Categories: Minor LeaguesNews

Phillies sign Francisco Rodriguez to minor league deal

In a bit of surprising news, the Phillies have agreed to a minor league contract with Francisco Rodriguez, per Jon Heyman.

Yes, the Francisco Rodriguez who has 437 career saves and a 2.86 ERA over a 16-year career.

Rodriguez threw 25.1 innings last year for the Tigers, putting up a 7.82 ERA with 23 strikeouts and 11 walks. He was, in a word, bad.

As it’s a minor league deal with an invite to spring training, this is really just a chance for the Phils to see if K-Rod has anything left in his arsenal. If he makes the Phils they’d have to pay him $2.5 million plus incentives, but unless he’s phenomenal and looks like his old self, he ain’t making this team.

Tim Malcolm

Tim first found the Phillies as a little infant at Veteran’s Stadium, cheering on a Juan Samuel game-winning home run in his very first game. With the pinstripes in his blood, he witnessed Terry Mulholland’s 1990 no-hitter, “Steve Carlton Night” at the Vet, game three of the 1993 World Series, countless games during the charmed 2008 championship season and various road excursions. Since November 2007 Tim’s been writing about them daily at Phillies Nation, becoming one of the world’s most popular Phillies scribes. You can catch him on Twitter and Facebook, as well. When he’s not talking about the Phils he’s relaxing with a St. Bernardus ABT 12 or one of his many favored brews.