The Braves are seemingly in the market for a starter. They’ve been connected to Aaron Nola, Sonny Gray, Seth Lugo, and Dylan Cease in some capacity or another. However, a name that hasn’t been brought up since rumors surfaced at last year’s trade deadline — Eduardo Rodriguez.
National insiders and beat reporters collectively believe the Braves have one more big move up their sleeve this offseason, and most believe it will involve a starter of some sort. For multiple reasons, E Rod makes sense.
He finished the 2023 season with the Tigers after completing 152.2 innings and posting a 3.30 ERA with 43 walked batters compared to 148 strikeouts. It was the best campaign of his career, six of which he spent in Boston with the Red Sox.
Rodriguez is a southpaw, which the Braves rotation doesn’t have much of, especially considering many expect Max Fried to walk next offseason. He offers a five-pitch mix — 4-seam fastball (45.4%), cutter (19.3%), changeup (18.9%), sinker (9.3%), and slider (7.2%). Signing him would solidify the rotation for years to come.
Rodriguez opted out of his deal with Detroit that was set to pay him $49 million over three years, so it’s fair to assume he’ll garner more than that on the free agent market. A contract around $75-80 million over four years would be fair for both sides, and a deal could come to fruition sooner rather than later for the 30-year-old
MLB Network’s Jon Morosi is reporting that E Rod could sign with a team during the Winter Meetings in Nashville before they’re over on Wednesday.
"Stay close, stay tuned. (Eduardo) Rodriguez could sign here in Nashville." – @jonmorosi pic.twitter.com/91GOJBIvLv
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) December 5, 2023
Alex Anthopoulos won’t make deals when someone forces his hand, nor will he get into a bidding war for Rodriguez, but he does fit as a free agent target.
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Photographer: Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire
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