Seattle Mariners Rumors: Lloyd McClendon Wanted Fernando Rodney Gone


Seattle Mariners rumors reveal surprising information about Lloyd McClendon and Fernando Rodney. These Mariners rumors indicate that manager McClendon wanted Rodney off the roster, and that he actually requested it of the front office. A report from MLB analyst Ryan Divish seems to confirm this, as he made some succinct comments following another Rodney implosion on Monday night (August 17). It came in response to a fan stating that “Lloyd is typical Mariners manager. Stick with your guy..let him work out of a jam…give him a chance-LOSE! [sic]”

That’s huge news, because many Mariners fans had been assuming that Rodney was “Lloyd’s guy” for a really long time. Despite the team folding during the “Rodney Experience” during many of his recent appearances, McClendon had continued to put him in games. It turns out that McClendon may have never been afforded a choice in the situation.

During the 2015 MLB season, Fernando Rodney is 5-5 with a 5.19 ERA and 1.450 WHIP. He has six blown saves on the season, giving up runs in some very crucial situations for the team. Prior Seattle Mariners rumors had addressed that his strikeout rate is down quite a bit (just 7.7 per nine innings), and a recent report from ESPN stated that he may have even been tipping his pitches. Despite all that, the front office has kept him on the 25-man roster the entire year.

As previously reported by the Inquisitr, Fernando Rodney is a free agent at the end of the 2015 MLB season, making him a player the team might want to move if it fell out of contention. His $7 million salary may have been tough to move, but it’s also possible that general manager Jack Zduriencik wanted him to work through the control issues he was having. Either way, McClendon has been forced to use him out of the bullpen in high-leverage situations. With so many recent extra inning games, there just weren’t enough options to work with.

Fantasy baseball owners have moved on from Rodney already, but it’s very curious that the front office hasn’t wanted to designate Rodney for assignment. It would clear a spot on the 25-man roster for another arm from Triple-A Tacoma to be promoted, but a lack of depth in the Minor League system could also be to blame. Trading Mark Lowe didn’t help the situation, either. No matter how these Seattle Mariners rumors are viewed, though, the final opinion from fans will be one of frustration that the front office isn’t ready to cancel the Fernando Rodney Experience.

[Image Source: Otto Greule Jr / Getty Images]

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