Braves manager: 'Wandy Rodriguez looks really good'

Though the Atlanta Braves placed an obvious emphasis on getting younger this offseason, it's a 36-year-old left-hander who has impressed manager Fredi Gonzalez through the first few days of spring training.

"Wandy Rodriguez looks really good," Gonzalez told David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution after watching him Tuesday. "He spun some breaking balls."

Rodriguez, who signed a minor-league deal with the Braves in January, will compete this spring for the final spot in Atlanta's rotation, vying for the job with fellow veteran Eric Stults and 23-year-old right-hander Mike Foltynewicz.

A spate of arm injuries have limited Rodriguez to just 18 starts over the last two seasons, though, and the Venezuela native managed an ugly 6.75 ERA over 26 2/3 innings with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2014. 

Gonzalez, however, remains hopeful Rodriguez can at least approximate the success he enjoyed during his halcyon days with the Houston Astros, when he managed a 3.48 ERA (115 ERA+) over 153 starts and one relief appearance from 2008 to 2012.

"Boy, if we could get him back to those Pittsburgh Pirate years, or even Houston Astro years - pretty good fifth starter. He was their ace a couple of years, a guy that made some All-Star teams if I’m not mistaken. And he's a guy that, hitting against him, he’d give you fits."

Gonzalez is mistaken, though, as Rodriguez has not earned an All-Star berth throughout his 10 seasons in the major leagues.