Phillies release Francisco Rodriguez

Longtime closer Francisco Rodriguez has been granted his unconditional release from the Philadelphia Phillies. The former Angel had thrown 6.2 inning for the Phillies this spring, giving up four earned runs and 11 hits while facing 38 batters.

Rodriguez, affectionately known as K-Rod, has spent the last two seasons with the Detroit Tigers, appearing in 89 games and compiling a 5-9 record with a 4.63 ERA. Last season with the Tigers was Rodriguez’s 16th in the league, and fifth different team.

He made his debut with Anaheim (now Los Angeles) in 2002, and stayed with the franchise until 2008. He made three All-Star game appearances as a member of the Angels, and lead the league three separate times in saves.

After the Angels he moved to New York to play for the Mets, before ultimately being traded to the Milwaukee Brewers, then to the Baltimore Orioles, then back to the Brewers before his two previous seasons with the Tigers.

In his career, Rodriguez is a six-time All-Star and has finished in the top four of Cy Young voting three times, even cracking the top six of MVP voting in 2008. He currently sits fourth all-time in saves with 437, behind only Mariano Rivera, Trevor Hoffman and Lee Smith.

The Phillies have made a flurry of free agent signings this winter, most notably pitcher Jake Arrieta. While the former Chicago Cubs pitcher had long been linked to the Phillies, it didn’t become official until earlier this month when Arrieta signed a three year, $75 million contract with the team.

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