MLB Player News

The busy Mariners offseason has continued with the signing of former Rays closer Fernando Rodney to a two-year contract for $14 million, according to Baseball Tonight, which is further reporting that he could earn another million with incentives.

Rodney has been among the premier game-enders in the sports since 2012 with 85 saves and 158 strikeouts in 141 1/3 innings.

He will almost assuredly serve in that role with the Mariners, who struggled to shut down opponents upon the collapse of closer Tom Wilhelmsen in the second half of the 2013 season. Young Danny Farquhar had been expected to assume the closer spot.

Yankees reliever David Robertson is taking a simple approach to moving into the closer's role.

"Throwing the eighth or ninth inning, you’ve still got to get three outs," he said, per The Associated Press. "You’ve got to be effective. You can’t give up a lead. I’m not going to try to overthink the whole situation.”

The Yankees continue to show confidence in Robertson replacing Mariano Rivera.

"He’s been in some huge situations here," Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild said. "He’s been around Mo. He’s in a good position to know what he has to do. He’s done everything that you could ask him to do to this point to become a closer. Now it’s just a matter of executing the pitches. Unless he gets overwhelmed by the situation, I don’t anticipate major problems."

The Mariners, Orioles and Mets are expressing strong interest in free agent closer Fernando Rodney, according to USA Today.

The Mariners are talking to outfielder Nelson Cruz and reliever Fernando Rodney, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman.

Cruz and the Mariners have been linked the entire offseason, but things may have heated up in the past few days. The team is willing to hand out a multi-year deal for the 33-year-old outfielder, but it may only be a two-year deal. That deal could contain an option for a third season. Cruz hit .266/.327/.506 in 413 at-bats last year.

Rodney is said to be seeking about two-years, $15 million. It's not clear if the Mariners current payroll situation will allow them to sign both players. Rodney had a 3.38 ERA in 66 2/3 innings last season.

Rays starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson is expected to be out until at least mid-May after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow last week, according to the Tampa Bay Times. The paper suggests the Rays could sign a free agent or trade for a starting pitcher, but they do have in-house options to replace Hellickson.

Marc Topkin of the Times suggests Jake Odorizzi would likely be the top option to pitch in Hellickson absence, but also mentions Alex Colome and Enny Romero as replacement starters.

There's a sense the Yankees are looking to sign a reliever, according to the Boston Globe. 

Fernando Rodney has been mentioned as a player the Yankees could steal. The team is looking for insurance at the back end of the bullpen in case David Robertson isn't up to closing games. The team will also consider other options other than Rodney.

The Orioles are interested in signing a number of remaining free agents, according to FoxSports.com.

Nelson Cruz, A.J. Burnett and Fernando Rodney remain the main targets, but the team could also look at Ubaldo Jimenez or Ervin Santana if their initial plans fall through. The club will target Burnett before making a move on Jimenez or Santana. The team's current payroll sits at $85 million, but some believe it will settle around $100 million by the start of the season. 

The Mariners are suddenly showing strong interest in signing outfielder Nelson Cruz and closer Fernando Rodney, major-league sources told FOX Sports.

Cruz could be a formidable right-handed complement to new second baseman Robinson Cano in the team's lineup, and Rodney would give the team a reliable option at closer.

The Orioles have re-signed pitcher Eric Beaulac to a minor-league deal, MLBDailyDish.com reports.

Beaulac made 12 appearances in 2013, going 2-0 with a 1.96 ERA, 1.69 WHIP and 20:17 K:BB ratio in 18 1/3 innings between high Class A Frederick and Double-A Bowie.

The Mariners are the latest team to be showing interest in free agent reliever Fernando Rodney, according to Yahoo! Sports. They join the Mets and Orioles as teams considering signing the veteran pitcher.