According to a report from Jon Heyman, the Padres and RHP Fernando Rodney are closing in on contract. The Cubs were believed to be one of the teams, along with the Blue Jays, Diamondbacks and Twins that showed interest in Rodney this winter.
The Padres can offer Rodney the best opportunity to close games again after trading Craig Kimbrel to the Red Sox and Joaquin Benoit to the Mariners. The soon-to-be 39-year old right-hander still feels he can get the job done in the ninth inning for a team.
Rodney will at least feel at home during Spring Training. The Padres and Mariners share the same Spring Training complex in Peoria.
The Cubs acquired Fernando Rodney from the Mariners at the end of August after Seattle cut ties and designated him for assignment.
Rodney appeared in 14 games for the Cubs and did a decent job after being reunited with Joe Maddon. The 38-year old Rodney was 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA and 1.00 WHIP (four runs, one earned, on eight hits with four walks and 15 strikeouts in 12 innings).
Rodney really struggled with the Mariners last season a year after posting a 1-6 record in 69 games with 48 saves, a 2.85 ERA and 1.34 WHIP that included 61 hits allowed in 66 1/3 innings with 28 walks and 76 strikeouts. Rodney was 5-5 with a 5.68 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 54 appearances for the Mariners before being DFA’d.
Fernando Rodney finished the 2015 season with a 7-5 record in 68 games between the Mariners and Cubs with a 4.74 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 16 saves. Rodney allowed 36 runs, 33 earned, on 59 hits with 29 walks and 58 strikeouts in 62 2/3 innings.
Rodney was paid $7 million in both 2014 and 2015. According to Dennis Lin, the Padres’ offer to Rodney is believed to be loaded with incentives with a low-guaranteed base salary.
• Fernando Rodney’s Page on Baseball-Reference