Wilking Rodríguez - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates

Minors deal with Yankees The Yankees signed Rodriguez to a minor-league contract Thursday, Aram Leighton of Just Baseball reports.

Impact Rodriguez signed a minor-league deal with the Yankees before the 2023 season but was taken by the Cardinals in the minor-league phase of the Rule 5 draft. The 34-year-old throws hard but has been limited to just 20 appearances in the minors over the last two seasons because of shoulder problems.

DECEMBER 12, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Re-signed to minors contract St. Louis re-signed Rodriguez (shoulder) to a minor-league contract Tuesday with an invitation to major-league spring training, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Impact Rodriguez was outrighted off the Cardinals' 40-man roster earlier this month, but he'll return as organizational depth for the 2024 season. The 33-year-old right-hander missed most of 2023 after undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery in early May, though he should be fully recovered by now.

NOVEMBER 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Elects free agency Rodriguez (shoulder) elected to become a free agent Monday.

Impact The Cardinals outrighted Rodriguez off their 40-man roster and offered the Rule 5 pick back to the Yankees, but they declined. The reliever never pitched for the Cards, as he was limited to just seven games in the minors due to a shoulder injury which eventually required surgery. Rodriguez nearly made it back late in the season, but it's not clear what his current health situation is.

NOVEMBER 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Rehabbing at Triple-A Rodriguez (shoulder) began a rehab assignment at Triple-A Memphis on Aug. 31 and has struck out five while giving up one unearned run on two hits and one walk in 3.2 innings across...

Impact A Rule 5 selection over the winter, Rodriguez has spent the entire 2023 campaign on the Cardinals' injured list due to shoulder tightness that eventually required surgery May 3. Though Rodriguez's procedure was initially believed to be season-ending, he made excellent progress in his recovery and resumed throwing off a mound in late July before getting cleared for game action a month later. With the 33-year-old off to a strong start to his rehab assignment, he looks like he could get a chance to join the St. Louis bullpen before season's end and potentially stake a claim to a roster spot heading into 2024.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Set for bullpen session Rodriguez (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session Saturday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Impact Rodriguez is about three months removed from arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder and could potentially become a bullpen option for the Cardinals sometime in August. The initial timetable called for him to miss 4-to-6 months.

JULY 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Moved to 60-day IL Rodriguez (shoulder) was transferred Friday from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Impact This is merely a procedural move after Rodriguez underwent surgery earlier this week on his right shoulder. He'll be sidelined for the next 4-to-6 months.

MAY 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Undergoes shoulder surgery Rodriguez underwent arthroscopic surgery Wednesday on his right shoulder and will be sidelined 4-to-6 months, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Impact Rodriguez was placed on the injured list before Opening Day after experiencing shoulder tightness toward the end of Cardinals camp this spring. Now the Rule 5 Draft pick can probably be ruled out for the entire 2023 campaign. He did log three appearances at Triple-A Memphis last month before his shoulder began barking again.

MAY 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Rehab assignment paused Rodriguez (shoulder) had his rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis paused Friday after feeling renewed soreness, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Impact Rodriguez was scheduled to pitch for Memphis on Saturday, but instead he'll be reevaluated. The Rule 5 draft pick from the Yankees has not been able to pitch in 2023 because of his shoulder issues. Once healthy, the Cardinals have to carry Rodriguez on their roster for the entirety of the campaign or they'll have to offer him back to the Yankees.

APRIL 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Scoreless frame in rehab appearance Rodriguez (shoulder) threw a scoreless inning for Triple-A Memphis on Sunday during a rehab appearance, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Impact Rodriguez threw eight pitches in the contest with six landing for strikes. The right-hander was the Cardinals' Rule 5 draft pick in December, and his rehab stint from right shoulder inflammation will expire on May 9. After that, Rodriguez will either need to be promoted to the major-league roster or the Cardinals will have to offer him back to the Yankees.

APRIL 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sharp in rehab debut Rodriguez (shoulder) tossed a scoreless inning in his rehab debut Thursday night with Triple-A Memphis, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Impact Rodriguez needed just nine pitches to get through the scoreless frame and twice reached 98 mph with his four-seam fastball. Recovered from a late-spring bout of right shoulder tightness, he'll likely be an option for the Cardinals' bullpen by early next week.

APRIL 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Set to begin rehab assignment Rodriguez (shoulder) threw another bullpen session Monday and is set to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis on Thursday, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Impact Rodriguez landing on the injured list just ahead of Opening Day because of tightness in his right shoulder, but he's been able to complete a handful of bullpen sessions and is now set to begin his rehab assignment. The right-hander was a Rule 5 pick by St. Louis over the winter, and must be carried on the roster when he's healthy.

APRIL 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Throwing bullpen sessions Cardinals manager Oli Marmol said Thursday that Rodriguez (shoulder) has already thrown two bullpen sessions, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Impact Rodriguez will do a couple more of those workouts before advancing to a minor-league rehab assignment. The Rule 5 pick landed on the injured list ahead of Opening Day because of shoulder tightness, but he could make his debut out of the Cardinals' bullpen before the end of April.

APRIL 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Placed on 15-day IL Rodriguez (shoulder) was placed on the 15-day injured list Thursday, retroactive to March 27.

Impact Rodriguez began experiencing tightness in his throwing shoulder toward the end of spring training. It's not believed to be an overly serious injury, but there's also no timetable for when he might be ready to join the bullpen in St. Louis.

MARCH 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Could play catch Wednesday Rodriguez (shoulder) could play catch Wednesday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Impact If Rodriguez is able to play catch, the Cardinals will start building a status report from there. The right-hander was shut down late in March due to right shoulder tightness, and St. Louis is being cautious with an important part of their bullpen. Assuming no setbacks, there's a good chance Rodriguez is pitching in the middle-innings for the Cardinals by the end of April.

MARCH 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Headed for IL with tight shoulder Rodriguez will begin the season on the injured list due to right shoulder tightness, Ben Frederickson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Impact The Rule 5 pick will be shut down for a week before being re-evaluated. Rodriguez has posted a 4.26 ERA and 6:3 K:BB over 6.1 innings this spring and had been in line for a middle relief role.

MARCH 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Pitching well in spring Rodriguez has allowed one earned run, three hits and one walk while striking out three over five innings across five Grapefruit League appearances.

Impact The Cardinals scooped up Rodriguez in the Rule 5 draft this fall, and his work early in spring training is giving him a shot of sticking in the majors. His only other experience in the majors was in 2014 with the Royals, and he logged just two innings. He spent most of the time between 2015 and 2022 in foreign leagues before signing with the Yankees last August. The 33-year-old right-hander will probably be a low-leverage reliever if he breaks camp with the Cardinals.

MARCH 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Rule 5 pick Rodriguez could be bullpen breakout JUPITER, Fla. -- To understand how intrigued the Cardinals are by the massive potential of reliever Wilking Rodriguez \-\- someone who hasn’...

FEBRUARY 17, 2023 • MLB.COM

Lands in St. Louis Rodriguez was selected by the Cardinals during the Rule 5 draft Wednesday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Impact Rodriguez inked a minor-league deal with the Yankees in August but didn't pitch in the organization in 2022 before being grabbed by the Cardinals. The 32-year-old hasn't been in affiliated baseball since 2015, when he covered 10.2 innings at the Triple-A level. Rodriguez most recently worked in the Mexican League over the summer and had a 2.01 ERA and 73:13 K:BB across 44.2 innings.

DECEMBER 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

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