Fernando Rodney (born March 18, 1977) is a Dominican-American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Tampa Bay Rays, Seattle Mariners, Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Miami Marlins, Arizona Diamondbacks, Minnesota Twins, Oakland Athletics, and Washington Nationals.
Rodney made his MLB debut in MLB in 2002 and joined the 300 save club in 2017. In 2019, following Ichiro Suzuki's retirement, Rodney became the oldest active MLB player and was the last player born in the 1970s to play in the majors. He won a World Series championship with the Nationals that year, his most recent season in MLB. He has subsequently pitched in the independent and minor leagues.
Rodney is a three-time MLB All-Star. He won the MLB Delivery Man of the Year Award and American League Comeback Player of the Year Award in 2012. He played for the Dominican Republic in three World Baseball Classic tournaments and holds the tournament record with eight career saves. He throws a 95 mph fastball and a palmball in the low 80s. He is known for celebrating by shooting a pretend bow and arrow into the sky.
Rodney was signed by the Detroit Tigers as an amateur free agent in 1997. He spent 1999–2003 in the minor leagues, moving from the Gulf Coast League to the International League. He underwent Tommy John surgery following the 2003 season, which he spent in the minor leagues. He spent the 2004 season recovering and failed to make the Tigers' Opening Day roster after 2005 spring training.
Rodney made his major league debut in 2002 at the age of 25 and split his time between the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens and the Tigers from 2002 to 2005.
In 2005, Rodney became the Tigers closer after Troy Percival went down with an arm injury and his replacement, Kyle Farnsworth, was traded at mid-season to the Atlanta Braves. He was called up from Toledo after Farnsworth was traded, then settled into the closer role, earning nine saves in 39 total appearances, during which he racked up a 2.86 earned run average.
When the Tigers signed closer Todd Jones before during the 2006 season, Rodney was reinserted into a middle relief/setup role. He embraced the role as the Tigers proceeded to have a successful season. On July 3, at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, California, Justin Verlander, Joel Zumaya, and Rodney each threw multiple fastballs clocked in at over 100 mph, becoming the first time in MLB history that three pitchers on the same team had done so during one game. Rodney was part of the World Series roster, hid first World Series appearance. The Tigers would end up losing the series to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Rodney started 2008 on the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis. He re-joined the big league club in mid-June. On July 27, Rodney was announced as the Tigers' closer, replacing Jones. Rodney was not particularly successful as a closer in 2008, saving only 13 games in 19 opportunities (68%) and pitching to a 4.91 ERA. He was much more reliable in 2009, converting 37 of his 38 save opportunities (97%). He also led the American League (AL) with 65 games finished in 2009.
Following the 2009 season, Rodney became a free agent. The Tigers offered arbitration to Rodney, which he rejected to pursue a multi-year deal. He was expected to be one of the more valuable closers on the market because as a "Type B" free agent, he would only cost teams a supplementary draft pick. His 1.40 ground ball/fly ball ratio was the highest among free-agent closers. The Baltimore Orioles and Philadelphia Phillies were rumored to be interested in signing Rodney. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim were also reported to be in serious discussions with his agent.
On December 24, 2009, Rodney signed a two-year, $11 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Although he closed for the Tigers in 2009, "Rodney is expected to share setup duties with Scot Shields and Kevin Jepsen and close on a fill-in basis when Brian Fuentes is down", the Los Angeles Times reported. Rodney stated, "I think I'm a different pitcher in save situations", referring to his lower ERA in save situations. In April 2010, he filled for Angels' closer Fuentes, who went on the disabled list with a strained back. Three days after the Angels traded Fuentes to the Minnesota Twins on August 27, manager Mike Scioscia announced that Rodney would be the team's closer.
On April 5, 2011, Jordan Walden replaced Rodney as the full-time closer. Toward the end of the 2011 season, Rodney became frustrated after a lack of relief appearances and asked Angels general manager Tony Reagins for a trade.
Rodney signed a $1.75 million contract with the Tampa Bay Rays for the 2012 season. While Kyle Farnsworth was on the 60-day disabled list, Rodney assumed in the closer role, which he held after Farnsworth returned from his injury. Rodney was selected on July 6 to participate in his first All-Star Game. At that point in the season, he had converted 24 of 25 save opportunities. At the end of the season, Rodney had 48 saves, second-most behind Jim Johnson of the Baltimore Orioles. His 0.60 earned run average for the season was the lowest by a qualifying relief pitcher in major league history (later surpassed by Zack Britton in 2016). On October 19, Rodney was named the AL Comeback Player of the Year and the Delivery Man of the Year. During his time with the Rays, Rodney mimed shooting an arrow to high center field after converting a save as his celebration move.
On February 6, 2014, Rodney signed a two-year, $14 million contract with the Seattle Mariners. After leading the AL in saves in the first half of the season, Rodney was a late addition to the All-Star team, taking the spot of David Price (who had pitched the Sunday before the game and thus could not pitch in the game). Rodney finished the 2014 season with an MLB-best 48 saves, which also topped Kazuhiro Sasaki's 45 saves for a new Mariners franchise record.
Rodney did not continue his success into 2015, carrying a 5–5 record with 16 saves in 22 opportunities and a 5.68 ERA before the Mariners designated him for assignment on August 22.
Seattle traded Rodney to the Chicago Cubs for cash on August 27, 2015. He wore jersey #57, the first time in his career in which he wore a number other than 56. His Cubs debut came on August 28 at Dodger Stadium, where he already blew a save during the season. He pitched a scoreless eighth inning despite hitting a batter and throwing a wild pitch. With the Cubs in 2015, Rodney allowed one earned run in 12 innings.
On February 4, 2016, Rodney signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the San Diego Padres. On April 11, Rodney pitched a scoreless ninth inning to record his first save as a Padre in a win over the Philadelphia Phillies.
On June 30, 2016, Rodney was traded to the Miami Marlins for Chris Paddack. He was 2–3 with Miami and pitched to a 5.89 ERA.
On December 9, 2016, Rodney signed a one-year, $2.75 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Rodney recorded his first win for the Diamondbacks on opening day and his first save in his next appearance on April 5, 2017. On June 7, Rodney became the 42nd pitcher all-time to finish 500 career games. On September 22, Rodney became the 28th pitcher all-time to record 300 career saves in a victory over the Miami Marlins.