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Pittsburgh Pirates: Ranking the Team’s Best Trade Chips
By Marty Leap
Number 3 – relief pitcher Richard Rodríguez
There will be few relievers on the market more coveted this trade season than Richard Rodríguez. This season Rodríguez has emerged as the closer for the Pittsburgh Pirates. While being a ‘closer’ is overrated, it is something that teams will value on the trade market due to Rodríguez’s experience pitching in high-leverage situations.
Rodríguez has pitched 30.1 innings in 29 outings this season. The righty owns a 1.78 ERA, 2.09 FIP and a pristine 2.4% walk rate. While his 24.5% strikeout rate is the second lowest of his four-year Pirate career, it is still better than league average.
So far this season Rodríguez has also done a good job of overcoming the biggest bugaboo he has had in his career – the long ball. Rodríguez has allowed just 1 home run this season, coming out to a home run rate of 0.30 HR/9. This is, by far, the lowest home run rate of his career. The past two seasons he has had a home run rate of 1.16 HR/9 and 1.93 HR/9. His previous career low was a 0.65 HR/9 in 2018.
It would be a major surprise if the Pittsburgh Pirates do not trade Rodríguez between now and the July 30 trade deadline. He can pitch in high leverage situations for a contender and has a multi-year track record of pitching well in this role. Also, as Robert Murray discussed on Rum Bunter Radio, the Pirates came very close to trading Rodríguez to the San Diego Padres in the offseason.