While the Yankees bolstered their bullpen by acquiring star closer Devin Williams in Friday’s market trade with the Milwaukee Brewers, he wasn’t the only reliever recently added to the roster.
The Yankees have signed the veteran right-hander, according to multiple reports Wilking Rodriguez to the minor league contract, which includes an invitation to spring training. It’s just depth for the team, as Rodriguez turns 35 in March and barely has any big league experience. He signed a minor league contract with the Yankees in 2022, but was later picked up by the St. Louis Cardinals in the Rule 5 Draft. Louis Cardinals.
Rodriguez’s career has been unusual, to say the least. He spent nearly a dozen seasons in various minor leagues and eight seasons in foreign leagues. He most recently pitched in the Venezuelan Winter League and the Mexican League and owned a 1.78 ERA with a 13.5 K/9 rate in 50.2 innings between the two teams in 2022.
However, his lone stint in the majors came back in 2014 – appearing in two games and pitching a pair of innings for the Kansas City Royals.
The Yankees are turning to the hard-throwing Rodriguez, who has been limited to 20 games since his strong 2022 campaign because of shoulder issues.