MLB rumors: Another star turned down Dodgers, Mets new trade piece, more

Justin Verlander also denied Dodgers with no-trade clause

On trade deadline day, a deal was agreed upon between the Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Dodgers to send Eduardo Rodriguez to LA.

Only, one small, but crucial detail: Rodriguez had a 10-team no-trade clause and did not agree to the deal. That put the kibosh on the transaction and left the Dodgers scrambling.

That story was well publicized on Tuesday, trade deadline day earlier this week, but what wasn’t was the fact that the Dodgers were actually rejected by players with no-trade clauses twice.

Nightengale reports that Justin Verlander, who wound up in Houston reuniting with the Astros, a team he’s won plenty with, also turned the Dodgers down.

"Three-time Cy Young winner Justin Verlander showed no interest in going to LA before choosing to return to the Houston Astros, and Eduardo Rodriguez flatly snubbed them, rejecting his no-trade clause."

Ouch. What a horrible showing for the Dodgers, who are thought to be a premier team that players should be tripping over themselves to get to play for. Not so much anymore.

Rodriguez turned the team down because he wanted to keep from uprooting his family. The Dodgers were one of 10 teams, all thought to be positioned on the West Coast, on his no-trade list.

Meanwhile, Verlander had an outright no-trade clause and waived it to get to Houston. Sounds like the Dodgers couldn’t have gotten the deal done even if they were motivated enough to overpay with the ‘Stros in the running, an organization he knows well and feel comfortable with.