Phils get much-needed bullpen help with Rodriguez

By John Manuel
July 30, 2004

With their bullpen problems mounting, a contending team decided to deal for an experienced power reliever on Friday.

That description could have fit the Giants, who are working without a designated closer while chasing the Dodgers in the National League West. It also fits the Phillies, who placed Ryan Madson and Billy Wagner on the disabled list this week, and Philadelphia turned to San Francisco for help. The Phillies plucked Felix Rodriguez from the Giants, giving up Ricky Ledee and high Class A righthander Alfredo Simon.

Rodriguez, a 31-year-old righthander, has been consistently effective since becoming San Francisco's primary setup man in 1999. He was 3-5, 3.43 in 53 appearances this season, with 31 strikeouts and 19 walks in 45 innings. Opponents were hitting .250 with seven homers (his career high) against him. Rodriguez uses mainly fastballs, adding a sinking two-seamer during the winter to go with a four-seamer that reaches the mid-90s. He occasionally throws a slider and splitter. Rodriguez' strikeout rate (6.25 per nine innings in 2004) has declined steadily over the last three years, and he has failed in brief auditions as a closer. The Phillies will use him as a bridge to his former Giants teammate Tim Worrell, who temporarily assumes Wagner's closer duties. Rodriguez is making $3.05 million this year and has a mutual option ($3.15 million for the player, $5 million for the club) for 2005. He has gone 35-22, 3.43 with 10 saves in 475 lifetime appearances.

The Giants value the 30-year-old Ledee's ability to play all three outfield spots and hope he can help them as a platoon player against righthanders. He has hit well in limited playing time this year, batting .285/.393/.512 with seven homers and 26 RBIs in 123 at-bats over 73 games. He's a good athlete who thrives more as a fourth outfielder than as a regular. Ledee has a $1.225 million salary for 2004 and will become a free agent afterward. In 635 career games and 1,614 at-bats, he has hit .246/.332/.420 with 53 homers and 260 RBIs.

Simon, 23, signed out of the Dominican Republic in 1999. He originally was known as Carlos Cabrera and believed to be 21 months younger before visa problems revealed his true identity. The Phillies projected Simon as a reliever because of his size, fastball and lack of a secondary pitch, but he has pitched three straight complete games at high Class A Clearwater. He has a 7-9, 3.27 record in 21 games (20 starts). Opponents have hit .240 with 13 homers against Simon, who has a 107-38 K-BB ratio in 135 innings. He has grown from a listed 6-foot-4, 215 pounds to about 6-foot-5 and 240, and he maintains his 90-94 mph velocity deep into his starts. He finished off consecutive shutouts with a 93-mph fastball in each. Simon, who also throws a changeup and developing slider, owns a career 23-13, 3.35 mark in 64 minor league games.