Rays' Manuel Rodriguez: TJ surgery not a certainty
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Rodriguez will have right elbow surgery Aug. 8 to address a flexor tendon repair, and his UCL will be evaluated during the surgery to determine if any additional procedures are needed, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
An earlier report indicated Rodriguez will need Tommy John surgery, and while that remains a possibility, the full extent of the reliever's procedure won't be determined until the flexor tendon repair takes place. While Rodriguez is almost certain to miss the remainder of the 2025 campaign regardless, he could pitch in 2026 if Tommy John surgery is not needed. Assuming Rodriguez is indeed done for the current campaign, he'll finish with a 2.08 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 25:6 K:BB over 30.1 innings spanning 31 appearances while notching 12 holds.
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Rays' Manuel Rodriguez: Scheduled for TJ surgery
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Rodriguez (forearm) will undergo Tommy John surgery Aug. 8, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Rodriguez initially landed on the injured list in mid-June with a forearm strain. However, he suffered a setback in mid-July that caused him to move to the 60-day IL, and he'll now officially miss the remainder of the 2025 season. The timing of the 28-year-old's procedure also gives him little hope of pitching in 2026, leaving spring of 2027 as his likely return date.
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Rays' Manuel Rodriguez: Shifted to 60-day injured list
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The Rays transferred Rodriguez (forearm) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Tuesday.
Rodriguez recently experienced a setback with his right forearm strain that resulted in him being pulled off his rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham on July 12. He will be eligible for activation in mid-August but could require more time than that to recover.
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Rays' Manuel Rodriguez: Facing lengthy absence
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Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander indicated Thursday that Rodriguez (forearm) is facing a lengthy absence, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Rodriguez experienced a setback with his right elbow/forearm during a rehab appearance last week and had been scheduled to meet with a doctor Monday. While Neander didn't divulge any details about that doctor visit, it seems as though Rodriguez didn't receive good news. The hard-throwing righty has been sideline since mid-June.
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Rays' Manuel Rodriguez: Meeting with doctor on tap
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Rays manager Kevin Cash said that Rodriguez (forearm) has returned to Tampa and is scheduled to meet with a doctor Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Initially placed on the injured list June 11 due to a right forearm strain, Rodriguez was pulled from his second rehab appearance with Triple-A Durham on Friday after he experienced right elbow soreness and noticed a stark decline in velocity. The Rays will likely decide on a treatment plan for Rodriguez once he meets with a doctor, but as a result of the setback, he won't be on track to return from the IL coming out of the All-Star break.
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Rays' Manuel Rodriguez: Suffers apparent setback
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Rodriguez (forearm) exited his rehab appearance with Triple-A Durham on Friday after facing only three batters, MLB.com reports.
There hasn't been any official word on why Rodriguez departed, but it wasn't pre-planned and his velocity fell to just 91.6 mph. He will now almost certainly not be activated prior to the All-Star break, but a further timeline is not yet clear.
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Rays' Manuel Rodriguez: Makes rehab appearance
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Rodriguez (forearm) yielded one hit and struck out one over a scoreless frame in his first rehab appearance with Triple-A Durham on Tuesday.
It was Rodriguez's first outing in nearly a month, as he is working his way back from a right forearm strain. If all goes well, Rodriguez should have a shot to return before the All-Star break. He's collected a 2.08 ERA and 25:6 K:BB over 30.1 innings out of the Rays' bullpen this season.
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Rays' Manuel Rodriguez: Nearing rehab assignment
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Rodriguez (forearm) threw a bullpen session Tuesday, MLB.com reports.
Rodriguez has been on the injured list since June 11 but appears to be nearing a return. The bullpen session reportedly went well, and he is expected to head on a rehab assignment shortly.
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Rays' Manuel Rodriguez: Goes on IL with strained forearm
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The Rays placed Rodriguez on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with a right forearm strain, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
It's not clear when Rodriguez was hurt, but he last made an appearance Monday in Boston, tossing a scoreless frame despite giving up two hits and a walk. He will be eligible for activation June 25, but given the nature of the injury, it's possible Rodriguez will need more time than that.
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Rays' Manuel Rodriguez: Not getting save chances
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Rodriguez allowed one hit and struck out two across a scoreless inning to record a hold Thursday against the Guardians.
The right-hander has seen plenty of high-leverage usage since rejoining the Rays bullpen just before the All-Star break, so he was viewed as a logical candidate to get save chances when Pete Fairbanks (lat) hit the injured list. However, Rodriguez hasn't gotten a save chance in his last seven appearances, while Thursday's hold was his first in that span. He's pitched well since Fairbanks was sidelined, posting a 2.53 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 9:2 K:BB over his last 10.2 innings, but manager Kevin Cash's matchup-based approach seems to have cut Rodriguez out of the closer mix.
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Rays' Manuel Rodriguez: Takes loss Sunday
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Rodriguez (3-4) allowed one earned run on one hit and one walk to take the loss Sunday against the Padres.
Rodriguez entered the game with the score tied at 3-3 in the ninth inning. He allowed the first two batters he faced to reach base, which was enough to allow the Padres to scratch across the game-winning run. Rodriguez has recorded two of the five saves for the Rays since Pete Fairbanks (lat) went down but has also suffered two losses and given up three earned runs across 7.1 innings.
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Rays' Manuel Rodriguez: Picks up first save
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Rodriguez picked up the save over the Athletics on Wednesday, striking out one over a perfect ninth inning.
Rodriguez took over with a two-run lead in the bottom of the ninth and needed nine pitches to get through the leadoff batter before ultimately retiring the side in order for his first save of the campaign. Rodriguez now appears to be working in a closer-by-committee situation since Pete Fairbanks is on the injured list due to a lat strain, as Edwin Uceta recorded the Rays' previous save on Aug. 20. The 28-year-old right-hander has yet to allow a run in August, posting a 10:3 K:BB over that seven-inning stretch (eight appearances).
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Rays' Manuel Rodriguez: Optioned to Triple-A
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The Rays optioned Rodriguez to Triple-A Durham on Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Rodriguez was competing for a spot in the bullpen but will head to Durham for now. He should still wind up spending a good amount of time with the big club this season.
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Rays' Manuel Rodriguez: Dealt to Tampa Bay
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The Cubs traded Rodriguez and Adrian Sampson to the Rays on Tuesday in exchange for Josh Roberson, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.
Rodriguez looked like a promising young arm in the Cubs' system at one point, but he turns 27 years old this coming Sunday and has registered an underwhelming 4.42 ERA and 1.50 WHIP across 38.2 innings of relief this season at Triple-A Iowa. He'll likely report to Triple-A Durham.
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Cubs' Manuel Rodriguez: Outrighted to Triple-A
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Rodriguez cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday,Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Rodriguez went unclaimed after being designated for assignment on Friday. The right-hander put together a 3.29 ERA over 13.2 innings with an 8:9 K:BB in his limited time with the Cubs in 2022. He'll provide organizational depth in 2023.
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Cubs' Manuel Rodriguez: Cast off 40-man roster
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The Cubs designated Rodriguez for assignment Tuesday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Rodriguez was removed from the 40-man roster to make room for Julian Merryweather, whom the Cubs claimed off waivers from the Blue Jays. The 26-year-old right-hander posted a 3.29 ERA in 14 appearances with the Cubs while registering a 8:9 K:BB over 13.2 innings.
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Cubs' Manuel Rodriguez: Tallies fourth save
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Rodriguez retired the final two batters in Wednesday's 4-2 win over the Phillies to record the save.
Rodriguez now has four saves since getting activated from the injured list on Aug. 26. He's seemingly moved ahead of Rowan Wick in the closer pecking order, though Brandon Hughes is also in the mix from the left side. With seven games left in the season, Rodriguez could squeeze out a little more fantasy value if he sees a few more save chances.
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Cubs' Manuel Rodriguez: Records third save
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Rodriguez picked up the save in Tuesday's 2-1 victory over the Phillies with a clean inning. He did not record a strikeout.
In his first appearance since blowing the save and earning the win against Pittsburgh on Sept. 23, Rodriguez was called upon to pick up the save with a runner on first base in the ninth inning. He delivered by getting J.T. Realmuto to ground into a fielder's choice and Alec Bohm to bounce into the double play to end the game and record his third save of the season. In 12 innings this season, Rodriguez has a 3.00 ERA and is 3-for-5 in save opportunities.
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Cubs' Manuel Rodriguez: Activated from injured list
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Rodriguez (elbow) was activated off the 60-day injured list Friday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Rodriguez looked like he had an outside shot to close games for the Cubs back in March, but he wound up failing to make the Opening Day roster and suffered a strained elbow after making just two minor-league appearances. He's ready to go after allowing one run while striking out 12 batters across six rehab innings and could theoretically move into a high-leverage role in a wide-open Cubs bullpen if his first few appearances go well.
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Cubs' Manuel Rodriguez: Shifts rehab to Triple-A
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Rodriguez (elbow) gave up an earned run on two hits while striking out two in an inning of relief Wednesday in his rehab appearance for Triple-A Iowa.
Rodriguez has been sidelined nearly all season with a right elbow strain, which he developed in mid-April during his second appearance of the 2022 campaign with Iowa. In a procedural move, the Cubs called Rodriguez up June 1 and placed him on the 60-day injured list the same day, so he'll need to be added back to the 40-man roster once his 30-day rehab window ends. Rodriguez started the rehab assignment Aug. 9 and made two appearances in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League before he was transferred to Iowa, so he could remain on the IL until the second week of September.
