Two former All-Stars were released on Friday. Francisco Rodriguez and Pablo Sandoval were once greats in the majors but now find themselves without a job. Are their careers over, or are they on their way to finding a new home?
Nationals release K-Rod
This marks the second time this season that Rodriguez was released from a team. The Detroit Tigers released the 35-year-old closer. Rodriguez inked a minor league deal with the Nationals before being released. Rodriguez recorded a 7.82 earned run average when he was with the Tigers. His eventual release led to signing with the Nationals.
The former closer pitched in five games in the minor leagues and gave up just one run. However, it was reported that the Nationals had little intent to bring Rodriguez up to the major league level. It's also unknown if Rodriguez exercised his opt-out clause which allowed him to leave on July 12.
Regardless, it's a sad tale for the former great. Rodriguez set the MLB record for saves in a season when he recorded 62 saves in 2008 at the age of 26. After a domestic violence stint, Rodriguez resurrected his career in Milwaukee by becoming an All Star in two straight seasons in 2014 and 2015. Last season, Rodriguez finished with 44 saves for the Tigers.
Now, it's possible that another team could sign him to a minor league contract.
The pitcher still wants to pitch in the majors. If it's the end for Rodriguez, he did have a very successful career as a closer. Rodriguez has 437 career saves which rank him fourth on the all time list.
Red Sox release Sandoval
The former Red Sox third baseman was designated for assignment on Friday. Sandoval will go down as one of the biggest busts in Boston history.
Sandoval signed a five-year, $95 million deal after the 204 season. He was coming off an epic World Series championship run with the Giants by hitting .429 in the World Series. He was just 27 years old with a lot of upsides.
After signing his deal, weight trouble and work ethic dogged Sandoval. In his first season, he hit just .245 and played in 126 games.
Over the course of the last two seasons, Sandoval played in just 35 games, including three in 2016.
Sandoval has a chance to redeem himself somewhere on a minor league deal. He is just 30 years old, but Sandoval has to get a handle on his weight. However, no team is going to sign him to a major league deal. It's a sad story for what was once one of the most beloved players in San Francisco.