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According to Tom Singer of the MLBlogs Network, the Pittsburgh Pirates are “close to landing” Houston Astros pitcher Wandy Rodriguez.
Here’s the most interesting part of the report:
There is no confirmation from either side of a tentative deal having been struck, but the sides are close enough to an agreement that the Bucs have for the time being pulled the plug on other prospective deals involving a left-hander.
To end talks with other teams about other lefties means the Pirates must be awful close to acquiring Rodriguez.
At age 33, Wandy is 7-9 with a 3.79 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in 21 starts with the Astros this year. His strikeout rate is way down (career-low 6.1 K/9) from previous years and his ERA is currently the worst it’s been since 2007, but he’s a durable arm and would certainly be an upgrade over lefty Erik Bedard, who gets my vote for disappointment of the year, despite his last few outings going relatively well.
Rodriguez is making $10 million this year and will receive $13.5 million next season with a player option for between $13 and $14 million in 2014 that kicks in if he’s traded.
While he certainly won’t be worth what the player option will cost in two years -which means he’ll more than likely exercise it – he should still be a serviceable pitcher then and could serve as a sort of mentor for what is sure to be a young pitching staff featuring the likes of top prospects Gerrit Cole and Jameson Taillon.
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