Boston Red Sox interest in Fernando Rodney is misguided
By David Hill
The Boston Red Sox are reportedly interested in Minnesota Twins closer Fernando Rondey. They should not be.
Seemingly every team in playoff contention is searching for help in their bullpen, and the Boston Red Sox are not an exception. Even with the sixth best bullpen ERA in baseball, and the presence of Craig Kimbrel to close out games, the Red Sox have questions. Joe Kelly has had a few blowups, and Boston does not quite know what they have with Tyler Thornburg or Brian Johnson. Adding some depth to the bullpen makes sense.
As such, the Red Sox are looking far and wide for relief help. One of those names that has come up is Minnesota Twins closer Fernando Rodney, a pitcher familiar to Red Sox general manager Dave Dombrowski from his days in Detroit.
The #RedSox are cutting a wide swath in search of bullpen depth. One name on their list: Fernando Rodney, who is familiar to GM Dave Dombrowski from their time together with #Tigers. Rodney, 41, has 18 saves and a 2.97 ERA for #Twins this season. File it under "worth a look.''
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) July 7, 2018
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On the surface, Rodney would make sense as a target for the Red Sox. He has performed reasonable well, with a 2.97 ERA and a 1.253 WHiP, striking out 34 batters with only 11 walks in 30.1 innings. Rodney would also serve as a respectable second option to close out games, should Kimbrel be unavailable, or in the case of injury. He may not be that same level of dominance, but Rodney would give the Red Sox a useful option in a worst case scenario.
However, Rodney is also a very fickle reliever. The 41 year old has had more than a few moments of being napalm on the mound, igniting rallies instead of extinguishing hope. he had a 4.23 ERA last season, despite notching 39 saves, and a 4.74 ERA back in 2015. Rodney may well be solid this season, but that past history is enough to give pause.
With the Twins struggling this season, it is inevitable that their impending free agents will be on the block. Teams looking for help in the bullpen, like the Red Sox, will certainly be interested in adding Rodney to the mix. However, Boston is likely in the market for a middle reliever more than a setup man. For the cost, as well as any potential implosions, Rodney is not the answer.
Next: Red Sox add Brandon Phillips
The Boston Red Sox bullpen has been solid for most of the season. While they could use an upgrade in middle relief, Fernando Rodney is not that.