Eduardo Rodriguez isn’t planning on motoring out of Motown anytime soon.
The MLB trade deadline might’ve lacked in action and big names in 2023, but the drama was still out in full force. Detroit sits 6.5 games out of the AL Central division lead and 11.5 games out of a Wild Card spot in the American League.
Needless to say, the Tigers likely won’t be playing postseason baseball when the middle of October rolls around. Like any non-contending team would do, Detroit opted to open the phone lines and start selling off their trade chips like a store that’s going out of business.
MORE: Full list of every deal complete from 2023 MLB trade deadline day
Scott Harris, the team’s president of baseball operations, tried to deal his biggest chip, Rodriguez, out west to the Dodgers. Both teams agreed on a framework and all that was left for approval from the starter — who owned a 10-team no-trade clause that included the Dodgers.
The lefty wasn’t having it and vetoed the trade — thus ending Los Angeles’ pursuit and essentially Detroit’s chances of shipping him out of town. Once the deadline came and went, Harris was left to explain an odd situation regarding Rodriguez.
Harris said that some of the terms in Rodriguez’s contract kept the market small.
“We were working with the market that we had,” he explained.
Scott Harris explains the decision to keep Eduardo Rodriguez in Detroit, after he invoked his 10-team no-trade clause that included the Los Angeles Dodgers. #RepDetroit | @FiegerLaw pic.twitter.com/L3ubnJ1mIe
— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) August 1, 2023
Among the sticking points in any potential trade was likely an opt-out clause in Rodriguez’s contract. He still has three years remaining on the contract worth $49 million. Thanks to a strong season in Detroit, it’s considered likely that Rodriguez will opt out and test the open market.
Harris added that they remained in contact with the starter in a variety of ways and said that they reached an agreement that Rodriguez simply wasn’t comfortable with.
“If the consolation prize for not getting that deal is that we get one of the best left-handed starters in baseball on the mound every five nights, sign me up for that,” Harris said. “We’re excited to get Eduardo back. He’s been a very powerful mentor for some of our young starters and he’s gonna give us a great chance to win every five days.”
The Dodgers missed out on acquiring Rodriguez and Justin Verlander at the deadline, with the latter being dealt back to Houston. Instead, they swung a trade for the Royals’ Ryan Yarbrough, who should add some depth to the team’s pitching staff, but lacks the impact that their other targets would’ve made.
As for Rodriguez, he’ll look to finish a strong season after an awkward encounter with the Tigers and hope to cash in this winter. Then, he’ll probably get an extended vacation too.
