Marlins Sign Utility IF/OF Sean Rodriguez to a Minor League Contract

Sean Rodriguez has signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins.

According to Jeff Passan at ESPN.COM, utility infielder/outfielder Sean Rodriguez has signed on with the Marlins on a minor league deal.

As a member of the Philadelphia Phillies in 2019, Miami, FL native Rodriguez played every position on the field save catcher. If he makes the Opening Day roster, one can only surmise that it’ll be as a bench option/defensive replacement.

Last season, Rodriguez appeared in a total of 76 games for the Phillies, but only started in 24 of them. He started a dozen times at the hot corner, five times each at shortstop and in left field, and once each at second base and in center field. Despite playing everywhere, he handled 94 defensive chances through the season, and made zero errors.

Rodriguez bats and fields right-handed, and before last season with the Phillies has played with the Tampa Bay Rays (553 games), the Pittsburgh Pirates (384 games), the Los Angeles Angels (71 games), and the Atlanta Braves (15 games).

Last season with the Phils, Rodriguez slashed .223/.348/.375. He’s four years removed from his best offensive season, with the Bucs in 2016. That year, he played in a career-high 140 games and hit .270/.349/.510 with 18 homers and 56 RBI.

Over the course of his soon-to-be 13-season major league career, assuming he makes the final cut, Rodriguez has put together a .228/.300/.378 overall line, with 40 round-trippers, 172 RBI, and 32 stolen bases.

Rodriguez was originally chosen in the third round of the 2003 MLB Amateur Entry Draft by the Anaheim Angels, with the 90th overall selection. Although largely regarded as a space-filler, he’s nevertheless carved out a decent career for himself with 8.8 bWAR, nearly half of which (3.4 dWAR) is a credit to his defensive capabilities.

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Rodriguez likely has an easier path to making the Marlins out of camp due to his limitless utility value. The Marlins already have eight infielders and eight outfielders on the 40-man roster, and another four and five respectively attending camp as non-roster invitees. Although Miami already has several multi-position capable players, including Brian Anderson (3B, RF), Jon Berti (2B, 3B, SS, CF), Miguel Rojas (1B, 2B, 3B, SS), Jonathan Villar (2B, 3B, SS, CF), and Garrett Cooper (1B, RF, LF), Miami would prefer to park them in RF, CF, SS, 3B, and 1B (platoon), respectively.

Of course, if Rodriguez doesn’t make the club on Opening Day, there’s a spot for him with the Triple-A Wichita Wind Surge, in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. From there, he’s just a phone call away in case of injury.