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.
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Braves' Richard Rodriguez: Won't pitch in NLDS
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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.
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Braves' Richard Rodriguez: Activated by Atlanta
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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.
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Pirates' Richard Rodriguez: Yields run in save
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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.
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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: 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.
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Pirates' Richard Rodriguez: Rough outing Thursday
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Rodriguez allowed three earned runs on four hits in one inning in Thursday's loss to Milwaukee.
Pitching with his team already down 4-1 in the ninth inning, Rodriguez faced seven batters and threw 21 pitches (14 for strikes). The closer hadn't pitched since June 25, but he averaged 93.1 mph with his fastball -- identical to his season average -- so he was likely just missing his spots against the Brewers.
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Pirates' Richard Rodriguez: Registers 10th save
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Rodriguez earned the save against the Cardinals on Friday with a perfect inning during which he struck out two batters.
Rodriguez inherited a one-run ninth-inning lead, and he handled the pressure situation with aplomb, striking out two of the three batters he faced in a 1-2-3 frame. The right-hander threw nine of 11 pitches for strikes and has now struck out seven batters in his last four innings. Rodriguez is 10-for-12 in save chances this season while registering a 1.78 ERA and 27:3 K:BB across 30.1 innings.
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Pirates' Richard Rodriguez: Records ninth save
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Rodriguez didn't allow a baserunner and struck out one across one inning to record the save Tuesday against the White Sox.
Rodriguez was handed a three-run lead in the ninth inning, and he needed only nine pitches to earns his ninth save of the season. After beginning the season with 19 consecutive scoreless appearances, Rodriguez has surrendered five earned runs across his last 9.1 innings of work. Nevertheless, he has an excellent 1.84 ERA with a 25:3 K:BB across 29.1 frames on the campaign.
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Pirates' Richard Rodriguez: Notches eighth save
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Rodriguez gave up two hits and struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning Friday to record his eighth save of the season in an 11-10 win over Cleveland.
It didn't look like Pittsburgh would need the services of its closer when the team took an 11-1 lead into the seventh inning, but Rodriguez was able to nip a late push by Cleveland in the bud. The right-hander sports a 1.65 ERA, 0.73 WHIP and 22:3 K:BB through 27.1 innings while converting eight of 10 save chances on the year, and he continues to make himself an attractive target for contenders looking for bullpen help at the trade deadline.
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Pirates' Richard Rodriguez: Tallies seventh save
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Rodriguez allowed one hit with no walks and no strikeouts in a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save Thursday against the Marlins.
Rodriguez was called upon to maintain a two-run lead in the ninth inning and did so successfully to earn his seventh save of the season. He rebounded after blowing an opportunity and taking his first loss of the campaign in his last outing. Despite that isolated poor performance, Rodriguez has maintained a strong 1.54 ERA with 17 strikeouts across 23.1 innings.
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Pirates' Richard Rodriguez: Blows save against Rockies
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Rodriguez (3-1) allowed two runs on two hits and one walk while striking out one in 1.1 innings to take the loss and blown save against the Rockies on Sunday.
Rodriguez forced a flyout with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning Sunday, and he retired the first batter he faced in the ninth. However, he gave up a one-out walk before Charlie Blackmon tied the game with a double. Rodriguez then allowed a go-ahead single that put him in line for his first loss of the season. Although Rodriguez has now given up runs in each of his last two appearances, he's likely still the favorite for save chances since he's posted a 1.61 ERA and 0.58 WHIP in 22.1 innings this season.
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Pirates' Richard Rodriguez: Earns third win
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Rodriguez (3-0) fired two perfect innings while striking out one to earn the win over Atlanta on Thursday.
Rodriguez has been stellar for a team that lacks pitching depth. He entered the ninth inning in a tie game and retired the side before doing the same in the 10th frame with the lead to secure the win. The 31-year-old has allowed only a single run this season. In addition, he has surrendered just six hits and one walk over 19 innings. He carries a 0.47 ERA and 0.37 WHIP with three wins and six saves.
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Pirates' Richard Rodriguez: Saves the day
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Rodriguez allowed one earned run on two hits in two-thirds of an inning Sunday, notching his sixth save in a 6-5 win over the Cubs. He struck out one batter.
Rodriguez saw his 29-man consecutive retired streak end Sunday while giving up his first run of the season. He labored through 26 pitches (including 18 for strikes) but improved to 6-for-6 in save opportunities. With seven home games on tap for the coming week, Rodriguez could be in line for additional save opportunities.
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Pirates' Richard Rodriguez: Secures fourth save
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Rodriguez retired the side in order with one strikeout during the ninth inning to record the save during Tuesday's 2-1 win over Kansas City.
The 31-year-old needed only nine pitches to put down the Royals and remains perfect to begin the season for the Pirates. Rodriguez has allowed only two baserunners all season with a 10:1 K:BB over 10.1 scoreless innings while going 4-for-4 in save opportunities.
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Pirates' Richard Rodriguez: Scoreless stretch hits 22 games
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Rodriguez struck out one batter in a scoreless ninth inning in Saturday's 6-2 win over Minnesota.
He threw only eight pitches (including six strikes) to set down the Twins in order. Rodriguez has not allowed a run, earned or unearned, in his last 22 appearances dating back to Aug. 30 of last year. He's thrown 20 scoreless innings over that stretch, compiling four wins, five saves and a 25:4 K:BB.
