He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Tampa Bay Rays, Seattle Mariners, Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Miami Marlins, Arizona Diamondbacks, Minnesota Twins, Oakland Athletics, and Washington Nationals.

He spent the 2004 season recovering and failed to make the Tigers' Opening Day roster after 2005 spring training.

Rodney made his Major League debut 2002 at the age of 25 and split his time between the Triple–A Toledo Mud Hens and the Tigers from 2002 to 2005.

In 2005, Rodney became the Tigers closer after Troy Percival went down with an arm injury and his replacement, Kyle Farnsworth, was traded at mid-season to the Atlanta Braves.

When the Tigers signed closer Todd Jones during the 2006 off-season, Rodney was reinserted into a middle relief/setup role.

On July 3, 2006, at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, California, Justin Verlander, Joel Zumaya, and Rodney each threw multiple fastballs clocked in at over 100 mph, becoming the first time in MLB history that three pitchers on the same team had done so during one game.

[4] He was expected to be one of the more valuable closers on the market because as a "Type B" free agent, he would only cost teams a supplementary draft pick.

He filled in April for Angels' closer Brian Fuentes when he went on the disabled list with a strained back.

[9] Three days after the Angels traded Fuentes to the Minnesota Twins on August 27, 2010,[10] it was officially announced that Rodney would be the new closer by manager Mike Scioscia.

In late September 2011, Rodney became frustrated after a lack of relief appearances and asked Angels general manager Tony Reagins for a trade.

His 0.60 earned run average for the season was the lowest by a qualifying relief pitcher in major league history.

[15] During his time with the Rays, Rodney mimed shooting an arrow to high center field after converting a save as his celebration move.

[16] After leading the American League in saves in the first half of the season, Rodney was named as a late addition to the AL All-Star team, taking the spot of David Price (who had pitched the Sunday before the game and thus could not pitch in the actual All-Star Game).

Rodney was unable to continue his success into 2015, carrying a 5–5 record (with 16 saves in 22 opportunities) and a 5.68 ERA before the Mariners designated him for assignment on August 22.

[18] On April 11, 2016, Rodney pitched a scoreless ninth inning to record his first save as a Padre in a win over the Philadelphia Phillies.

Despite going 17-for-17 in save situations and posting a 0.31 ERA for the Padres, Rodney was traded to the Miami Marlins on June 30, 2016, for Chris Paddack.

On September 22, Rodney became the 28th pitcher all-time to record 300 career saves in a victory over the Miami Marlins.

[25] On August 9, 2018, the Twins traded Rodney to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for minor league pitcher Dakota Chalmers.

On March 1, 2021, Rodney signed with the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League for the 2021 season.

On December 29, 2022, Rodney was traded to the Guerreros de Oaxaca in exchange for P Francis Martes, and subsequently loaned to the Diablos Rojos del México for the 2023 season.

"[42] Rodney is also known for celebrating a save by pretending to shoot a bow and arrow toward the sky, usually at a point high over center field.

[43][44] He started the routine while with the Rays after saving a 1–0 ballgame on April 16, 2012, against their rival, the Boston Red Sox.

The infielders would approach the mound to watch Rodney shoot the arrow, and first baseman Carlos Pena would ask him where it had gone, with both theatrically pointing off into the distance as if following its flight.