Diamondbacks sign free agent reliever Fernando Rodney to 1-year deal

The Diamondbacks were looking for relief help and the first name that surfaced was Fernando Rodney. The Diamondbacks have agreed to a 1-year deal. The deal is worth $2.75M in guarantees with incentives, which will be updated here as the details come out. This has the chance to be a very smart deal as Rodney has strong enough peripherals to succeed in Arizona with a 55% GB rate and a strikeout rate above 25%.

Rodney's repertoire consists of a mid 90s sinker and a low 80s change-up. For an organization that should focus primarily on heavy ground ball pitchers and riser-splitter types that miss bats, this is a very smart signing that could turn out to be a big value if the Diamondbacks can get Rodney to display his form with the San Diego Padres last year. Rodney can do a little bit of both, but mainly profiles as a heavy ground ball guy. Chase Field tends to be very unforgiving on fly ball contact in terms of doubles and triples, but not necessarily home runs. The strength of the Diamondbacks defense is the infield.

So far the Diamondbacks top acquisitions are Taijuan Walker, Jeff Mathis, and Fernando Rodney. Walker is an improvement in the rotation over Braden Shipley, Mathis is a better catcher than Castillo and Gosewisch, and Rodney no doubt gives the Diamondbacks a veteran reliever with prior closing experience. The only cost is Jean Segura, Mitch Haniger, and about $7M in guarantees. So far, I'm liking the plan very much.