The Rockies have signed right-hander Dereck Rodriguez to a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training, according to his agent, Gavin Kahn of EnterSports Management.
This deal means Rodriguez will return to the National League West, where he spent most of the prior three seasons with the Giants organization. The Giants designated Rodriguez for assignment in August, and the Tigers claimed him, but he didn’t throw a pitch for Detroit.
Rodriguez, the son of legendary catcher Ivan Rodriguez, entered the pro ranks as a sixth-round pick of the Twins in 2011 but didn’t crack the majors until 2018 with the Giants. He came out of nowhere that year to perform like one of the league’s best rookies, throwing 118 1/3 innings of 2.81 ERA/3.74 FIP ball with 6.77 K/9 and 2.74 BB/9.
Considering the results Rodriguez posted in his first season, the Giants probably thought they had a long-term piece for their rotation. But the 28-year-old Rodriguez wasn’t able to follow that up from 2019-20. Including just four innings in ’20, Rodriguez logged an ugly 5.94 ERA/5.89 FIP and 6.38 K/9 against 3.41 BB/9 in 103 frames during the previous two years. For Colorado, though, there isn’t any real harm in taking a chance on Rodriguez and hoping he returns to rookie form.
Of all the teams to try and have a rebound season with… the Rockies?
I agree. I thought he’d fair better with a team like PIT or BAL that might have room for him in the rotation.
It’s not that, it’s why would you try and rebound in such a hitter friendly enviroment?
Teams know about park adjustments, FYI. It doesn’t matter a bit whether you’re a pitcher or a hitter where you go.
Actually, pitchers struggle much more at elevation. It’s not necessarily Coors Field, but the fact that they play so high above sea level. It prevents the ball from spinning quite a bit and can deaden a guys stuff. That’s why we see so many pitchers struggle upon moving to Colorado. And why we have never really seen them develop any league-shattering pitching.
Most likely was the best path he was given to get back to the majors.
yeah. only guy who did that was Chi Chi and he was seemingly desperate.
Didn’t seem to hurt Daniel Bard that much.
U go to who’s willing to pay you the most, or in his case, who’s willing to take a chance on him at all. But no, I get it.
It just goes to show how much scouting of pitchers has changed. If you have an average or above average ERA or FIP, you’d better strike out 10+ per nine innings or have a ridiculous spin rate in order to get a decent shot of making it back to the majors. I think this kid showed some serious backbone with SF and it is a shame that a contact pitcher like him has to try and make it back calling Coors Field home (if he gets called up). I’m surprised the A’s didn’t take a flyer on him with all of that foul ball territory.
All of these advanced metrics really makes me wonder how a young Greg Maddox would be viewed in this day & age. He had a career SO9 of under 7, but was one of the hardest pitchers to square up given his pinpoint control. He might bounce around to 2 or 3 organizations today until someone realizes that K’s or spin rates don’t tell the full story on how successful a pitcher can be.
Note: I am NOT comparing this kid to Maddox by any means.
Interesting question — the problem with so few strikeouts now is that this is the all-or-nothing era (i.e. launch angle revolution) and if you’re not missing bats, the ball is going over the wall. I think Maddux would probably still be good — Kyle Hendricks has a lot of success; though he does strike out about a batter more per nine than Maddux in his prime; but that’s probably more a function of the current state of the hitter than him. You can probably add a strikeout per 9 on Maddux if he pitched today.
The Rockies are the team that drafted him. The Panda got the Giants to sign him as a Free Agent.
The Twins drafted him.
You lost me at Maddox.
He lost it completely in 2019. Looked like a completely different pitcher than what he was in 2018, had no command and no break.
The 2018 season is when he looked like a completely different pitcher; 2019 was regressing back to the mean.
You are correct. That successful run in ‘18 was his career highlight to date.
100% right
What is that animal on his chin?
So, “The Search For Animal Chin ” is over at last? Gnarly!
Rodriguez did nothing but serve up home runs in 2019 and 2020, so him going to Colorado should be interesting.
Tell his old man to bring his gear, as well.
I wished Baltimore would have taken a chance on Rodriguez. I think he will bounce back this year.
Rox winning the offseason
I like the signing, this kid has some upside if he can get it together.m’
And good luck with THAT to the Rockies