Pittsburgh Pirates: Wandy Rodriguez DFA’d, Russell Martin activated from DL
By Matt Shetler
After yet another abysmal outing, it didn’t take Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Neal Huntington to make a decision on whether veteran left-hander Wandy Rodriguez would get another turn through the rotation.
One day after surrendering six runs and seven hits in only 1.2 innings pitched, the Pirates announced that they have designated Rodriguez for assignment on Thursday.
Apr 14, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Wandy Rodriguez (51) pitches during the second inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports
The decision to DFA Rodriguez is one that makes sense, given his struggles, but also one that is quite surprising from the Pirates, who are on the hook to pay the final $8 million of Rodriguez’s $13.5 million salary.
The Pirates acquired Rodriguez from the Houston Astros in 2012 in exchange for Colton Cain, Rudy Owens and Robbie Grossman and the veteran was extremely effective after the trade.
However injuries have caught u to Rodriguez as he has managed to pitch only 164.1 innings in part of three seasons with the Pirates.
A forearm strain limited him to just 62.2 innings last season, and right knee inflammation cost him three weeks earlier this season. Yet with the exception of this season, Rodriguez has pitched well when healthy.
Yet the simple fact is that the Pirates couldn’t afford to run him out there anymore.
Rodriguez has posted a whopping 6.75 ERA with a 20-to-8 K/BB ratio and has allowed an insane 10 homers in 26.2 innings.
That could be mostly due to the fact that his fastball velocity has dipped to a career-worst 88.3 mph.
The Pirates will now have 10 days to either trade or release Rodriguez as because of his salary he won’t be claimed off waivers.
The sad part of the whole Rodriguez situation is the Pirates desperately needed him to be good after allowing A.J. Burnett to walk in the offseason.
That obviously didn’t happen and now the Pirates have to turn the page.
Either Jeff Locke or Brandon Cumpton will be summoned from Triple-A to take Rodriguez’s spot on the active roster.
In the meantime catcher Russell Martin was activated from the 15-day disabled list and will serve his one-game suspension tonight for his role in the Easter Sunday brawl against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Martin is hitting .242/.342/.358 with a pair of homers and 11 RBI in only 62 at bats this season. Martin hasn’t played since straining his left hamstring against St. Louis on April 25.
In other roster news, the Pirates have claimed reliever Josh Wall off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels and assigned him to Triple-A.
The 27-year old Wall made only two appearances for the Halos this year, allowing six earned runs in just one inning of work.
To make room for Wall on the 40-man roster, the Pirates designated Phil Irwin for assignment.
Irwin, 27, made one start for the Bucs in 2013, allowing five runs (four earned) in 4.2 innings.