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News and Notes: Blue Jays have interest in Luis Severino

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The Toronto Blue Jays have been linked to a new free agent.

In an article for Sportsnet, Ben Nicholson-Smith reported that the team has an interest in Luis Severino, among the already reported interest in Max Fried, Anthony Santander, and Alex Bregman.

The 30-year-old has spent his entire 10-year Major League Baseball career in New York, spending his first nine seasons with the New York Yankees. After the 2023 season, the right-handed pitcher signed a one-year, $13 million deal with the New York Mets.

It was a good season for Severino in 2024, as he posted a 3.91 ERA and a 4.21 FIP in 182 innings pitched, along with a 21.2 K% and a 7.9 BB%. For his career, Severino has a 3.81 ERA and a 3.82 FIP in 909.1 innings pitched, with a 25.1 K% and a 7.3 BB%.

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It’s worth noting that Severino has pitched over 110 innings just three times in his career. From 2019 until the end of the 2021 season, he pitched just 18 innings due to injury. Early in his career (2017 and 2018), he looked like the next Yankees ace as he had a 3.18 ERA and a 3.01 FIP in 384.2 innings pitched in that time.

Assuming he doesn’t re-sign with the Mets, the team that signs Severino will lose a draft pick, as he declined his qualifying offer from the Mets.

Fernando Rodney signs with the Hamilton Cardinals

In surprising news, relief pitcher Fernando Rodney is making a comeback, as the 47-year-old signed a contract with the Hamilton Cardinals of the Intercounty Baseball League.

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Rodney’s career in the big leagues spanned from 2002 until 2019, playing for the Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Angels, Tampa Bay Rays, Seattle Mariners, Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Miami Marlins, Arizona Diamondbacks, Minnesota Twins, Oakland Athletics, and Washington Nationals, there’s your Immaculate Grid clue.

In his 18-year career, Rodney had a 3.80 ERA and a 3.77 FIP in 933 innings pitched, with a 23.2 K% and an 11.4 BB%, winning a World Series in 2019 and making three All-Star games. Rodney finished with 327 saves, the 19th most in MLB history.

With stats like that, it makes sense why Rodney is on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time in his career.

Brandon Crawford announces his retirement

From one player who won’t call it a career to a retirement. Brandon Crawford announced his retirement on Instagram on Wednesday evening.

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Crawford spent all but 80 plate appearances of his career with the San Francisco Giants, slashing .249/.318/.395 with 147 home runs in 6,318 plate appearances for a 95 wRC+ and a 30.9 fWAR. He spent those final 80 plate appearances with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2024.

With the Giants, he won two World Series in 2012 and 2014 and also was a three-time All-Star in 2015, 2018, and 2021. Defensively, Crawford won three consecutive Gold Gloves from 2015 until 2017 while picking up his fourth in 2021.

The Giants will honour Crawford on April 26 against the Texas Rangers.

As always, you can follow me on Bluesky @ryleydelaney.bsky.social.

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