MLB: Ranking the Top 10 Closers in Baseball Right Now
By zacklosel
# 5 – Fernando Rodney – Tampa Bay Rays
Age: 36
2012 Stats: 0.60 ERA / 76 K’s / 48 Saves / 0.78 WHIP / 74.2 IP.
Career Stats: 3.75 ERA / 469 K’s / 135 Saves / 1.36 WHIP / 504.2 IP.
Career K/9: 8.36
Career K/BB: 1.89
October 1, 2012; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Fernando Rodney (56) throws a pitch in the ninth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Baltimore Orioles 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
After spending most of his career in Detroit as the number two closer/setup man, Rodney finally started putting together some success as the team’s closer once given the opportunity to close in the 2008-09 seasons. But after being traded away to the Angels to make room for the incoming Jose Valverde, Rodney’s stock plummeted as he endured two of the roughest seasons of his career.
Fast forward to last year, where he was brought in by Tampa Bay to be their closer, and Rodney ended up making a name for himself, as the thirty six year old exploded onto the scene with a career high forty eight saves, posting an unbelievable ERA of 0.60 on the season.
He probably won’t repeat last season’s masterful performance, but not too much drop-off is expected, as he did accomplish his impressive season in one of the tougher division in baseball.