*Photo from True Blue LA*
Another starting pitcher has come off the market. LHP Eduardo Rodriguez and the Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to a 4 year, $80 million contract, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. The team has confirmed the addition.
Rodriguez's contract pays him $14 million in year one, $20 million in year two, $21 million in year 3, and $19 million in the last year. There is a vesting option for a 5th year that triggers at 150 innings pitched in 2027. That option is worth $17 million with a $6 million buyout. Rodriguez also gets a 10 team no trade clause.
At the end of the season, Rodriguez opted out of the final 3 years and $49 million left on his contract with the Detroit Tigers. His new contract represents a significant pay bump and he slots in as one of Arizona's top 3 starting pitchers.
Last season was Rodriguez's second year with the Tigers after signing there in free agency ahead of 2022. He ended the year with a 3.30 ERA, 3.66 FIP, and 1.153 WHIP, averaging 2.8 walks per 9 innings over 152 2/3 innings and 26 starts.
During his career, Rodriguez has dealt with injuries plenty, having spent time on the IL with rib, elbow, finger, back, ankle, and knee injuries. He missed the entire 2020 season with Myocarditis after a bout with Covid-19. In 2019, his one completely healthy season, Rodriguez finished in 6th place in voting for the AL Cy Young.
Rodriguez has played for the Red Sox for 6 years and the Tigers for two, debuting in 2015. He has a 4.03 ERA, 1.292 WHIP, and 3.85 FIP to his name, averaging 3.1 walks per 9 and 9.1 strikeouts per 9. He has made 196 starts and 6 relief appearances while throwing 1,100 1/3 innings. He has a 6.35 ERA and 1.059 WHIP in 22 2/3 innings across 4 starts and 7 relief appearances in the playoffs.
Last season, Rodriguez had a 23 percent strikeout rate and 7.7 percent walk rate were both better than career norms for the lefty. His expected ERA, however, was at 4.04, more than half a run higher than his 3.30 actual ERA. A 7.5 percent barrel rate and 38.5 percent hard hit rate were both higher than 2022.
Rodriguez joins Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly at the top of the D-Backs rotation as they come off a run to the World Series. The last two spots in the rotation will go to some combination of Brandon Pfaadt, Ryne Nelson, Tommy Henry, and Slade Cecconi.
Comments
Post a Comment