Fernando Rodney, Relief Pitcher


Date of Birth: 3/18/1977
Birthplace: Samana, Dominican Republic
Nickname: Kimbo

Fernando Rodney, relief pitcher, was first signed in 1997 by the Detroit Tigers. He played in the Tigers' minor league system from 1999 through most of 2003. He first joined the Tigers in 2002 for 20 games (18.0 innings) and in 2003 for 27 games (29.2 innings). He had Tommy John surgery after the 2003 season and he missed all of the 2004 season.

Rodney pitched full-time out of the bullpen for the Tigers in 2005. He became their closer in the middle of the season. He finished the season with 9 saves and a 2.86 ERA in 44.0 innings in 39 games. The following season, he lost the closer position and pitched in 63 games out of the bullpen. He finished with a 7-4 record, 7 saves, and a 3.52 ERA in 71.2 innings.

Rodney became the Tigers' closer again at the end of July, 2008. He finished the season with 13 saves and a 4.91 ERA in 40.1 innings in 38 games. As the closer in 2009, he had 37 saves and a 4.40 ERA in a career high 75.2 innings in 73 games.

In December, 2009, Rodney signed a two-year, $11 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels. He didn't become the Angels' closer until the end of the 2010 season. He finished that year with 14 saves and a 4.24 ERA in 68.0 innings in 72 games. The following season, he lost the closer position and pitched 32.0 innings in 39 games out of the Angels' bullpen.

Rodney signed a one-year, $1.75 million contract with the Tampa Bay Rays in January, 2012. As the Rays' closer in 2012, he had a career high 48 saves and a career low ERA of 0.60 in 74.2 innings in 76 games. His efforts that year won him the American League Comeback Player of the Year and the MLB Delivery Man of the Year awards. The following season, although not nearly as impressive as 2012, was also a good one for him. He finished the 2013 season with 37 saves, a career high 82 strikeouts (to 36 walks), and a 3.38 ERA in 66.2 innings in 68 games.

Rodney moved to the Seattle Mariners in 2014, signing a two-year, $14 million contract with them on February 6th. He led the American League in saves in 2014 with 48. He finished the season with a 2.85 ERA in 66.1 innings in 69 games.

After a poor showing with the Mariners in 2015, he was traded to the Chicago Cubs on August 27th. He finished the season with 16 saves and a 4.74 ERA in 62.2 innings in 54 games with the Mariners and 14 games with the Cubs.

Rodney signed a one-year, $1.6 million contract with the San Diego Padres on February 4, 2016. He was traded to the Miami Marlins on June 30, 2016. He finished the 2016 season with a 3.44 ERA, 2 wins and 4 losses, 25 saves, and 74 strikeouts to 37 walks in 28 games with the Padres and 39 games with the Marlins.

Rodney signed a one-year contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks on December 9, 2016. He finished the 2017 season with 5 wins and 4 losses, 39 saves, 65 strikeouts to 26 walks, and a 4.23 ERA in 55.1 innings in 61 games. In the postseason, he pitched 1.0 innings in 1 game and he gave up 2 hits and 1 run.

Rodney became a free agent on November 2, 2017. He signed with the Minnesota Twins on December 15, 2017. He was traded to the Oakland Athletics on August 9, 2018. He finished the 2018 season with 4 wins and 3 losses, 25 saves, 70 strikeouts to 32 walks, and a 3.36 ERA in 64.1 innings in 46 games wih the Twins and 22 games with the Athletics.

The Athletics released Rodney on May 28, 2019. He signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals on June 4th. He finished the 2019 season with no wins and 5 losses, 2 saves, 49 strikeouts to 28 walks, and a 5.66 ERA in 17 games with the Athletics and 38 games with the Nationals. In the postseason, he pitched 4.2 innings in 6 games, and he gave up 4 hits, 1 home run, and 2 runs. He struck out 5 batters and walked 9, and he had an ERA of 3.86.

Rodney became a free agent on October 31, 2019. He signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros on July 31, 2020, and he was released on September 2nd. He didn't play with the Astros in 2020, but he played with an independent league team and in the Dominican Winter League.

Rodney played in the Mexican League and the Dominican Winter League in 2021.

Career pitching statistics for Rodney through 2019 include:

  • 951 games played
  • 933.0 innings pitched
  • 48-71 win-loss record
  • 327 saves
  • 943 strikeouts to 464 walks
  • 3.80 ERA

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Fernando Rodney
ESPN - Fernando Rodney