Former Red Sox pitcher Rodriguez signs $77M deal with Tigers

The Detroit Tigers have reportedly signed former Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez to a five-year, $77 million contract, a sign that the Tigers mean business in 2022.

The contract also includes an opt-out after his second year, and provides performance incentives, according to John Heyman of the MLB Network.

Rodriguez rejects Red Sox

The Red Sox offered Rodriguez an $18.4 million contract extension, which he declined. In exchange, Boston will receive a draft pick from Detroit.

The left-hander spent his first MLB six seasons with the Red Sox posting consistent numbers. He recorded his finest season in 2019 with a 3.81 ERA, and was the team’s best starter of the year, finishing sixth in Cy Young Award voting.

He was also part of Boston’s 2018 World Series lineup.

Recovering from covid

Rodriguez was out for the 2020 season due to myocarditis, a heart condition that he developed after contracting covid-19, and spent the whole year recuperating.

The 28-year-old was cleared for action in 2021, pitched 32 games with 31 starts, and went 13-8 with 185 strikeouts and a career-worst 4.74 ERA. Despite this record, he also logged his best FIP at 3.32.

The Fielding Independent Pitching index focuses only on the outcomes that a pitcher can most control, such as strikeouts, unintentional walks, hit-by-pitches, and home runs. It does not include results on balls in play.

Other MLB stories:

Since making his MLB debut in 2015, Rodriguez went 64-39 with a 4.16 ERA in seven seasons with the Red Sox.

Rodriguez is the first major free agent to be signed this offseason, and his addition beefs up the Tigers’ young rotation. The team is expected to make some more big moves in order to become a serious contender next year, following a surprise 77-win record last regular season.

The Athletic first reported that a deal was being struck between the Tigers and Rodriguez.