Ivan Rodriguez has reached the winter of his illustrious career, but he can't seem to find a team interested in taking on a 40-year-old backup catcher who missed much of last season with an oblique injury.
The Miami Herald reported Monday that the catcher who goes by Pudge would "love to finish his career" with the Marlins, with whom he won a World Series title and NLCS MVP award in 2003. But the Marlins are apparently satisfied with current backup catcher Brett Hayes.
Rodriguez may have a .296 career batting average and more hits than any other catcher, but his days as a marquee player are long gone. His last above-average season was 2007, when he won a Gold Glove award and hit .281 for Detroit. Since then, he has bounced around the league, mostly in a backup role.
Last season, Rodriguez only appeared in 44 games with the Washington Nationals due to injury troubles, though he says those are behind him. "Everything is fine with my health and I feel great mentally," he told the Associated Press on Monday. "I can still play," he added, "but it has been a tough market for veterans."
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The Marlins have certainly tried to lure a number of veteran free agents to Miami, including new additions Jose Reyes, Heath Bell and Mark Buehrle. Additionally, the team missed out on Albert Pujols, CJ Wilson, and Yoenis Cespedes. But those six will all be key contributors to their new teams, not backing up Marlins catcher John Buck.
Hayes, Miami's backup catcher, showed some pop in 2011 (he hit 5 home runs and 9 doubles in 130 at bats), which is apparently enough for Marlins management.
So it looks like Pudge will have to ply his trade elsewhere, or ride into the sunset a year earlier than he would have hoped.
Meanwhile, it appears the Marlins will open Spring Training camp Wednesday without reliever Juan Carlos Oviedo (formerly known as Leo Nunez). Though he has been cleared of all charges related to playing under a false identity, he still needs to gain legal clearance to return to the US.
The Marlins remain confident that he will be on the team's Opening Day roster, but a prolonged absence from Spring Training could put his return in jeopardy.
