Rodney has not given up hope of pitching in the major leagues again, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.
Rodney will turn 47 in March and hasn't seen any action in the majors since 2019, so it would be the longest of long shots. The three-time All-Star has been pitching in the Mexican League and Dominican Winter League the last few years and says he wants to continue playing until he's 50.
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Fernando Rodney: Let go by Houston
Rotowire
Rodney was released by the Astros on Wednesday, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.
The veteran right-hander signed a minor-league deal at the end of July and was throwing at the team's alternate training site, but he won't be making his way to the majors. It would be Rodney's 18th major-league season if he manages to make it onto a big-league roster in the final month of the season.
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Astros' Fernando Rodney: Inks minors deal with Houston
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Rodney signed a minor-league contract with the Astros on Friday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
The 43-year-old spent most of 2019 with Washington and had a 4.05 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 35:16 K:BB over 33.1 innings, and he remained unsigned throughout the elongated offseason. It would be Rodney's 18th season in the big leagues should he make his way to the major-league roster.
Nationals' Fernando Rodney: Option for saves with Doolittle out
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Rodney will be part of a closer-by-committee situation while Sean Doolittle (knee) is on the 10-day injured list, Jamal Collier of MLB.com reports.
Doolittle is not expected to be sidelined for long. Manager Dave Martinez said he will play matchups in the ninth inning while he is without his closer. Rodney, Daniel Hudson and Hunter Strickland are options to close while Doolittle is out.
Nationals' Fernando Rodney: Two holds in doubleheader
Rotowire
Rodney worked both ends of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Rockies, tossing two scoreless innings and recording two holds while allowing a hit and a walk. He struck out one.
The right-hander now has a 2.79 ERA with two saves and six holds in 11 appearances since joining the Nationals, although Rodney's 1.55 WHIP and 9:5 K:BB in 9.2 innings indicates how fragile his success has been. Don't be surprised if the 42-year-old loses his setup spot in front of Sean Doolittle to a trade deadline acquisition.
Rodney worked around two hits in a scoreless ninth inning against the Marlins on Thursday en route to his second save of the season.
The 42-year-old has found new life with Washington, as he's now turned in four straight scoreless appearances with two saves, a hold and four strikeouts since joining the Nationals at the end of June. He had a 9.42 ERA and 2.23 WHIP in 17 appearances with the A's before being released. Per Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post, manager Dave Martinez said Rodney is "going to be the guy" when regular closer Sean Doolittle is unavailable.
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Nationals' Fernando Rodney: Notches first save of season
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Rodney struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Friday to record his first save of the season in a 3-1 win over the Tigers.
With Sean Doolittle having pitched the last two days, Nats manager Dave Martinez turned to Rodney and his 325 career saves to close things out, and the 42-year-old came through with No. 326. The right-hander was awful earlier in the year for Oakland, but he's seemed washed up before only to bounce back. Don't be shocked if Rodney puts together a solid second half in a setup role for Washington.
Nationals' Fernando Rodney: Clean first appearance as Nat
Rotowire
Rodney walked one and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning during Tuesday's win over the Marlins.
The Nats were up 6-1 when Rodney got the call, so this was far from a high-leverage spot. The 42-year-old was having serious trouble finding the strike zone consistently with Oakland prior to getting released, so expect him to be confined to mop-up duty with Washington unless he can prove he's more reliable than his 8.80 ERA and 2.15 WHIP suggest.
