The Phillies have signed reliever Francisco Rodriguez to a minor league contract, Jon Heyman of FanRag reports (Twitter links). Rodriguez will make $2.5MM plus incentives if he earns a spot on Philadelphia’s roster.
The 36-year-old K-Rod brings 437 career saves and a lifetime 2.86 ERA to the table, though he’s now forced to rebuild his stock after a disastrous 2017 in which he managed the worst velocity of his career. In 25 1/3 innings with the Tigers, Rodriguez pitched to an unsightly 7.82 ERA despite passable strikeout and walk rates (8.17 K/9, 3.91 BB/9). A career-low groundball rate (30.1 percent) and home run issues (3.2 per nine) helped lead to Rodriguez’s undoing in Detroit, which released him in late June. Rodriguez caught on with the Nationals a few days later, though the organization cut him in mid-July after he totaled a mere five innings in its minor league system.
Although last year was a nightmare for Rodriguez, he’s not far removed from a quality 2016 campaign in which he logged a 3.24 ERA over 58 1/3 innings with the Tigers. That season also saw Rodriguez register the highest grounder rate of his career (54.7 percent) and convert 44 of 49 save opportunities.
Rodriguez recently topped out at 93 mph while throwing for scouts, easily trumping last year’s high-80s and leading to offers from the Phillies and other clubs, per Heyman. If those gains stick, Rodriguez could emerge as a useful piece for a Phillies team whose bullpen welcomed a pair of pricey free agents – Pat Neshek and Tommy Hunter – earlier this winter.
So?
Better than nobody signing
Has a chance to make a young team
Why?
A veterans knowledge and Leadership don’t always show up in a box score.
He can coach
When I think of Rodriguez, I don’t immediately think of “leadership”
Because you’ve shared a clubhouse with him?
Nice signing.
Why?
Why not? There’s literally no risk. If he bounces back, they can trade him at the deadline, if he struggles, they aren’t going to suffer financially if they release him.
stop making sense mlb1225
Good luck with that.
Active saves leader for players in the game, over 400. Had 44 yr before last. Get him back on track he’s a nice pickup.
Fans for the other 29 teams are looking at this and saying, “Better you than me.”
not really…won’t cost anything but a roster spot, which he deserves. hard to hate on this…
It’s a minor league deal so I don’t see why people are bashing it. Very little risk with potential very good reward. K-Rod had a horrible year last year but has been solid otherwise
People tend to scoff at minor moves. They shouldn’t.
I feel this is the end of K-Rod soon
KO-Rod.
I predicted this over the summer
Cool story.
Like the upside
Nah. I’ll take the old school guy who had 62 saves in one season. Better yet, I’ll take Fransisco, neschek, and Hunter and the rest of that bullpen – when you actually look at the numbers and talent and read it – over Greg Holland or Wade Davis any day. Been watching the game for almost 40 yrs and the Phillies always have a knack for getting the best out of veteran relievers. The ppl that don’t like the signing are probably the same ppl who like Giacona Stanton’s personality or think Bryce Harper isn’t pampered. I trust klentak and do believe – when ya actually look at what they have done – in an intelligent Manner – that they will be much better than people even consider giving them credit for. I defend my Phillies – and I like the signing. If he don’t work out, he can still teach the kids how to throw the fastball and curveball he had ten yrs ago. He was a good reliever in his prime…I’d rather have some veterans to help guide the team and really, why over pay for crap when it’s just a minors deal and they’re filling out their spring roster….and I remember his first game and being in the world series as a rookie.. Anybody who knocks him, don’t remember he was very good – and how important that knowledge and game experience is in passing to younger players. It is a good signing. Low cost and high reward.
whats wrong with Stanton? any proof of this problematic personality?
The people who are knocking him have a good reason. He had a 7.82 ERA a 1.6 WHIP, and isn’t getting any younger. But I do think this is an ok signing. There is literally no risk. If the performs well, he can be flipped at the deadline for a return like Neshek. If he struggles, they can release him. Though there isn’t guaranteed “high reward”. It’s more like possible reward.
He’s not going to make the team. He’s career he going downhill fast!
no risk so can’t say anything negative about it.
i like Ramos and Arano who were already the 5th and 6th righthander options out of the pen- hope at least 1 of them is on opening day roster- there was talk of Phillies going with an 8 man pen- have Morgan/Milner for the lefty spots.
He’s too cocky for me. Overpaid for his “potential” and a few decent seasons, when he can’t even stay healthy for half his career or a full season most of the time. Yet, I see alot of ppl knock Eric hosmer. If ppl dive into the numbers, read the career stats of some of these players, really look at walks vs strikeouts, hits vs at bats, consistent home runs…not 50 one yr with close to 200 strikeouts, factor in a steady stream of production…190 hits, 180 hits, 20 home runs, 90 rbi – a gold glove – then you see a quality solid ballplayer who plays a better game. Yet Stanton, gets good treatment and 300 million bucks thrown at him in the hot sun of Miami and then has to go to the Yankees basically or nobody. Whether that’s his right to do so, he’s just too cocky for me. There are very good ballpalyers out there, who do not get credit…..they get overlooked, underpaid compared to others bc of agents and marketing and commercialization of the media – who focuses on certain players as their good like players. Willie Mays was a ballplayer….. Hank Aaron and his “stats” production and class make Stanton look like a clown. Baseball used to be about class. And yet, if you look up and down that free agent list – look around the league at valueable trade assets – realize that pitching and defense and quality wins championships, then it’s easy to find good players who are so underrated that nobody cares a thing about…..I wouldn’t pay 200 for Stanton….. Or Harper for that matter. And Harper, if ya look at his stats and compare them to other players in baseball, then you realize he’s not even close to being the best in baseball or even top 3. Yet, these are glorified. For what? There’s some guys on the current free agent list I wouldn’t throw a major league deal at….ppl knock Darvish but the guy gets over 200 strikeouts a yr..well over 200 innings when healthy and in his element, and you don’t see that much but only in a handful of pitchers bc it’s all mechanics and blowing their arms out. When back in the day, cy young would have 40 complete games a yr (different era in a more experimental time in baseball but still, he had grit) ..Pete rose had grit. Richie Ashburn was a ballpalyers. So was Dennis eckersley, Cal ripkin, and Tony gwynn. Steve Carleton, Craig biggio..etc. Stanton and Harper are poster boys who are overpaid and over glorified. They’re spoiled. Stanton is now in new York where his head will swell even more lol and whoever gives Harper 400 mil next season, I’m just gonna laugh…lol unless it’s the Phillies…then I’ll probably cry at the wasted resources thinking about the 4 other players they could have signed to bring class and consistent production and stats to the roster – over a poster child type. Too darn cocky.
A few “decent” seasons? He led the entire league in saves three times, has a career ERA of 2.86. and is currently 4th in saves in MLB history. That’s more than a few “decent seasons”.
He’s talking about Stanton, not K-Rod.
Pretty sure he’s talking about Stanton, but still. This isn’t 40-50 years ago. Stop living in the past. It’s a completely different era than when Pete Rose played.
Also, I don’t see where you get this thing where he’s cocky. I’ve never heard him being a problem in the clubhouse. And in today’s baseball, 20 homers, 190 hits, 90 RBI’s and a gold glove is extremely good production. Only thing is, Stanton will hit at least 40 homers to to along with the defense, hits, and RBI’s. And if you don’t like Harper, be prepared if he is a Phillie next year, because they have payroll to spend, and expected to contend in a season or two, The Phillies will pursue him.
Everything you said is wrong. Especially when “championships are built with pitching and defense” Yeah, the Astros just slugged their way to a ring. Please don’t comment on here again
It’s an opinion. Everyone in this world has one. I’ve been on this site since started. Sorry if I offended, but somebody asked me why I didn’t like stanton and I simple gave my opinion. Not meant to incite a riot, just a simple opinion man. Life moves on.
Don’t kid yourself. Pitching and Defense is key. The pitching of K-Rod during the 2002 post season made ALL the difference.
In the 2017 WS, the tactical managerial moves was the biggest factor. Rest assured, the play of Alex Bregman at 3B was NOT simply incidental to the Astros winning
I wish I had seen Whitey Ashburn play in CF. His 6 seasons of 500 +, 5 seasons of 490+ and 3 more of 480+ Put Outs is phenominal.
Cubs should’ve signed him to a minor league deal
I actually really like this move, I wanted them to sign him after the tigers let him go. Love K-Rod so I really hope he gets it together this year!
K-Rod spelled backward is Dor-K
Nice!
Yea man I was talking about Stanton. Someone asked me why I didn’t like Giacona Stanton so I was honest lol I noted a few posts above why I love the Fransisco Rodriguez signing. Part of my rant on disliking Stanton was meant to to defend ballplayers like Rodriguez who don’t get enough credit lol Rodriguez is a very good signing I think for the Phils
The thing is though, Rodriguez has gotten his credit, but he’s no longer one of the top 5 closers anymore.
It’s a minor league deal. So it’s not a risk at all! If he does make the team, it means he’s at least pitching at a respectable level
The ball that Ramirez smoked off him in the 2007 playoffs may actually return from orbit this July.
I can see K-rod retiring after this season. To think he’s been around since 2002 !
Yea, I thought he’d think about retiring after last season.
I think it’s a very low risk-possible high reward signing. Being a brewers fan I’ve seen first hand the prospects K-Rod can bring back pitching well.
K-Rod has comparable career statistics to Trevor Hoffman and has pitched in more hitter-friendly environments. How long until he gets more Hall of Fame support himself?
Can’t hurt. Worst case scenario maybe Ramos, Nerris, Arano, etc learn something from him during the Spring. Best case scenario he gives them solid innings out of a pen that’s going to be leaned on heavily this year.
1 more good season, and 500 Saves’ within reach.
Yeah he’s cocky, but hope he goes out on his own terms, and reach the 500 Save milestone (However unlikely, it seems)
Been following this guy’s career… He’s talented, but it’s been a crazy ride
Anyone taking odds by the trade deadline he ends up back in Milwaukee?
He’ll hang on for stats (career saves) the way Johnny Damon did, thinking it will get him in the HOF. Ask Damon how that worked out.