Tag Archives: Francisco Rodriguez

Carlos Beltran Among 14 Newcomers on MLB Hall of Fame Ballot

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Carlos Beltran is in the running for a special place in Major League Baseball history…

The 45-year-old Puerto Rican former professional baseball player is among 14 newcomers on the Baseball Writers’ Association of America‘s MLB Hall of Fame ballot.

Carlos BeltranBeltran played as an outfielder from 1998 to 2017 for the Kansas City Royals, Houston Astros, New York Mets, San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees and Texas Rangers.

Beltrán was the American League (AL) Rookie of the Year in 1999 while with the Royals. He was named to nine MLB All-Star Games and won three Gold Glove Awards and two Silver Slugger Awards.

Beltrán was the fifth player to reach both 400 home runs and 300 stolen bases and just the fourth switch hitter with 400 home runs. He has the highest success rate in stealing bases (88.3%) of any major league player with 300 or more career attempts. He also joined the 30–30 club in 2004. In 2013, Beltrán was named the recipient of the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award. He retired after the 2017 season, winning a World Series title with the Astros.

Other players appearing on the ballot for the first time include John Lackey, Jered Weaver, R.A. Dickey, Huston Street, Francisco Rodríguez, Bronson Arroyo and Matt Cain. They’re joined by Jacoby Ellsbury, Jayson Werth, Mike Napoli, J.J. Hardy, Jhonny Peralta and Andre Ethier, the Hall and the BBWAA announced.

Holdovers include Scott Rolen, Todd Helton and Billy Wagner. Rolen received 249 of 394 votes last year (63.2%), when David Ortiz was elected with 307 votes (77.9%), 11 more than the 75% needed. Helton was on 205 ballots (52%) and Wagner 201 (51%).

Voters denied several stars tainted by steroids and scandal.

Barry Bonds (260 votes, 66%), Roger Clemens (257, 65.2%) and Curt Schilling (231, 58.6%) were dropped after their 10th appearances on the ballot last year and are among eight players who will appear on the ballot of the Hall’s contemporary baseball era committee, which meets December 4 in San Diego ahead of baseball’s winter meetings.

Other holdovers on the BBWAA ballot include Andruw Jones (163 votes last year, 41.1%), Gary Sheffield (160, 40.6%), Alex Rodriguez (135, 34.3%), Jeff Kent (129, 32.7%), Manny Ramirez (114, 28.9%), Omar Vizquel (94, 23.9%), Andy Pettitte (42, 10.7%), Jimmy Rollins (37, 9.4%), Bobby Abreu (34, 8.6%), Mark Buehrle (23, 5.8%) and Torii Hunter (21, 5.3%).

Kent, who received his highest percentage last year, will appear on the BBWAA ballot for the 10th and final time.

BBWAA members with 10 or more consecutive years of membership are eligible to vote. Ballots must be postmarked by Dec. 31 and results will be announced Jan. 24.

Any players elected will be inducted into the Hall at Cooperstown on July 23 along with anyone elected by the contemporary baseball era committee.

A-Rod, a three-time MLB MVP and 14-time MLB All-Star who hit 696 home runs, was suspended for the 2014 season for violating MLB’s drug policy and collective bargaining agreement, and Ortiz’s name was alleged to have appeared on a list of players who tested positive during 2003 survey testing.

Edwin Diaz Agrees to Five-Year, $102 Million Contract with New York Mets

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Edwin Diaz isn’t going anywhere…

The 28-year-old Puerto Rican professional baseball pitcher, a star closer for the New York Mets, has agreed to a five-year, $102 million contract, pending a physical, according to ESPN.

Edwin DiazThere’s an opt-out and a full no-trade clause plus a sixth-year option in the contract, sources said.

The Diaz deal is the first nine-figure contract ever for a closer, and for the first time, it takes the position into the $20 million-plus range.

Diaz, who made $10 million this year, earned the big payday after a dominant 2022 season that saw him finish with 32 saves, a 1.31 ERA and 118 strikeouts in 62 innings for a Mets team that won 101 games.

New York’s bullpen finished 10th in the majors in ERA, and its top relievers in innings pitched (Adam Ottavino, Seth Lugo, Trevor Williams and Diaz) were among the 131 players across the major leagues who were declared free agents Sunday, the day after the 2022 season ended.

Keeping Diaz is a massive move for the Mets to start the offseason, as one of baseball’s top free agents is now off the board.

Diaz was part of a blockbuster trade with the Seattle Mariners in December 2018, one that saw him and veteran second baseman Robinson Cano go to the Mets for a prospect-heavy package.

Diaz had starred in Seattle, leading the majors with 57 saves in 2018 — which tied Bobby Thigpen (1990) for the second most in a single season in baseball history, trailing only Francisco Rodriguez‘s 62 in 2008.

But his early tenure in New York was anything but successful. In his debut season in the Big Apple, he had a 5.59 ERA (seventh worst among relievers), 15 homers allowed and -0.6 bWAR in 58 innings, as Mets fans routinely booed him while on the mound.

Diaz has righted the ship since, culminating with the dominant 2022. And he’s become a fan favorite in New York, with the hit song “Narco,” by Australian musician Timmy Trumpet, played at Citi Field every time he exits the bullpen before an appearance.

Juan Manuel Marquez to Fight Miguel Cotto in Exhibition Match

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Juan Manuel Marquez is heading back to the ring…

The 47-year-old Mexican former professional boxer and former four-division world champion is planning to fight against fellow former four-division champ Miguel Cotto in an exhibition match on June 12 in Miami, according to ESPN.

Juan Manuel Marquez

Even as an exhibition, Cotto-Marquez will add to the rich boxing rivalry between Puerto Rico and Mexico.

Marquez (56-7-1, 40 KOs) has not fought since May 2014, when he got off the canvas to beat Mike Alvarado in his 64th professional fight.

Marquez has won titles at featherweight, junior lightweight, lightweight and junior welterweight. Marquez was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2019.

Cotto (41-6, 33 KOs), of Caguas, Puerto Rico, last fought on December 2, 2017, in a unanimous decision loss to Sadam Ali.

He has won world titles at junior welterweight, welterweight, junior middleweight and middleweight.

The source added that a fight between WBC flyweight interim titlist McWilliams Arroyo and Francisco Rodríguez could be part of the undercard. An official announcement is expected to be made on April 12.

El Nuevo Día was first to report the fight.

Francisco Rodriguez Agrees to Minor League Deal with the Philadelphia Phillies

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Francisco Rodriguez is back in the game…

The 36-year-old Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher, nicknamed “Frankie” and “K-Rod“, has agreed to a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Francisco Rodriguez

Rodriguez, a former All-Star reliever, will report to major league spring training, according to multiple reports.

The deal, which was first reported by FanRag Sports on Saturday, will include a $2.5 million base salary if Rodriguez is added to the 40-man roster. And he has a chance to make $1.25 million in incentives.

Rodriguez, a right-hander, saved 44 games for the Detroit Tigers in 2016, but he was 2-5 with a 7.82 ERA in 28 appearances last season before being released by Detroit in June.

Rodriguez is fourth on the career list with 437 saves and set the single-season record of 62 in 2008, when he was with the Los Angeles Angels. His future was in question after a shaky season in 2012 with the Milwaukee Brewers, but he was able to rebound, reinventing himself by relying on his changeup.

The Tigers traded for Rodriguez in November 2015, and though his strikeout numbers in 2016 weren’t great, he had a solid season, and Detroit exercised his $6 million option for 2017. The Tigers remained responsible for the remainder of his 2017 salary.

Rodriguez Lands Lucrative One-Year Contract with the Milwaukee Brewers

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Francisco Rodriguez is Milwaukee bound once again…

The 32-year-old Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher, “K-Rod” as he’s known, has agreed to a one-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers worth $3.25 million plus incentives.

Francisco Rodriguez

Rodriguez, a four-time MLB All-Star, could earn another $550,000 in bonuses. The contract includes a $100,000 bonus for 55 innings pitched and incentives for games finished; $50,000 each for 15 and 20 games; $75,000 for 25 and 30 games; and $100,000 each for 35 and 40 games.

Rodriguez, a World Series champion, has 304 saves in 12 seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, New York Mets, Milwaukee Brewers and Baltimore Orioles.

Milwaukee signed Rodriguez as a free agent last spring before trading him to Baltimore in late July in a deal for minor leaguer Nick Delmonico.

In 2008, Rodriguez set a major league record with 62 saves for the Angels. He has notched three finishes in the top five in Cy Young Award balloting.

Rodriguez brings depth and another veteran arm to a Milwaukee bullpen headed by Jim Henderson, who recorded 28 saves and struck out 75 batters in 60 innings as a 30-year-old rookie last season.