The Nationals will add right-handed reliever Fernando Rodney to their roster before Tuesday’s game against the Marlins, Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post reports. Rodney’s not on the Nationals’ 40-man roster, though they do have an opening after releasing fellow reliever Trevor Rosenthal on Sunday.
Rodney’s addition will be Washington’s latest attempt to repair what has been a horrible bullpen in 2019. The Rosenthal signing didn’t work, leading the team to jettison him, nor has picking up Kyle Barraclough over the winter. Barraclough has been on the IL since June 16 with a forearm issue.
Including Rosenthal and Barraclough, the Nationals have shuffled threw 17 relievers this year. The group has combined for an unsightly 6.29 ERA, which helps explain the Nationals’ 37-40 record. It’s anyone’s guess whether Rodney will be able to help the team’s cause, though there’s little risk in trying from its perspective. Washington brought in the 42-year-old on a minor league contract three weeks ago. He then allowed five runs (four earned) with 11 strikeouts and nine walks in eight innings with the Nationals’ Triple-A affiliate in Fresno.
Rodney has been a solid major league reliever for most of his career, though the journeyman began so poorly this season that the low-budget Athletics paid him to go away. Oakland had to pay $3.53MM to part with Rodney, who logged a 9.42 ERA/5.55 FIP with 8.79 K/9 and 7.53 BB/9 in 14 1/3 innings. Rodney’s just a year removed from recording a 3.36 ERA/4.03 FIP with 9.79 K/9, 4.48 BB/9 and a 44.4 percent groundball rate in 64 1/3 frames, though. The Nationals, who haven’t found capable bridges to closer Sean Doolittle this year, would sign up for that type of production.
Fine. I’ll try whatever for the 8th at this point. If he has a pulse I’ll give it a go at this point
this will solve everything
Rollie Fingers is next……
The Irrational Nationals.
Ugh. And they actually have some solid guys at AAA/AA. This won’t last long. FRod has been very uninspiring in 10 minor league appearances.
This is, uh, not what you want, Nationals fans.
Hitters know that you just wait on his pitches and not swing unless it is a fat pitch. He stunk in the minors so why are they calling him up?
for all those poo-pooing the salas callup, there’s this
There were peasants singing and drummers drumming
And the archer split the tree
There was a fanfare blowing to the sun
That was floating on the breeze
Good. Now there will be someone my age in MLB again. Technically, I am a couple months older than him, but we are the same age right now. Guys, it’s a hard day when you realize you are now older than everyone in the big leagues. Someone needs to sign Bartolo again.
I agree. Bring back Big Sexy.
I was stunned many years ago when I realized that I’m a little bit older than Greg Maddux.
To those dissing this move, can her be much worse than what they’ve been running out there? If he doesn’t work out he’ll get released, and then back to status quo. At this point why not give him a chance? Little downside and a bit of potential upside.
Fernando Rodney, Fernando Valenzuela, Rodney Dangerfield… all 3 have about the same shot at helping out at this point.
“Shuffled threw” says it.
In 2002 Rodney threw a shutout without starting a game at Toledo, according to Baseball Reference. This kind of magical production is what Washington is all about.
We won’t be seeing any arrows in D.C.
I think he’s about out of arrows and his bow is pretty much wore out.
Oh boy. Now we get to be embarrassed too, on top of having the worst bullpen on the planet. Thanks Rizzo, you pompous…..
Bright side: Phillies are aiding the Nats. Dropped 7 in a row now….
I think you meant through 17 relievers.
I have always seen a difference when Rodney has pitched the 9th as opposed to pitching the 7th or the 8th. The motivation just does not seem to be there when he isn’t closing.
The NYMs are 14th in the league in BP ERA. Washington is 15th, and not remotely close to the NYMs.
If they just keep throwing enough tires onto that fire to try putting it out…
hoping he translates that 4.50 ERA to the bigs? Yikes
Do they actually think he will find his control on the trip from Fresno to D.C.? They just released one wild guy and now they have his replacement. This move surprises me. Tanner Rainey was doing great but now he has had two wild outings in a row. I don’t know why they don’t bring up Aaron Barrett from AA. He has actually done well and did well when he was with the Nationals a few years ago.