Marlon Byrd and Pudge Rodriguez both decline arbitration, per T.R. Sullivan.
That was expected.
Not expected, though, is the report from Yahoo's Tim Brown that the Washington Nationals have signed Pudge Rodriguez to a 2 year, $6 million deal.
If true, that's baffling. Pudge was a nice insurance policy for the Rangers, if he had accepted arbitration, although I suspect the Rangers weren't interesting in paying him more than $1.5-2 million for one season. He's a decent to solid backup catcher, but not really starting quality anymore.
But the Nats are guaranteeing him $3 million per year for 2 years. I don't get it. I guess they figure he's going to mentor their young pitching staff.
The Rangers will get a supplemental first rounder as a result of Pudge signing elsewhere.
With Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Max Ramirez dealing with injuries last season, and Taylor Teagarden being awful at the plate in 2009, the Rangers are probably going to be on the lookout for a potential alternative behind the plate on a non-roster invite.