MLB Rumors: What would a Tigers-Eduardo Rodriguez contract extension look like?

After he wanted “contract enhancements” to waive his no-trade clause, what might a contract extension for Eduardo Rodriguez from the Tigers look like?

Detroit Tigers pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez made a trade deadline headline when he blocked a trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers, even if the family reasons he cited make sense. The Dodgers were one of the teams he could block a move to, via a limited 10-team no-trade clause in his contract.

Rodriguez’s agent blamed the Tigers for the botched deal, and it’s worth noting Scott Harris is a first-year GM (hired in September of 2022) who did not have a role in the five-year, $77 million deal Rodriguez signed in November of 2021. Still, it’s a basic thing to know the details of all player contracts and the Dodgers were not likely the only team who had interest in the left-hander.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (subscription required) subsequently reported Rodriguez wanted “financial and contractual enhancements” to waive his no-trade clause and facilitate the deal to the Dodgers. More specifically, he essentially wanted an additional year at $20 million.

What would a contract extension between the Tigers and Eduardo Rodriguez look like?

Rodriguez has three years left on the aforementioned five-year deal, with salaries of $18 million (2024), $16 million (2025) and $15 million (2026). He can also opt out after this season, but there are strong indications he likes it in Detroit. However, if he thinks he can get more than $49 million over the next three years, and he probably can, an opt-out would be pretty easy to exercise.

Rodriguez has pitched very well this season, with a 2.96 ERA (3.10 FIP), a 9.2 K/9, a 2.1 BB/9 and 1.7 bWAR over 16 starts (94.1 innings) as he missed time due to a finger injury. His first year with the Tigers, 2022, was marked by an extended absence from the team to deal with a personal issue and he made just 17 starts (4.05 ERA over 91 innings).

Based on Rosenthal’s report, Rodriguez wanted what amounted to $20 million and an extra year tacked on to his contract if the Tigers wanted him to waive his no-trade clause for a trade to the Dodgers. With the Dodgers being willing to foot that extra bill of course.

That would’ve brought Rodriguez’s total over the four years following this one to $69 million, of course, if he declined to opt out according to Rosenthal.

So Rodriguez still holds the cards now regarding a contract extension. If he does not opt out he’s locked in for 2024-2026, through his age-33 season, at a total of $49 million. If he opts out the Tigers could bring him back on a totally new deal, and of course, probably pay him a fair amount more than $49 million from 2024-2026 with years beyond that in said new deal.

Former Tigers general manager Al Avila probably had to include the player’s opt-out two years into the five-year deal to get Rodriguez to sign. But in terms of a pure contract extension that goes beyond 2026, the team will have to wait on Rodriguez’s opt-out decision to see if it’s something they have to fully entertain.

Of course, the Tigers could use their exclusive window to negotiate with Rodriguez over the next couple of months. Perhaps a restructuring, adding the year he wanted while getting him to give up his opt-out clause, will happen. If that’s the direction things go, four years (2024-2027) at a total $75-$80 million is lined up to be a reasonable asking price for Rodriguez.