Here is an article on Rodriguez. Took some of the more interesting tidbits.Farmer1906 said:
If we do look at the trade market. Here is a couple to keep an eye on.
PIT Richard Rodrguez - Elite fastball spin. Been great this season. 31 years old with 2 years of control left after this year. Everyone loves to fleece PIT when it comes to pitching right? He's a little redundant as he'd be another arm the dominates RHP, but wouldn't break the bank to get either.
MIL Josh Hader - One of the best bullpen arms over the last 5 years. The former Astros product was involved in hands down the worst trade in Astros history. It would suck to buy high to get him back, but he's getting a little more pricey in arbitration and Milwaukee isn't in the mix, really. The perfect fit in our pen to be co closer and can dominate lefties. I am also not sure he could fit in under the luxury tax cap.
https://www.mlb.com/news/richard-rodriguez-fastball-repertoire
[url=https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/richard-rodriguez-593144?stats=statcast-r-pitching-mlb][/url]
Here are a few more names to consider at the deadline - Paul Fry, Cole Sulser, Taylor Rogers, and Scott Barlow. Basically, the bullpen good arms on bad teams.Quote:
Richard Rodrguez, 31 years old and a likely trade candidate at the July 30 Deadline, does not throw hard. His fastball does not rise. He has a slider, but he barely uses it, instead throwing almost exclusively fastballs, which, again, are of moderate velocity and below-average rise.
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It's not just this year, either. Since the start of 2020, he's got a 1.83 ERA; he's got 50 strikeouts and only six walks.
How is that even possible? The answer might matter a lot to teams potentially interested in picking up another arm for a contending run.
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Rodrguez gets 1.2 inches less rise than other fastballs at his velocity.
If it's not that, what is it? It's not velocity. It's not vertical action. It's horizontal, where, if you look at pitchers with 100 fastballs thrown, his four-seamer has some of the strongest cutting action in the game.
It's not a two-seamer or a cutter because he doesn't call it that, but it might be helpful to think of it that way. Whatever it is, he's throwing it so often, in fact, and so effectively, that it's been one of the most valuable pitches in the game this year.
Fry is the lefty we need. High fastball usage with a nasty slide piece. Lots and lots of Ks. He was good last year, but is breaking out this year. Still walks too many, but overall very effective. 3 arbitration years after this one so he won't come too cheaply.
Sulser, like Fry, is one of the few bright spots on the Os. Older guy with 4 years of control after this year. He's a strike-out machine too. High fastball usage, but dominates lefties with this change-up. Secondary vs righties is the slider. I would think he'd be cheaper than Fry.
Rogers is another lefty. He's been a staple in the Twins bullpen for a while. Dropped a bunch of the lesser pitchers to just throw sinker and slider. That slider is getting more and more usage. Good K rate. Good BB rate. He's actually been better vs righties the last 2 years. He's making a little more (6 M) and a free agent after the season. Should be the cheapest prospects wise to get, but a danger to our luxury cap.
Barlow is another guy with tons of control (3 more years). Very good slider. Strong velo on the 4 seamer but doesn't do much. Better vs righties. Lots of Ks (seeing a trend yet?). Too many walks.
