Tigers finalizing deal for starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez delivers during the first inning of the team's baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park, Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
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The Detroit Tigers are close to finalizing a deal with left-handed pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez.

The expected agreement is for five years and $77 million, plus the opportunity to earn $3 million in incentives. Rodriguez would be able to opt-out after two seasons.

Rodriguez, a 28-year-old native of Venezuela, set career highs in strikeout rate (10.6 per nine innings) while posting a career-low walk rate (2.7) in 157 2/3 innings for the Boston Red Sox in 2021. With the exception of the 2020 COVID-affected season, he’s started at least 20 games every season for the Red Sox.

Rodriguez will add a veteran presence to a 2022 Tigers’ rotation that is expected to include youngsters Casey Mize, Tarik Skubal and perhaps Matt Manning.

Tigers general manager Al Avila had identified starting pitching as the primary focus of the offseason, perhaps even more important than acquiring a shortstop.

Rodriguez missed the shortened 2020 season with heart inflammation, but threw 169 2/3 innings between the regular season and the playoffs in 2021, easing any concern about his health.

The Red Sox issued Rodriguez a qualifying offer -- a one-year, $18.4 million contract for 2022 -- that Rodriguez rejected in order to pursue multiyear options on the free-agent market.

The Red Sox will receive a compensatory draft pick, while the Tigers will have to surrender their third-highest draft pick in 2022 -- which would be somewhere around 75th overall.

The Red Sox acquired Rodriguez at the trade deadline in 2014 from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for veteran pitcher Andrew Miller.

Miller was a first-round draft pick of the Tigers in 2006 and was part of the trade that sent Miguel Cabrera to Detroit in 2007.

The news was first reported by The Athletic. MLB Network reported that it would be a five-year deal, while ESPN first reported the overall value.

TIGERS’ OFFSEASON MOVES

Additions

Nov. 3: Acquired catcher Tucker Barnhart from the Cincinnati Reds for minor-league infielder Nick Quintana.

Nov. 7: Selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Elvin Rodriguez.

Nov. 15: Signed left-handed pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez to a five-year contract.

Subtractions

Nov. 5: RHP Drew Hutchison and LHP Ian Krol elected free agency after being waived and outrighted to Triple-A Toledo.

Nov. 9: RHP Drew Carlton cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Toledo.

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