Angles land Rodney, as second closing option


The Los Angeles Angels have signed Closer Fernando Rodney to a two year free agent contract, reported to be worth 11 million dollars. This is the first big win for the Angels, as their roster has been raided by other teams so far in free agency. The team will not bring Rodney in as the closer. His role seems to be a back up role to Closer Brian Fuentes, and set up man Scott Shields. This may be a very good role for Rodney as he never impressed those in the front office of his former team the Detroit Tigers.

The truth here is Rodney converted 37 saves in 2009 in 38 tries, but as fans of the Tigers point out none of those saves was pretty. Far too often the Tigers and their fans had to sweat out a Rodney save. All that on top of the salary dump that the Tigers organization is currently going threw. Tigers General Manager Dave Dombrowski could not justify paying out big bucks to a closer he did not have confidence in.

It seems very likely that the Angels will use the first part of the 2010 season to evaluate their bullpen staff, and then deal one of the three at the trade deadline to address other needs. That becomes much clearer when we realize that Rodney will be making around 5 million dollars, Fuentes is pulling down 9 million, all in all that is a lot of jack invested in their bullpen.

As a Type B Free Agent the Angels do not have to surrender a draft pick to the Tigers. Instead the Tigers will get a supplementary pick in the 2010 MLB entry draft.

More Los Angeles Angels News and Notes

More Detroit Tigers News and Notes

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