A’s exercise option on Rodney
The A’s, otherwise known for their love of youth, are bringing back 41-year-old reliever Fernando Rodney, known for the cap he wears askew and celebratory bow-and-arrow mime when he ends an inning.
The A’s exercised Rodney’s $4.25 million contract option for 2019 on Wednesday rather than letting him go as a free agent.
Despite his age — he turns 42 in March — Rodney still has a high-velocity fastball. The onetime closer with 325 career saves had mixed success in 2018, with a 3.36 ERA but a high 1.46 WHIP in 68 games for the Twins and A’s.
He helped bolster the A’s bullpen upon his Aug. 9 acquisition from Minnesota, but struggled in September (8.