Unconfirmed report: Ivan Rodriguez to sign w/ Astros (1 Viewer)

[Eephus]

I assume he signed with some assurances of playing time. Pudge is definitely rosterable in 2C or NL only leagues; I could probably come up with 12 better options in mixed leagues but he'd probably be in the discussion.

Rodriguez should be no worse than neutral in BA, Minute Maid should add a few HRs and he was 10 for 11 in SBs last year.

This should pretty much silence any J.R. Towles=sleeper talk, but is an upgrade for John Baker in Florida.

 

[Colin Dowling]

Where did you see this?

 

[Eephus]

Sorry, should have qualified the source. It's one of those anonymous source tells ESPN.com things, so I wouldn't go and drop Joe Mauer for Pudge just yet.

 

[coolnerd]

linkage (agrees more accurate)

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3985628

Catcher Ivan Rodriguez has agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Houston Astros, a source told ESPN's Steve Phillips on Monday.

Rodriguez can make an additional $1.5 million in performance bonuses.

At the World Baseball Classic, Rodriguez, a 14-time major league All-Star, is hitting .600 (9-for-15) in four games for Puerto Rico.

Rodriguez hit .276 with seven homers and 35 RBIs in 115 games with the Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees last year. He is the only player in baseball history with at least 13 Gold Gloves and a career .300 average or better.

He has three more Gold Gloves, earning one as recently as 2007, than Hall of Famer Johnny Bench and almost double the total of Bob Boone, who is third on the list. Among position players, only Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson has more Gold Glove awards.

Rodriguez has caught 2,173 games, trailing only Carlton Fisk (2,226) and Boone (2,225) in terms of longevity behind the plate.

 

[Spartans Rule]

1.5 million is a pretty good bargain. Even if he hits all his bonuses, 3 million isn't a bad deal.

Looks like Pudge just wants to get out there and play ball.

 

[Toxic Gatorade]

I love this news as an Houstonian. For all the years that we endured Brad "no bat" Ausmus behind our dish, this is a good thing to bring in Pudge. Now Brad was great for our staff, but he carried no stick whatsoever.....yeah he got lucky from time to time, but he was a hole in our lineup.

Pudge, even though he's aged, is an upgrade IMO. His character should fit in great with Berkman, Lee, Tejada, Pence, Oswalt.

Now if we'd just find some pitching under a few rocks............