Marlins' Richard Rodriguez: Signs NRI deal with Miami
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Rodriguez signed a minor-league contract with the Marlins that includes an invitation to major-league spring training, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.
Rodriguez did not appear at the MLB level in 2022 after getting hit with an 80-game PED suspension in April. He did eventually latch on with the Yankees in July and posted a 3.86 ERA and 24:7 K:BB across 23.1 innings at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The 32-year-old former Pirates closer will now look to resuscitate his career with Miami.
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Yankees' Richard Rodriguez: Links up with Yankees
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Rodriguez (suspension) signed a minor-league contract with the Yankees on June 21.
After signing with the organization, Rodriguez reported to the Yankees' spring training complex in Tampa to ramp up after he had remained on the open market since being non-tendered by Atlanta in late November. Rodriguez was then handed an 80-game suspension for violating MLB's performance-enhancing drugs policy prior to Opening Day, but he'll be available for minor-league action now that the ban has been served. Rodriguez is expected to see his initial appearances in the rookie-level Florida Complex League, but he'll eventually settle in the bullpen at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Rodriguez is just a year removed from saving a career-high 14 games while posting a 2.94 ERA and 0.93 WHIP in 64.1 big-league innings, so it wouldn't be a surprise if he ends up resurfacing on the Yankees' roster during the second half of the season.
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Richard Rodriguez: Suspended for 80 games
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Rodriguez was suspended 80 games Monday after testing positive for Boldenone, a performance-enhancing substance, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Rodriguez has posted ERAs below 3.00 in each of the last two seasons. Ordinarily, he'd probably have signed a contract by now, but any team signing him at this point would be without his services for half a season.
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Richard Rodriguez: Cut loose by Atlanta
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Rodriguez was non-tendered by Atlanta on Tuesday.
Rodriguez had a 2.82 ERA and 14 saves for Pittsburgh before being traded to Atlanta, but he struggled down the stretch for his new team and was left off the roster for the playoffs. The right-hander still had a 3.12 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 26 innings for the World Series champions, but a 9:5 K:BB illustrates some of the troubles he was having.
Rodriguez is not on Atlanta's roster for the NLDS against Milwaukee, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
The deadline acquisition posted a 3.12 ERA and 9:5 K:BB in 26 innings after joining Atlanta, but he struggled with a 6.75 ERA and a .317 batting average against in his last 9.1 innings. Rodriguez could earn consideration for the NLCS roster if Atlanta makes it that far, but his recent struggles deem it unlikely he toes the rubber again in 2021.
Rodriguez was added to Atlanta's 26-man roster ahead of Saturday's game against the Brewers.
The righty reliever was acquired from the Pirates at Friday's deadline and now joins his new squad. Rodriguez posted a 2.82 ERA and converted 14 of 17 save opportunities for Pittsburgh this season, but he doesn't figure to see nearly as many save chances moving forward with lefty Will Smith already established in the role for Atlanta.
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Braves' Richard Rodriguez: Acquired by Atlanta
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Rodriguez was sent from Pittsburgh to Atlanta in exchange for Bryse Wilson and Ricky DeVito on Friday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
The move likely brings with it a significant decrease in Rodriguez's fantasy value, as he's saved 14 games for the Pirates this season but is unlikely to spend much time in the ninth inning for Atlanta. His 2.82 ERA looks strong on the surface, but it comes with a poor set of peripherals including a below-average 22.8 percent strikeout rate and a very low 29.2 percent groundball rate. He's also struggled since the sticky-substance crackdown and owns a 5.73 ERA over his last 11 innings.
Rodriguez allowed a run on a hit and a walk in the ninth inning of Friday's win over the Giants. He struck out two and earned a save.
Rodriguez coughed up an RBI triple to LaMonte Wade with two outs but still finished off his 14th save of the season. He's given up three runs over his last two outings, bumping his season ERA to 2.82. He's 14-for-17 in save chances with all three blown opportunities coming since May 30.
Pirates' Richard Rodriguez: Blows save, takes loss
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Rodriguez (4-2) took the loss Sunday versus the Mets. He allowed two runs on two hits and struck out one in one inning while blowing a save chance.
Rodriguez had posted three saves and a win in his last five outings, but he wasn't able to protect a one-run lead Sunday. Michael Conforto hit a go-ahead two-run home run in the ninth inning, and Pittsburgh failed to get Rodriguez off the hook for the loss. The right-hander is now 13-for-16 in save chances this season while pitching to a 2.65 ERA and 0.80 WHIP across 37.1 innings.
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Pirates' Richard Rodriguez: Converts 13th save
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Rodriguez allowed a walk and struck out one in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Friday's 4-1 win over the Mets.
Rodriguez had no trouble protecting a three-run lead Friday, earning his 13th save in 15 chances. He has a 2.23 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and 30:4 K:BB through 36.1 innings this season. While there haven't been many save chances in Pittsburgh, Rodriguez has provided strong value as the team's top closer option.
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Pirates' Richard Rodriguez: Locks down 12th save
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Rodriguez allowed one hit in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Sunday's 6-5 win over the Mets.
For much of the game, it didn't look like a save chance would arise. Pittsburgh then pulled ahead in the top of the ninth, and Rodriguez was able to convert his 12th save in 14 attempts. The closer has a 2.29 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and 29:3 K:BB across 35.1 innings this season, and he's allowed only one home run in 34 outings.
