In the wildly unpredictable career of Fernando Rodney, the two-season chapter he spent in St. Petersburg stands as an absolute mountain peak. Signed as an unheralded free agent ahead of the 2012 season after nine years of varying success with Detroit and the Los Angeles Angels, the Dominican right-hander was handed the ninth-inning keys by Joe Maddon. What followed wasn't just a career resurgence—it was one of the most historically dominant relief seasons in baseball history.
Weaponizing a generational, fading changeup that completely locked up opposing hitters, Rodney turned the 2012 campaign into a personal masterpiece. He slammed the door for a franchise-record 48 saves, but it was his pristine efficiency that rewrote the record books: Rodney yielded a microscopic 0.60 ERA over a career-high 74.2 innings, setting a major league record for the lowest single-season ERA by any pitcher with at least 50 innings thrown. The baseball world took notice of the performance—and his signature, tilted-cap style—rewarding him with an All-Star selection, a fifth-place finish in the AL Cy Young voting, and a 13th-place finish in the MVP race. Every time he pulled back his invisible bow and arrow to celebrate a final out, the Rays were securing a win on the back of historically elite run prevention.
While maintaining that mythical level of perfection was impossible, Rodney returned in 2013 to provide the club with another highly productive baseline. He locked down 37 saves across 68 appearances, anchoring a steady bullpen that propelled the Rays right back into the postseason picture.
With his market value thoroughly restored, Rodney hit the open market that winter and signed a lucrative free-agent deal with the Seattle Mariners. Rodney made 144 appearances (all in relief). He compiled a 7–6 record with 85 saves, a spectacular 1.91 ERA, and a 1.03 WHIP, striking out 158 batters over 141.1 innings pitched as a Ray.
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