PITTSBURGH — Eduardo Rodriguez laid on the floor in front of his locker, scrolling on his phone, going through his pregame stretching, laughing and chatting with Javier Báez. Even as Rodriguez’s name appeared on MLB Network on the television screen above him, this was business as usual.
That was the scene pregame Wednesday in Pittsburgh, and it has been the scene much of this season with Rodriguez. The 30-year-old left-hander has become known for unwavering consistency in his routine, his performance and his demeanor. Watch Rodriguez in the heat of the moment, and he often maintains a sense of calm. Watch Rodriguez as his name was at the center of the baseball world, and not much seemed different.
So Rodriguez took the ball Wednesday, one day after he invoked his 10-team no-trade clause and nixed a deadline trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Rodriguez threw six innings, weaving out of trouble and surrendering only two runs as the Detroit Tigers defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Postgame, Rodriguez kept a familiar stoic tone as he discussed what happened Tuesday for the first time publicly. With cameras and recorders rolling, Rodriguez faced the music and listened to the questions. He did not divulge details on whether his reasoning for blocking the trade to the Dodgers was personal, financial or some combination of both. He made clear the decision had nothing to do with the Dodgers or LA and more to do with what he viewed as the best choice for his family.
Mostly, though, he stuck to some version of what seemed like a coached line: “The details of the trade (weren’t) where I wanted for me and my family. I decided to stay here in Detroit.”
If there was anything notable about Rodriguez’s brief postgame session with reporters, it was the fact he mentioned more than once a desire to stay in Detroit beyond this season.
“I made the start with the Tigers,” Rodriguez said. “I’m still here, and I’m going to be here for a long time.”
Perhaps that was merely talk. Rodriguez can opt out of his current deal, one that pays him $49 million over the next three seasons, at the end of this year. He could likely command more years and more money in free agency. But Rodriguez has been saying for a while he is happy in Detroit.
“If I had a magic ball and I could tell you what was gonna happen in the future, I’d probably tell you right away,” Rodriguez said. “But right now I’m here, I’m with this organization. I’m signed here for a long time. I feel happy with everything. My family feels happy in Detroit. I feel happy with the teammates and everything, the organization. I’d really love to stay here, and that’s why I made that decision.”
But as this saga wears on, it might be worth examining from a different angle. Is an E-Rod extension really in the best interests of the Tigers?
Tuesday, after president of baseball operations Scott Harris failed to move his biggest trade asset in Rodriguez, an attempt at an extension seemed from the outside like a logical conclusion, the only way for the Tigers to avoid losing their lefty ace for nothing.
“We have had conversations throughout the year with Eduardo directly,” Harris said Tuesday. “None that I can really share on this call out of respect for Eduardo. But he sent a very strong message that he likes it here, and we want players to like it here in Detroit and want to stay here, and he demonstrated that.”
Tigers president of baseball ops Scott Harris. (Mike Carlson / MLB Photos via Getty Images)
As far as Tuesday’s drama goes, the Tigers agreed to a deal with a team Rodriguez had on his no-trade list and failed to find another suitable deal. That’s ultimately on the front office. But the Tigers were under the impression Rodriguez was going to be willing to waive his no-trade clause. Whatever got lost in translation hurt both the Tigers and the Dodgers and left no one looking good.
“We went through all the conversations and everything, we discussed a couple things, and at the end of the day my decision was to stay here,” Rodriguez said. “Everybody was really good (about) it. They talked to me, I talked to them, but at the end of the day I decided to stay here, which was the best for me and my family and my future.”
Now, what is Rodriguez worth going forward? That is what the Tigers must now weigh.
At 31, he has only surpassed 150 innings twice in his major-league career. He missed a month with an injury to his right index finger earlier this season, and though he seemed to recover quickly, he has never been known for durability. Even before his midsummer absence last year for personal reasons, he spent time on the IL with a left ribcage sprain. Rodriguez has been clear of major arm trouble during his time in the major leagues, something that works in his favor. He picked up his seventh win of the season Sunday and has a 2.96 ERA in 2023; he also has a 4.05 career ERA, and currently has only two seasons of more than 3 fWAR.
On the personal side, Rodriguez put his team in an awkward position last summer when he left and spent about two months on the restricted list. The Tigers seemed to respect Rodriguez’s need to deal with a marital issue, but there was a point where Rodriguez had no contact with the club.
Rodriguez at his best is a crafty, reliable pitcher who has experience in big postseason games. He is worth a pay raise in free agency. But he is not only the pitcher of such caliber who could be a free agent next season. Aaron Nola, Blake Snell, Julio Urías, Lucas Giolito, Sonny Gray, Jordan Montgomery and Jack Flaherty are all among quality pitchers who will be free agents.
In the event Rodriguez opts into what has become a team-friendly deal, the Tigers would surely be thrilled. Even after Tuesday, the relationship between Rodriguez and the organization seems healthy. But Rodriguez choosing not to exercise his opt out only makes business sense in the event of an injury or a terrible final two months of the season.
It’s more likely the Tigers could attempt to restructure Rodriguez’s contract, adding more years and more money.
But just because the Tigers failed to trade Rodriguez does not mean they have to extend him. Rodriguez at 3 years and $49 million may sound great. Rodriguez at, say, 5 years and $100 million isn’t a lock to be worth it, especially for a still-building team such as the Tigers.
Losing Rodriguez for nothing would hurt. Signing him to a bad contract simply to make up for it could sting worse.
(Photo of Rodriguez: Charles LeClaire / USA TODAY)
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