The public relations explanation for why the Los Angeles Dodgers failed to complete an Eduard Rodriguez trade is that he exercised his no-trade clause because he didn’t want to move to the west coast. However, it seems there was a very different money-related request that sunk the deal.
To the surprise of no one, the Los Angeles Dodgers are again one of the best teams in baseball this season. With just a couple of months left in the 2023 MLB campaign, they have a solid lead in the National League West and seem prime to be a tough out in the playoffs. However, this is not the same Dodgers team as in previous seasons.
Related: MLB power rankings – Ranking all 30 teams following the MLB trade deadline
While LA is a legitimate force in the NL and can bludgeon rivals with their lineup, their starting rotation is not as good as it once was and doesn’t have the look of a championship-level group. That is why trying to acquire players to bolster the staff for the stretch run was a top priority heading into the Aug. 1 MLB trade deadline.
In the week before the deadline, the Dodgers were linked to potential trades for White Sox ace Lucas Giolito, Detroit Tigers All-Star Michael Lorenzen, and New York Mets star Justin Verlander. However, they were unable to land any of them and instead had to settle for veteran pitcher Lance Lynn. Who has struggled mightily in 2023.
Los Angeles Dodgers record (2023): 61-45
Just hours before the 6 PM ET deadline it seemed like Lynn might be the only pitcher LA landed. That was until it was revealed that they were in hot pursuit of talented Tigers starter Eduardo Rodriguez. Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before it was revealed that a potential deal had fallen through after the 30-year-old invoked the no-trade clause he had in his contract.
On Wednesday, Rodriguez claimed in a statement that his preference to live in Detroit and not wanting to uproot his Florida-based family was key in his decision not to join a first-place team in a pennant race. However, on Thursday The Athletic MLB insider Ken Rosenthal reported a very different reason for why Rodriguez stayed in Detroit.
- Eduardo Rodriguez stats (2023): 7-5 record, 2.96 ERA, 1.049 WHIP, 96 SO, 94.1 innings
Rosenthal claims that according to sources briefed on the discussions, Rodriguez and his agent Gene Mato requested “financial and contractual enhancements” to join the Los Angeles Dodgers. When those demands were not granted, he used the clause in his contract that allowed him to block a trade sending him to the Dodgers.