Ivan Rodriguez was the uniform hand for the Florida Marlins when they won the 2003 World Series.
MLB Baseball NewsIvan Rodriguez was the regular hand for the Florida Marlins when they won the 2003 World Series. A year deferred, he was the spark that turn around the Detroit franchise when nothing wanted to be a Tiger.
The New York Yankees hope he can be a piddling of both during push for the playoffs.
The Yankees learned the 14-time All-Star from the Tigers on Wednesday for hard-throwing Kyle Farnsworth, a trade that chock-a-block manifest for both contenders.
“Honestly, I was shocked by this, but that’s baseball,” Rodriguez said. “Now, I’m just looking overfriendly to playing for the Yankees and maybe I will play against Detroit over in the playoffs.”
In the option year of a $50 truckload deal he signed with the Tigers in February 2004, Rodriguez will try to fill the void in the Yankees’ ensemble created by catcher Jorge Posada’s shoulder injury. Posada had arthroscopic surgery on his true shoulder Wednesday and is out for the period.
The 36-year-old Rodriguez, who has 13 Gold Glove , was .295 with five homers in 82 tournament this time of year.
Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente and Rodriguez are the only three in baseball history with at least 12 Gold Gloves and a calling .300 common or better. Rodriguez has 2,142 sports event, trailing only Carlton Fisk (2,226) and Bob Boone (2,225) in lexis of longevity behind the plate.
“He’s still an everyday guy,” Yankees boss Brian Cashman said. “He’s an improvement in spitefulness of the whole enchilada we’ve got.”
Rodriguez has said he desires to play next time of year and beyond, but for now is focusing solely on ration the Yankees snag Tampa Bay and Boston in the AL East.
“It’s valid to be very electrifying,” he said. “They are in the race and I’m game to do my job.”
Tigers head Dave Dombrowski said the team didn’t want to trade Rodriguez, but had wishes in the bullpen. The two teams began discussing the deal quick Wednesday and had it wrapped up roughly six hours posterior, just as the Yankees were off a 13-3 win over the Orioles.
The Yankees look ahead Rodriguez to join the team on Thursday, when they birth a four-game string against the Los Angeles Angels.
“Pudge has done an outstanding job for us,” Dombrowski told before Detroit played the Cleveland Indians. “I’m sure he was very startled by this, but for him this is a good state. He’s free to New York City, and they are in conflict.”
Scott Boras, Rodriguez’s driving force, said in the Bronx was very appealing to his client.
“Pudge had a no-trade section and he waived it today to go to New York,” Boras told The Associated Press. “Pudge has always wanted to play in New York, and Detroit felt it needed a assistance decanter, so both were able to get what they wanted to some gradation.”
The busy Yankees made following major deal in the week important up to Thursday’s trade target. On Friday, they taught outfielder Xavier Nady and left- Damaso Marte from the Pittsburgh Pirates for four negligible .
The toting of Marte gave the Yankees the choice to deal Farnsworth, who has been an shifting part of their for the past three seasons.
Farnsworth was 1-2 with a 3.65 ERA in 45 competition, and joins a bullpen badly in need of help days after old hand Todd Jones was from the closer role in Detroit.
“It’s always hard, no matter what. Just one of those things you have to deal with,” Farnsworth said in the Yankees’ clubhouse. “I’m accepted someplace they want me, that’s how I look at it.”
Farnsworth for the Tigers for the first four of 2005, compiling a 2.32 ERA in 46 sports before he was traded to the Braves at the swap cutoff date.
Dombrowski said it be up to administrator Jim Leyland to choose where to slot Farnsworth in the . Fernando Rodney, who has one occupation save, is the new closer for the Tigers.
“Kyle was a big part of our bullpen,” Yankees director Joe Girardi said. “It was tough to see him go.”
Inge said he was eager to be getting a casual to fright behind the plate on an everyday basis for the first time since 2003, when he started 98 at catcher. Since then, he’s most of his starts at third base.
“I wan to play every day not matter what thinking, so I’m pumped,” he said. “Did I find out a lot from Pudge? He’s a future Hall of Famer, so viewing him each person better. I’m not Pudge, I’ll just go out and do what I can.”
Tigers Gary Sheffield said the trade made common sense to both sides.
“This is a revelation to inhabitants if they don’t know the situations of the players,” he said. “Both get better by this, and that’s what a trade is supposed to be all nearby.”
Rodriguez in the Tigers’ empty dugout hours before the game and waved over to Indians , who were charming batting routine. He then wiped out back into the lair.
“You talk around a Hall of Fame catcher coming in here,” Girardi said. “He’s the complete box. He can do the whole lot.”
Later in the day, the Yankees traded reliever LaTroy Hawkins to Houston for Class-A infielder Matt Cusick. New York Hawkins for assignment Saturday after acquiring Nady and Marte.
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