Arthur Rhodes
Encyclopedia
Arthur Lee Rhodes, Jr. (born October 24, 1969 in Waco, Texas
) is a Major League Baseball
left-handed
relief pitcher
.
. He was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles
in the 2nd round of the 1988 Major League Baseball Draft
.
Rhodes made his MLB debut with the Orioles in 1991. Rhodes spent 12 years in the Baltimore Orioles organization before being granted free agency after the 1999 season. After signing and playing with the Seattle Mariners
for four years, Rhodes signed a contract with the Oakland Athletics
.
As a member of the Athletics, manager Ken Macha
tried to use him as a closer
. However, Rhodes' performance was not strong enough to earn him the job as a closer, and he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates
along with Mark Redman
and cash for Jason Kendall
and cash after one season with the Athletics. In the same offseason, he was traded to the Cleveland Indians
for Matt Lawton
and became their top setup man. On January 27, , he was acquired by the Philadelphia Phillies
from the Indians in a trade for outfielder
Jason Michaels
.
On January 24, 2007, Rhodes was signed to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training
by the Mariners. Rhodes underwent Tommy John surgery
and missed the entire 2007 season as a result. He became a free agent after the season.
On January 15, 2008, he re-signed with the Seattle Mariners to a minor league deal, and was invited to Spring Training
. He did not make the team to start the season, but on April 14, he was added to the active roster.
On July 31, , Rhodes was traded to the Florida Marlins in exchange for pitching prospect Gaby Hernandez
.
On December 12, 2008, Rhodes signed a two-year deal with the Cincinnati Reds
. On June 29, 2010, Rhodes had a major league record tying streak of 33 scoreless appearances broken by Raúl Ibáñez
of the Phillies.
On December 23, 2010 Rhodes signed a one year deal with the Texas Rangers, with a vesting option for 2012. He was later designated for assignment on August 2, 2011. On August 8, 2011, Rhodes was released by the Texas Rangers. On August 11, 2011 he signed with the St Louis Cardinals. Given the late signing, the Rangers will have to pay the majority of Rhodes' salary, with the Cardinals only responsible for a pro-rated league minimum for the remainder of the year.
Through 2011, Rhodes was 2nd of all active pitchers in games played (900), and 7th in hits per 9 IP (7.828) and strikeouts per 9 IP (8.730). While he had been the 10th-youngest player in the AL when he was a rookie in 1991, in 2011 he was the third-oldest player in the AL.
Because the Cardinals and Rangers faced each other in the World Series, this created a unique situation, with the Rangers paying the majority of a salary to a player who will be trying to beat them for the championship. Rhodes was also eligible to receive a championship ring, regardless of who wins the title.
Waco, Texas
Waco is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas. Situated along the Brazos River and on the I-35 corridor, halfway between Dallas and Austin, it is the economic, cultural, and academic center of the 'Heart of Texas' region....
) is a Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
.
Career
Rhodes played high school baseball at La Vega High School in Waco, TexasWaco, Texas
Waco is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas. Situated along the Brazos River and on the I-35 corridor, halfway between Dallas and Austin, it is the economic, cultural, and academic center of the 'Heart of Texas' region....
. He was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
in the 2nd round of the 1988 Major League Baseball Draft
1988 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1988 Major League Baseball draft.-Supplemental First Round Selections:-External links:*...
.
Rhodes made his MLB debut with the Orioles in 1991. Rhodes spent 12 years in the Baltimore Orioles organization before being granted free agency after the 1999 season. After signing and playing with the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
for four years, Rhodes signed a contract with the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
.
As a member of the Athletics, manager Ken Macha
Ken Macha
Kenneth Edward Macha is a former Major League Baseball third baseman and manager. During an 8-year managing career, he managed the Oakland Athletics , whom he guided to the American League's Western Division championship in both his first and final seasons with the team, and the Milwaukee Brewers...
tried to use him as a closer
Closer (baseball)
In baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer , is a relief pitcher who specializes in closing out games, i.e., getting the final outs in a close game. Closers often appear when the score is close, and the role is often assigned to a team's best reliever. A small number of...
. However, Rhodes' performance was not strong enough to earn him the job as a closer, and he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
along with Mark Redman
Mark Redman
Mark Allen Redman is a retired Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher.-Early career:...
and cash for Jason Kendall
Jason Kendall
Jason Daniel Kendall is an American professional baseball catcher who is a free agent. He is the son of former catcher Fred Kendall, who played in the majors from 1969–1980.-High school:...
and cash after one season with the Athletics. In the same offseason, he was traded to the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
for Matt Lawton
Matt Lawton
Matthew "Matt" Lawton, Jr. is a retired professional baseball whose career spanned 15 seasons, including 12 seasons in Major League Baseball. Lawton, an outfielder, made his major league debut September 5, 1995, with the Minnesota Twins, who signed him four years prior...
and became their top setup man. On January 27, , he was acquired by the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
from the Indians in a trade for outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
Jason Michaels
Jason Michaels
Jason Drew Michaels , nicknamed "J-Mike", is a Major League Baseball outfielder. He is a 1994 graduate of Jesuit High School of Tampa and received an Associate of Arts degree from Okaloosa-Walton Community College in 1996...
.
On January 24, 2007, Rhodes was signed to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
by the Mariners. Rhodes underwent Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery, known in medical practice as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, is a surgical procedure in which a ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body...
and missed the entire 2007 season as a result. He became a free agent after the season.
On January 15, 2008, he re-signed with the Seattle Mariners to a minor league deal, and was invited to Spring Training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
. He did not make the team to start the season, but on April 14, he was added to the active roster.
On July 31, , Rhodes was traded to the Florida Marlins in exchange for pitching prospect Gaby Hernandez
Gaby Hernandez
Gabriel "Gaby" Hernandez is a professional baseball starting pitcher who is currently a free agent. He attended Belen Jesuit High School prior to being drafted in the third round of the 2004 amateur draft by the New York Mets...
.
On December 12, 2008, Rhodes signed a two-year deal with the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. On June 29, 2010, Rhodes had a major league record tying streak of 33 scoreless appearances broken by Raúl Ibáñez
Raúl Ibáñez
Raúl Javier Ibáñez is an American Major League Baseball outfielder.Over his career, Ibáñez, who did not make 500 plate appearances until the age of thirty, has batted .280 with 377 doubles, 252 home runs and 1054 runs batted in over sixteen Major League seasons...
of the Phillies.
On December 23, 2010 Rhodes signed a one year deal with the Texas Rangers, with a vesting option for 2012. He was later designated for assignment on August 2, 2011. On August 8, 2011, Rhodes was released by the Texas Rangers. On August 11, 2011 he signed with the St Louis Cardinals. Given the late signing, the Rangers will have to pay the majority of Rhodes' salary, with the Cardinals only responsible for a pro-rated league minimum for the remainder of the year.
Through 2011, Rhodes was 2nd of all active pitchers in games played (900), and 7th in hits per 9 IP (7.828) and strikeouts per 9 IP (8.730). While he had been the 10th-youngest player in the AL when he was a rookie in 1991, in 2011 he was the third-oldest player in the AL.
Because the Cardinals and Rangers faced each other in the World Series, this created a unique situation, with the Rangers paying the majority of a salary to a player who will be trying to beat them for the championship. Rhodes was also eligible to receive a championship ring, regardless of who wins the title.