The Dodgers and the Tigers had a deal in place that would have sent Eduardo Rodriguez to Los Angeles, but the Detroit pitcher used his limited no-trade clause to block the deal from happening.
It seemed like a questionable move for the former Red Sox lefty, who would have joined a bevy of his former Boston teammates had he OK’d the trade to the Dodgers. LA is also in a postseason spot, while the Tigers are on the outside looking in.
But Rodriguez’s agent, Gene Mato, released a statement Wednesday explaining the decision.
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“I negotiated a no-trade clause in his contract for a reason. With all the money, glamour and fame that comes with being a professional athlete there is also a very difficult, personal side,” Mato said in the statement. “Many players’ wives and their children suffer a lot of instability in their lives, especially when their spouses get traded. I do not take that lightly.
“Eduardo is one of the best left-handed starting pitchers in baseball but he is also a human being who wants stability for his family,” he continued. “They are comfortable living in the Detroit area and have adjusted well.
“As for the Dodgers in particular, once I was granted permission to speak with them regarding the trade, we did our best to come up with a way to make it happen where everyone was comfortable with the outcome,” Mato concluded. “Unfortunately, we just ran out of time.”
Rodriguez signed with the Tigers ahead of the 2022 season. He has an opt-out in his deal that he could utilize after this season and become a free agent.
The southpaw was on the mound for the Tigers on Wednesday and tossed seven innings with five strikeouts in Detroit’s 6-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Rodriguez also allowed two earned runs on seven hits and walked one batter.
He told reporters after the game that him nixing the trade had “nothing to do with the Dodgers,” and that he and his family were happy in Detroit.
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Rodriguez is 7-5 on the season with a 2.96 ERA.
