job!
Even so, a sample of 4 saves and 3 blown saves (not all of which came when he was the closer, I’m pretty sure…many non closers get blown saves on their stats) isn’t great to base any assumptions on.
Even so, a sample of 4 saves and 3 blown saves (not all of which came when he was the closer, I’m pretty sure…many non closers get blown saves on their stats) isn’t great to base any assumptions on.
Just because one has good save rate doesnt mean they are stress free saves. Have you Watch Todd Jones or Papa Grande saves games? Im a Tigers fan and the year that Valverde saved 49/49 half of them he would create way to much drama for my liking. And here is anther thing that save rate doesnt address. Valverde also had terrible numbers when he was used in non save situations.
Judging how the poor souls who live in Baltimore treated Pedro Strop because how he wore his hat..I’d hate how they’d treat Rodney.
I’ll tell ya,Rodney gets no respect,no respect at all.
I’ll tell ya,Rodney gets no respect,no respect at all.
Much rather have Balfour than Rodney, Rodney had 2 solid seasons in TB but his career numbers show he is an inconsistent reliever not worthy of a sizeable commitment
Much rather have Balfour than Rodney, Rodney had 2 solid seasons in TB but his career numbers show he is an inconsistent reliever not worthy of a sizeable commitment
Why not give K-rod a shot, he’s clearly superior to Rodney IMO. Rodney doesn’t need to sign and just hang em up IMO.
Tigers should sign him: High upside, “Roller Coaster” downside, prior familiarity. Incentive laden contract would be perfect.
I am all for Rodney now that I understand that his hat angle is used to fool runners into thinking he might be looking their way, when he is actually looking towards home.
I agree and he could be a very solid setup man.
I would LOVE to see Rodney remain in the AL East. Easiest closer for the Red Sox to beat last year (although the White Sox and Tigers had bad closers as well).
Huh?
Benoit was a bad closer in 2013?
2.01 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 9.8 K/9.
I stand corrected–Benoit was good. I’m unfairly remembering the Tigers late/postseason BP struggles.
I would just stay away from this. The Orioles signing Rodney to close could perhaps pull their bullpen down and become dead weight.
Do the White Sox look at Rodney?? Could be a way to fill our closer need