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Pittsburgh Pirates: Four Potential Richard Rodriguez Trade Destinations

By Noah Wright

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - AUGUST 30: Richard Rodriguez #42 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches in the ninth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on August 30, 2020 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. All players are wearing #42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day, which was postponed April 15 due to the coronavirus outbreak. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - AUGUST 30: Richard Rodriguez #42 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches in the ninth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on August 30, 2020 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. All players are wearing #42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day, which was postponed April 15 due to the coronavirus outbreak. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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Sep 23, 2020; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Richard Rodriguez (48) reacts after securing the final out on a strikeout of Chicago Cubs center fielder Ian Happ (not pictured) during the ninth inning at PNC Park. The Pirates won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 23, 2020; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Richard Rodriguez (48) reacts after securing the final out on a strikeout of Chicago Cubs center fielder Ian Happ (not pictured) during the ninth inning at PNC Park. The Pirates won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

This offseason, the Pittsburgh Pirates could look to trade reliever Richard Rodriguez. Which teams could be interested in the right-handed reliever?

Richard Rodriguez was the best relief pitcher the Pittsburgh Pirates had in 2020, and will enter the 2020-2021 offseason as a guy who might draw a decent amount of attention. Among the teams’ relief pitchers with at least 20 innings, Rodriguez led the team in ERA (2.70), FIP (2.85), WHIP (0.86), xFIP (2.85), SIERA (2.40), strikeout percentage (36.6%), walk percentage (5.4%), and put up a solid HR/9 of 1.16.

Rich Rod also had a strong 2018 season where he had a 2.47 ERA, 2.60 FIP and 1.07 WHIP in 69.1 innings of work. Rodriguez gave up just five long balls and issued 19 free passes. The right hander’s strikeout rate was an impressive 31.1% as well. ERA estimators loved him as he put up a 2.73 SIERA, 3.67 xFIP and 2.82 DRA.

However, there are a few drawbacks to Rodriguez. For one, it was only 2019 when he struggled, surrendering 14 home runs in 65.1 innings with his walk rate spiking to 8.1% and his strikeout rate dropping to 22.1%. Rodriguez also struggled with hard hit balls in 2020. Last season, he was in the bottom third percentile of pitchers in exit velocity (91.8 MPH) and in the bottom third percentile of hard hit rate (51%).

Still, with really good bottom line, and estimated results, in the top 96th percentile of fastball spin rate, in the top 79th percentile of xWOBA, and affordably controlled for three more years, Rodriguez has a lot of value. Relief pitchers recently have been highly sought after items, so there shouldn’t be a lack of interest, even with a decent amount of good relief pitchers on the free agent market.

If Rodriguez is to be traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates this offseason, what teams could we see pursue the right hander?

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