Tigers' Eduardo Rodriguez explains why he blocked trade to Dodgers
Tigers lefty Eduardo Rodriguez confirmed what had been reported on Tuesday after he nixed a deal that would’ve sent him to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
In essence, the 30-year-old starter said the decision had nothing to do with the Dodgers but instead was made with the best interests of his family in mind.
The Tigers and Dodgers had a deal in place to send the left-hander to Los Angeles, but Rodriguez utilized his 10-team no-trade clause to prevent the trade from happening prior to the MLB trade deadline.
“It’s nothing against the Dodgers or the West Coast or whatever,” Rodriguez told reporters on Wednesday, according to MLB.com’s Jason Beck. “ It’s just about the details to go out there and where my family is. My future is where they’re happy and I’m happy and that’s why I decided to stay here.
“It has nothing to do with the Dodgers.”
Rodriguez is in the middle of a five-year, $72 million deal, but he has an opt-out clause after this season.
Eduardo Rodriguez blocked a trade that would’ve sent him to the Dodgers. Getty Images
Many expect the pitcher to utilize it in order to get a better contract on the open market, possibly setting up the Tigers to lose him for nothing because he is not eligible for a qualifying offer.
This put the Tigers in a position to try and move Rodriguez before Tuesday at 6 p.m.
“We went through all the conversations,” Rodriguez said. “We discussed a couple teams, and ultimately my decision was to stay here, which is the best for me and my family and my future. Everybody was really good about it. They talked to me and I talked to them.”
Eduardo Rodriguez said the veto of the trade “had nothing to do with the Dodgers.” AP
Rodriguez is 7-5 with a 2.96 ERA through 16 starts this season.
He gave up just two runs in six innings in the Tigers’ 6-3 win over the Pirates on Wednesday.
As for what the next move is for the lefty in terms of his contract, he told reporters he did not know.
“If I had a magic ball and I could tell you the future, I’d probably tell you right away,” Rodriguez said. “But right now I’m here. I’m with this organization and I signed here for a long time to stay here. I feel happy with everything.
“My family feels happy in Detroit.”
Source: New York Post
