Fernando Rodney agrees to sign with D-backs in closer role, per report
Dec 6, 2016, 8:25 PM | Updated: Dec 7, 2016, 11:16 am
(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
The Arizona Diamondbacks have come to a contract agreement with 39-year-old relief pitcher Fernando Rodney, Today’s Knuckleball’s Jon Heyman reports.
Rodney and the D-backs reached an agreement late Tuesday night on a deal that will pay him $2.75 million plus incentives. The D-backs expect Rodney to close, Heyman added.
Heyman first reported that Arizona and the San Diego Padres were in the running to add the right-handed reliever, who posted a 3.44 ERA with 25 saves and a 1.39 WHIP for the Padres and then the Miami Marlins last season. He pitched in 67 combined games for the two teams.
Rodney, however, was lights-out in San Diego with a 0.31 ERA through 28 appearances but struggled in Miami with a 5.89 ERA in 39 appearances.
The Diamondbacks entered winter meetings focused on building their bullpen, which could lose veteran free agent Daniel Hudson and needed a closer after trading Brad Ziegler to the Boston Red Sox. First-year general manager Mike Hazen has said the team remained “open-minded” when it came to how exactly the team would address the relief staff. He added that Arizona could be viewed as a prime landing spot considering the flexibility the team has in finding roles for veterans or young players.
Rodney is a three-time All-Star (2012, 2014, 2016) and was the saves leader in the American League in the 2014 season.
The pitcher out of the Dominican Republic is most well-known for his routine of shooting a bow and arrow after recording a save.
If Rodney indeed finalizes a deal with Arizona, he would join former Marlins teammate Jeff Mathis, who was signed by the D-backs on Monday.