Rodriguez signed a contract with the Fubon Guardians of the Chinese Professional Baseball League on Monday.
Rodriguez, 26, was at one point a well-regarded prospect in the Astros organization and saw action in the big leagues in 2020 and 2021, posting a 4.50 ERA and 11:10 K:BB over nine appearances between those seasons. He's bounced around since then, spending time in independent ball and the Mexican League.
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Tigers' Nivaldo Rodriguez: Won't make Opening Day roster
Rotowire
Detroit reassigned Rodriguez to minor-league camp Tuesday, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
A waiver pickup from Houston last August, Rodriguez didn't make any appearances for the Tigers over the final two months of the season, as he instead pitched exclusively with Triple-A Toledo. Though he was given the chance to compete for a spot on the Tigers' Opening Day roster, Rodriguez never appeared to be a realistic candidate to break camp with the big club. He's expected to slot into Toledo's rotation to begin the 2022 campaign.
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Tigers' Nivaldo Rodriguez: Removed from 40-man roster
Rotowire
Rodriguez cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Toledo on Friday.
The 24-year-old was claimed off waivers by Detroit in early August, but he's now been removed from the 40-man roster without appearing with the big-league club. He pitched 7.1 innings for the Astros earlier in the year but spent most of the season at Triple-A, where he had a 5.37 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 44:28 K:BB over 62 innings.
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Tigers' Nivaldo Rodriguez: Nabbed by Detroit
Rotowire
The Tigers claimed Rodriguez off waivers from the Astros on Monday and optioned him to Triple-A Toledo.
Detroit had two openings on its 40-man roster in the aftermath of Friday's trade deadline, and the club opted to use one of them on Rodriguez, a 24-year-old right-hander who previously showed promise as a starter in the lower levels of Houston's farm system in 2019. Rodriguez made four relief appearances for the big club in 2021, but he otherwise split time between the bullpen and rotation at Triple-A Sugar Land, compiling a 5.93 ERA, 1.81 WHIP and 25:16 K:BB across 27.1 innings. The Tigers' plans for Rodriguez aren't immediately clear, but he shouldn't have to wait long for a call-up to the big leagues if he quickly finds success at Toledo.
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Astros' Nivaldo Rodriguez: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
Rodriguez was designated for assignment by the Astros on Saturday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Rodriguez was removed from the 40-man roster to help make room for the Astros' deadline additions. He's only allowed two runs in 7.1 innings at the big-league level this season but has more walks (four) than strikeouts (three).
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Astros' Nivaldo Rodriguez: Moves back to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Astros optioned Rodriguez to Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Rodriguez was sent back to the minors presumably to clear a spot on the active roster for Lance McCullers (shoulder), who will be activated from the 10-day injured list ahead of his scheduled start Tuesday versus the Rangers. Given that Rodriguez made only three appearances out of the bullpen after being called up from Triple-A on May 30, his demotion doesn't come as a major surprise.
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Astros' Nivaldo Rodriguez: Back in majors
Rotowire
Rodriguez was recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
The 24-year-old spent some time with the Astros in mid-April and will rejoin the team Sunday. Rodriguez allowed one run over three innings during his lone big-league appearance this season.
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Astros' Nivaldo Rodriguez: Sent to alternate training site
Rotowire
Rodriguez was optioned to the alternate training site Friday, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.
The 24-year-old was recalled by the Astros during the second week of the season and surrendered a solo home run over three innings during his lone appearance. Rodriguez could return to the majors later in the season as Houston rotates its bullpen pieces.
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Astros' Nivaldo Rodriguez: Recalled by Astros
Rotowire
Rodriguez was recalled by the Astros on Friday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Rodriguez made his major-league debut during the abbreviated 2020 campaign, and he'll return to Houston's bullpen after Enoli Paredes (side) was placed on the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move. Rodriguez made five relief appearances in 2020 and posted a 6.23 ERA and 2.42 WHIP in 8.2 innings.
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Astros' Nivaldo Rodriguez: Moved to MiLB camp
Rotowire
The Astros optioned Rodriguez to their minor-league camp Sunday, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.
Rodriguez received the opportunity to make his big-league debut in 2020, but he didn't impress over his five appearances, logging a 6.23 ERA and 2.42 WHIP in 8.2 innings. The 23-year-old had worked as a starter in the minors prior to last season, so it's possible he slots into the rotation at either Triple-A Sugar Land or Double-A Corpus Christi.
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Astros' Nivaldo Rodriguez: Rejoins major-league club
Rotowire
Rodriguez was recalled from the alternate training site Sunday, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.
Rodriguez will rejoin the Astros ahead of the final game of the regular season with the team in need of bullpen depth. The 23-year-old has allowed four runs on 10 hits with three strikeouts and three walks over 4.2 innings this season, though he last appeared in a game Aug. 8.
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Astros' Nivaldo Rodriguez: Sent to alternate training site
Rotowire
Rodriguez was optioned to the Astros' alternate training site Friday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
The 23-year-old was promoted shortly after Opening Day but struggled in his first taste of the majors, allowing four runs on 10 hits over 4.2 innings. Rodriguez had previously never played above High-A, so he's unlikely to be a significant factor in Houston's bullpen plans this season.
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Astros' Nivaldo Rodriguez: Called up by Houston
Rotowire
Rodriguez was recalled by the Astros on Monday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
The 23-year-old recorded an impressive 2.40 ERA and a 27.3 percent strikeout rate last season, but that came at the Low-A and High-A levels. Given the significant jump in talent level he's about to face, it would be a surprise to see him in anything other than a low-leverage relief role this year.
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Astros' Nivaldo Rodriguez: Sent to minors camp
Rotowire
The Astros optioned Rodriguez to their minor-league camp Monday, Alyson Footer of MLB.com reports.
Houston shielded Rodriguez from the Rule 5 draft over the winter and added him to its 40-man roster, but the 22-year-old right-hander was never expected to break camp with the big club. He'll likely open the season with Double-A Corpus Christi after posting a combined 2.40 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 114:35 K:BB across 105 innings between Low-A Quad Cities and High-A Fayetteville in 2019.
