SAN DIEGO -- The Padres, looking for experience at the back end of the bullpen after trading Craig Kimbrel, appear to be inching toward finding a closer.
Jon Heyman reported Friday that the Padres were closing in on signing 38-year-old Fernando Rodney.
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Rodney, who will turn 39 in March, started last season as the Mariners' closer, but he was designated for assignment in August and later traded to the Cubs.
Rodney has notched 236 saves over 13 big league seasons with the Tigers, Rays, Angels, Mariners and Cubs. He led the Majors in saves (48) with Seattle in 2014.
Last season, Rodney had a 5.68 ERA in 50 2/3 innings and 16 saves with Seattle, though he blew six save opportunities.
Rodney was better with the Cubs, albeit in a small sample-size, allowing one run in 12 innings with 15 strikeouts. He allowed two runs in 1 2/3 innings in two playoff games, both coming on a home run by Daniel Murphy of the Mets in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series.
The Padres needed some help and experience for the back end of the bullpen after trading Kimbrel (Red Sox) and Joaquin Benoit (Mariners) earlier in the offseason. The team has also opted to move one of its most successful relievers -- Brandon Maurer -- into the starting rotation.