Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reports via tweet that the Milwaukee Brewers trade K-Rod to the Tigers. Heyman notes that the Tigers will take over the $9.5 million the closer had on his contract through the 2016 season.
K-Rod is traded to tigers
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) November 18, 2015
ESPN.com claims the Brewers will receive prospect infielder, Javier Betancourt, and a player to be named noting the Tigers will also get a player to be named in addition to K-Rod. Betancourt, 20, played with Class A Lakeland last season, he finished with a .263 batting average and 48 RBIs.
“K-Rod is a perennial All-Star closer, has pitched on a World Series championship team, and is someone who will provide experience at the back end of our bullpen,” Detroit’s general manager Al Avila stated. [ESPN.com]
Rodriguez turns 34 at the start of 2016, and finished 2015’s season with 38 saves out of 40 opportunities. In 57 innings pitched Rodriguez had 62 strikeouts and maintained a 2.21 ERA. Over thirteen seasons in the Major Leagues, K-Rod has accumulated 386 career saves with four different teams. K-Rod’s 386 saves puts him seventh on the all-time saves list, and first among active pitchers. Over his career, Rodriguez has closed out 86% of his total career opportunities.
tigers will absorb $9.5M left on k-rod thru ’16 in the deal (uncluding ’17 buyout). so milw gets savings here.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) November 18, 2015
The Tigers won two AL Central titles in the last three years, however their bullpen has struggled while doing so. The Detroit bullpen averaged a 4.17 ERA, and the team as a whole finished last in the AL Central this past season. The Tigers also declined a $10 million option for Joe Nathan after Nathan struggled in 2014, and was injured for most of 2015.
Katie Strang of ESPN.com expressed that the Tigers were looking for cost effective ways to fix their pitching, including a proven closer. According to Strang, the Tigers had also expressed interest in Joakim Soria although a formal offer was never presented. Rodriguez’s contract does include a $6 million 2017 option, with a $4 million buy out.
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