Padres sign Fernando Rodney to 1-year, $2 million deal

The Padres have agreed to a 1-year, $2 million deal with reliever Fernando Rodney, as first reported by Jon Heyman of MLB Network. As reported by Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune, the deal includes a $2 million club option for the 2017 season, with $5 million available in additional incentives.

Rodney is expected to enter spring training as the favorite for the Padres' closer job, according to Heyman. San Diego was looking for a back-end bullpen option after trading Joaquin Benoit to the Mariners in November.

Rodney, 38, is the second bullpen addition of past couple weeks for the Padres, who also added Carlos Villanueva on a 1-year deal. Rodney drew interest from the Blue Jays, Diamondbacks, Cubs at various points during this offseason, but San Diego appears to have been the most persistent suitor.

Rodney is a veteran of 13 major-league seasons with the Tigers (2002-09), Angels (2010-11), Rays (2012-13), Mariners (2014-15) and Cubs (2015), and owns a 3.71 ERA and 236 saves in 700 appearances. He spent last season with the Mariners and Cubs, struggling to a 5.68 ERA in 54 appearances with Seattle before pitching to a strong 0.75 ERA in 12 innings after being traded to the Cubs.