THURSDAY, 10:57am: The Pirates confirmed the signing via press release.
TUESDAY, 1:07pm: The Pirates have reached a deal to bring back free agent infielder/outfielder Sean Rodriguez, ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick reports (Twitter links). He’ll earn $2.5MM and can earn up to $500K in incentives, per Crasnick and Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (via Twitter).
Rodriguez, 30, came to Pittsburgh last winter via trade. He earned $1.9MM via arbitration in 2015, so his new deal represents a slight bump up in earnings.
His primary value lies in his defensive versatility. He’s spent time at every position on the field other than pitcher and catcher. Though Rodriguez has spent a plurality of his innings at second base, he’s also accrued over 400 frames at first, short, third, and left field.
Last year, Rodriguez ended up being utilized most often at first base. He’s obviously not suited for that position from an offensive standpoint, as he slashed just .246/.281/.362 over his 240 plate appearances, but the club needed his glove there as Pedro Alvarez struggled defensively.
It seems likely that Rodriguez will be deployed more frequently elsewhere in the infield in 2016, especially early in the year. With Neil Walker now playing for the Mets and Jung Ho Kang looking to return from a significant injury, he’ll represent an important depth piece for the club. The veteran has shown more at the plate in the past, as he hit just shy of league average over 2013-14 in Tampa Bay, and a return to that level of production would make this deal an easy win for the club.
Did they re-sign the gatorade cooler too?
Good question. They’ll need to sign a new gatorade cooler (or two), I think.
The Pirates maintain their team culture by re-signing the number 1 hothead in all of baseball.
The Gatorade cooler was forced into retirement by the beating it took.
They’ll have to sign a couple of new gatorade coolers, I think.
The signing will help the Pirates retain their team culture.
Gatorade cooler’s siblings refuse to quench Rodriguez’s thirst… Pirates switch to Powerade!
Good. Not the Tigers. Detroit needs a 4th OF that hits lefties. I still think Raburn makes a ton is sense if he’ll resign.
He wasn’t used properly under Leyland and was vilified by the fans for his misuse… But he’s always hit lhp well
I’m sorry, what? Raburn is not an OF, his best position on the field is none. And while Leyland made many bad decisions he wasn’t the only reason Raburn was streaky and inconsistent. Dude swings @ everything. Also, next season will be an even year, see his stats from ’12 and ’14. That may just be a coincidence or bad luck, of course, but I’d not take a chance on a guy who can’t lay off the first pitch, especially in a late/close game.
Kinsler, Cabrera, Victor, JD, Castellanos, McCann, Iggy… the regular lineup is LOADED with guys that can match well with lefties. They need a left handed bat to get regular reps (or at least replace Gose), not another righty.
In spite of needing a LH bat they are looking for another RH outfielder/utility player. That tells me they are planning on having Collins on the 25 man roster and need a RH bat to platoon with Collins/Gose.. Maybin hit RHP better last year so the new RHB could sub for him too.
I don’t like the idea of Avila planning the roster around Collins for the outfield, but I can’t explain their actions any other way
Spot on, McTigers! Alex Gordon is the cure.
Raburn does not need to revisit Detroit. They need someone who can actually play defensively at OF, or 3B. He’s only a bat. Victor is filling that role.
Essential signing since Alen Hanson is horrible at D.
Better still upgrade 1B. Gotta get Moreland in here.
Since when is Hanson horrible at D? Everything I’ve read said he’s a very good second baseman. He couldn’t handle shortstop due to his arm, but he seems to be taking to second rather well.
Good signing. I’d like to know what the incentives are.
Plays 7 positions, 6 reasonably well.
With Hanson’s D a question mark and Kangs Injury makes great sense… if Hanson can’t play Harrison needs to play 2nd and Sean is the Utility.
At first.. If Morse stinks it (which i doubt) up Sean can play there until bell comes up. then if bell fails to impress still have a decent fielding body there.
Wish his bat was better though…
If his bat were better he’d be getting Ben Zobrist money. And he probably wouldn’t be on the Pirates.
yeah.. maybe we’ll get lucky and he’ll develop this year lol
He does better with solid playing time. And he can run into a ball or two. Some the biggest homers I’ve seen at the Trop were hit by S-Rod. Good for him.
He mashed a few last year as a Pirate, too. You’re right: he doesn’t hit a ton of HRs, but he tends to REALLY hit the ones he does get.
Plurality??? Really Jeff??
Good move to bring him back. Rodriguez is what he is: a versatile guy with a good glove who gives great effort and supplies occasional pop. He was also a very popular guy in a pretty tight clubhouse. He became a pretty necessary guy to bring back once they traded Neil Walker.
Hey Jeff
What world are you living in where you call a 32% raise a “slight bump up in earnings.?” I bet you’d be doing cartwheels if you got a raise like that.