Tigers' Francisco Rodriguez Eyeing 450-Saves Club in 2017

Detroit Tigers closer Francisco Rodriguez has a good shot at joining the 450-saves club during the 2017 season, requiring only 20 more to become just the fourth pitcher in MLB history to reach the career milestone, per MLB.com.

Mariano Rivera, Trevor Hoffman and Lee Smith are the only three relievers to previously amass the at least 450. Rodriguez will not catch either Rivera (652) or Hoffman (601) this year but does stand an outside shot at catching Smith (478) with another phenomenal season, needing 48 to do so.

Rodriguez took on a closer role partway through the 2004 season with the Los Angeles (then Anaheim) Angels and hasn't looked back since. He finished 2004 with just 12 saves, but led the league in the category in three of the next four seasons, converting 45 in 2005, 47 in 2006 and an MLB-record 62 in 2008.

He was removed from the closer role following his trade to the Milwaukee Brewers in 2011 and didn't see a ton of opportunities in 2012 or 2013 behind John Axford. However, he converted 10 in 2013 following Axford's trade to the St. Louis Cardinals and permanently regained the closer role in both 2014 and 2015 with Milwaukee before being dealt to his current team—the Detroit Tigers—prior to last season.

While many closers drop off with age, Rodriguez has remained relatively consistent thanks largely to his changeup—the 35-year-old's best pitch. The veteran hurler posted a respectable 3.24 ERA last season, converting 44 of his 49 save opportunities for the Tigers.

Rodriguez enters 2017 in the final year of his two-year contract with the club, potentially becoming a free agent after the season concludes. While there are no signs he's on the cusp of retirement, the biggest question remaining in his legacy is whether or not he will make it into the Hall of Fame. Former Padres closer Trevor Hoffman missed induction by just five votes this season, per CBS Sports. If Rodriguez continues to prove effective, he should stand a good chance at making it to Cooperstown as well.