MLB
Boston Red Sox free agent attracting Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers show “early interest” in the left-hand free agent starter Eduardo Rodriguez, while the Boston Red Sox intend to keep him.
MLB Network’s Jon Morosi claimed Wednesday that the Detroit Tigers have shown interest in left-handed starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez. He also identified that Rodriguez has a good relationship with the Tigers’ assistant pitching coach, Juan Nieves.
But the Tigers are not the only ones after the lefty.
The Boston Red Sox, Rodriguez’s current team, have already extended him a qualifying offer of $18.4 million for 2022, as well as a multi-year offer.
If Rodriguez decides to decline the offer, Boston will receive a compensation draft pick and the lefty can sign elsewhere.
Interest is growing on Eduardo Rodriguez
Rodriguez is coming off of a tough year as he missed much of the 2020 season due to an inflammation of a heart muscle, myocarditis. Even though his performance in the second half of the season greatly improved, he only went 13-8 with a 4.74 ERA
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Apart from health issues, Rodriguez has been a solid and reliable starter who set career highs in strikeout rate, 10.6 per nine innings, and a career-low walk rate (2.7) in 157 2/3 innings in 2021.
Rodriguez with the Red Sox Pros and Cons
If Rodriguez accepts Boston’s offer, he has an opportunity to perform better as a pitcher and make up for his lost season. He can also improve his market for next year if he enters free agency without a qualifying offer attached.
Should several teams show interest in Rodriguez, the possibility of accepting the qualifying offer decreases as interested teams will not offer less than the $18.4 million on the table.
That being said, if Rodriguez is more interested in locking in more guaranteed money, then holding off this deal will be more appealing to the left-hand starter.
The 28-year-old starter has until Nov. 17 at 5 p.m. to accept or reject the deal.