Top 3 Free Agent Landing Spots for Eduardo Rodriguez

It's official — Detroit Tigers ace starter Eduardo Rogriguez is opting out of the final three years of the 5-year, $77M contract he signed, which would earn him $18M next season, and a tad below that for the following two seasons. He is quite likely to easily beat that three years and $49M on the free agent market. 

The lefty is coming off a great season for the Tigers, posting a 3.30 ERA with a 1.15 WHIP, and a 143:48 strikeout-to-walk ratio. 

Here's the thing: he wants to stay in the East. Per his agent: 

"I negotiated a no-trade clause in his contract for a reason. With all of the money, glamour, and fame that comes with being a professional athlete, there is a very difficult, personal side. 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. They are comfortable living in the Detroit area and have adjusted well."

With that in mind, we have a look at three possible landing spots for E-Rod on the free agent market:

Detroit Tigers

Yes, as mentioned above, an extension with the Tigers at a higher price point than he's leaving behind would probably be his preference. But with the team clearly not yet ready to compete for a playoff spot, how much money and term would they be willing to spend on a pitcher who'll be 31 when the 2024 season begins?

New York Yankees

If Detroit doesn't come to the table with the cash, another Eastern team that could come calling is the New York Yankees. This is a team that's always looking to boost its starting pitching in the offseason, and they're fully aware of what E-Rod can do, having faced him for six years in the AL East division. 

Which brings us to...

Boston Red Sox

Rodriguez spent the first half-dozen years of his career in Beantown, and maybe the team is now regretting having let him walk after the 2021 season. They are in dire need of upgrading their starting staff, which was their main downfall in the 2023 season. Plus, the GM who didn't want to re-sign him back then, Chaim Bloom, is no longer in Boston.

A Red Sox reunion could be in the cards for E-Rod. 

Photo: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports