K-Rod nearing minor-league deal

WASHINGTON — The Nationals are close to completing a minor-league deal with recently released closer Francisco Rodriguez, the Washington Post reported Monday.

Rodriguez, 35, a former World Series star whose 437 career saves rank fourth all-time, lost the closer job with the Tigers when his ERA rose to 7.82.

That the Nationals have interest in the six-time All-Star is not surprising. They are desperate for bullpen help, but always cost-conscious, and Rodriguez will come cheap. He also comes with questions, like whether his high-80s fastball velocity is enough anymore, and why his swing-and-miss rate dropped dramatically this season, from 12 percent last year to 9 percent this year.

Rodriguez’s ratio of home runs to fly balls is nearly double his career average, a statistic that usually corrects much like batting average on balls in play. Several veteran members of the Nationals bullpen — namely Shawn Kelley and Joe Blanton — have fallen victim to similarly high rates this season.

Would manager Dusty Baker like to see Rodriguez in the Nationals bullpen?

“Depends if he’s still K-Rod,” Baker said. “That’s what it boils down to. I would take Sandy Koufax, but he might not be the same Sandy Koufax. So we’ll see. I haven’t seen the reports.”

The expectation is that Rodriguez would begin in Triple-A Syracuse.

If the Nationals complete a deal, they will not have solved the problems of their beleaguered bullpen, nor should they be expected to stop making moves. The Nationals simply will be taking a chance on a proven reliever with October success, hoping he can do it again.