While the Yankees bolstered their bullpen by acquiring star closer Devin Williams in a blockbuster trade with the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday, he wasn’t the only reliever recently added to the roster.
According to multiple reports, the Yankees have signed a veteran right-handed free agent Wilking Rodgriguez to a minor league contract, including an invitation to spring training. It’s just a low point for the team, as Rodriguez turns 35 in March and has little major league experience. He signed a minor league deal with the Yankees in 2022, but was later taken by the St. Louis Cardinals in the Rule 5 draft.
Rodriguez’s career has been unusual, to say the least. He has spent nearly a dozen seasons at various minor league levels, and eight seasons in foreign leagues. He last pitched in the Venezuelan Winter League and the Mexican League, and between two teams in 2022, he owned a 1.78 ERA with a 13.5 K/9 rate over 50.2 innings.
However, his only stint in the Majors came way back in 2014, playing in two games and logging a pair of innings for the Kansas City Royals.
The Yankees will face the hard-throwing Rodriguez, who has been limited to 20 appearances since his strong season in 2022 due to shoulder issues.
