Detroit Tigers pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez has been having a nice bounce-back season. He’s currently 4-4, an ERA of 2.19, 61 strikeouts, and a FIP of 3.03. Rodriguez has an opt-out clause that he can trigger that voids the final three seasons of his contract with Detroit. Given the Tigers struggles, and the salaries starters are commanding on the open market, Rodriguez is going to opt-out. Knowing this, expect Detroit to be fielding calls at the deadline from teams in need of pitching help. One such team that should inquire about Rodriguez right away is the Baltimore Orioles.
Starting Pitching Is A Need
This season, the Orioles are having a surprisingly good year. They have a record of 33-17 and sit just three games behind the first-place Tampa Bay Rays. However, the one glaring weakness that is holding the Orioles back from being a serious contender is starting pitching. So far this season, the starting rotation has a total ERA of 4.76. Only the Athletics, Reds, Rockies, Royals, Red Sox, Mets, Phillies, Cardinals, and Tigers have worse earned run averages.
The Orioles are doing well because of their prolific offense and bullpen. To have postseason success, having great starting pitching is crucial. Kyle Gibson and Tyler Wells are the only pitchers on the staff who have an ERA lower than four. However, Wells has had trouble keeping the ball in the yard as he’s already given up 13 home runs this season. Their top pitching prospect, Grayson Rodriguez is currently going through lots of rookie struggles.
Rodriguez’s Somewhat Rough Tenure
Since signing a five-year $77 million deal with Detroit, Eduardo Rodriguez’s time with the Tigers has been somewhat tumultuous. During his first season in 2022, Rodriguez suffered a sprained ribcage injury in May and then unexpectedly went on the restricted list. The stint on the restricted list was largely unexplained and was later hinted that it was personal in nature. It would also cause him to not be paid, accrue service time, and be removed from the Tigers 40-man roster. This kept him out until August of that season.
This season, Rodriguez seems to have put his health and personal issues behind him. Despite playing on a rebuilding Tigers team, E-Rod is putting together a solid season. His 2.19 ERA is the third-best in the American League to only Shane McClanahan and Sonny Gray. With Rodriguez about to opt-out of his contract and Detroit rebuilding, this makes him expendable.
It Won’t Take A Highly Valued Prospect And They Should Try To Extend Him
The Orioles still have the best farm system in baseball. They have the prospects to make this trade happen. The only concern about making this trade is that Rodriguez will opt out of his current deal given how high pitcher salaries are these days. However, due to that opt-out clause, the value of the deal would go down. This will mean that Baltimore would be able to give up a less valued prospect than if the clause wasn’t in the deal. If the Orioles do this right, they also have an opportunity to sign him to an extension. There is a lot of unspent money in Baltimore’s cash boxes. Given how needy the Orioles are for starting pitching, it would be wise for them to at least try to sign E-Rod to a longer-term contract.
He Knows The AL East And How To Win
Rodriguez is no stranger to the American League East. Ironically, he was originally signed as an international free agent by the Baltimore Orioles. He spent 3.5 seasons in the Orioles farm system before being traded at the 2014 trade deadline to the Boston Red Sox. With the Red Sox, Rodriguez went 51-39, had an ERA of 4.17, and struck out 892 hitters. He also helped Boston win three straight AL East titles, clinch two Wild Card berths, and a World Series title in 2018. The transition of going from a rebuilding team to a potential playoff contender would be seamless.
If Baltimore Is Serious About Contending They’ll Make This Move
If the Orioles are serious about being a contender again then acquiring Eduardo Rodriguez is the move to make. He knows what it takes to win during the regular season and the playoffs. For a team that is learning how to win, Rodriguez would be a great player to have in the clubhouse and rotation. With Baltimore having so many prospects that can be expended, it’s time for them to get serious about winning.
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