Searching for a way to improve their starting rotation as they prepare for another deep playoff run, the Los Angeles Dodgers thought they found a solution with Eduardo Rodriguez. The Detroit Tigers’ ace looked to be headed to LA via trade, but now that deal appears dead.
According to Jeff Passan, a trade sending Rodriguez to the Dodgers was all but complete until he blocked the deal from getting done. Rodriguez has a 10-team no-trade clause on the five-year, $77 million contract signed back in 2021, and he decided to use it to stay away from the Dodgers.
The 30-year-old Venezuelan native rejected a trade out of town due to wanting to stay closer to his family along the east coast. Rodriguez, who was part of the Boston Red Sox team that won the 2018 World Series, is enjoying a career year with the Tigers, posting an ERA of just 2.95 despite playing for a team that sits 6.5 games out of first place in MLB’s worst division entering games today.
The Dodgers lead the NL West by just 2.5 games, but their pitching staff ranks 10th in the NL in ERA. Yet, they were unable to strike another deal before the deadline passed and will stand pat with their current roster.
Related: MLB trade tracker: Live grades, analysis of MLB trades today at 2023 MLB trade deadline