Eduardo Rodríguez has a new home with the Detroit Tigers. The 28-year old will ink a five-year deal worth at least $77 million. Furthermore, the contract comes with a no-trade clause and performance bonuses. There’s a guarantee of $28 million in the first two years of his contract with $49 million left on the deal in the final three years. Meanwhile, the Boston Red Sox tendered Rodríguez a qualifying offer to no avail. However, they will receive a draft pick compensation in exchange for losing him to free agency. On the other hand, the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Angels were among the teams who inquired about the left-handed starter.
Left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez and the Detroit Tigers are in agreement on a five-year deal with between $77 million and $80 million, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 15, 2021
After missing all of 2020 with COVID-related myocarditis, Rodríguez went 13-8 with a 4.47 ERA in 31 starts. He was Boston’s best starter in 2019, finishing sixth in the AL Cy Young voting courtesy of a 19-6 record with a 3.81 ERA and a career-best 213 strikeouts. A member of the 2018 World Series champion team, he spent all six seasons for Boston after making his big league debut in 2015. He was 64-39 with a 4.19 ERA and 892 strikeouts. Baltimore signed the Venezuelan in 2010 and was dealt to the Red Sox in 2014.
Rodríguez now joins an up-and-coming Tigers rotation that features the likes of Casey Mize, Tarik Skubal, and Matt Manning. Detroit was in the market to acquire an established starting pitcher, and they got their guy in Rodríguez. As a result, the Tigers will certainly be on the hunt to add another starter to compliment the rotation. They will likely sign one at a low contract price. As it stands, Rodríguez is the Tigers’ most established starting. He reunites with Juan Nieves, the former Red Sox pitching coach who is now the assistant pitching coach in Detroit.
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