Detroit — I’m not smart enough to tell team president Scott Harris how to run the Tigers.
And neither are you.
We all have opinions. We all have “takes.” It’s fun to chop it up and debate all kinds of issues. But, on the topic of trading Eduardo Rodriguez, we all need to stop. Now is not the time. There are too many variables that need to be sorted out between now and the Aug. 1 trade deadline.
Rodriguez, through eight starts, is pitching like a Cy Young contender. He is making $14 million and can opt out of his contract with the Tigers after this season. And, assuming he keeps shoving, he most certainly will opt out. He could, given what the market bore for starting pitchers this past offseason, more than double the $49 million he has left on this deal over the next three years.
That opt-out, which was a prerequisite for Rodriguez signing with Detroit before the 2022 season, is working against the Tigers now, in terms of trade leverage. Teams are less likely to trade valuable Major League-ready players for what essentially could be a three-month rental.
The Tigers have already gone down this road, trying to trade J.D. Martinez, Ian Kinsler, Justin Upton and others.
Another option, of course, is to renegotiate with Rodriguez. Give him more years and more money and bank on him anchoring what could be a strong rotation down the stretch, staying in the division fight, and going forward.
But Rodriguez, as well as he’s pitching, is 30 years old. Even with Miguel Cabrera’s salary coming off the books after this season, and with Michael Lorenzen and Matthew Boyd both on one-year deals, is it prudent to commit another five years and, what, $80 million? $90 million? Would that even be enough?
These are the questions Harris has to wrestle with. And at this stage of the year, there are too many what-ifs to form an intelligent plan of action. All you have are scenarios.
What if the Tigers are still hovering around .500 and in contention as July winds down? Knowing that lefty Tarik Skubal — if he’s not already back by then — could be back soon. Does that hasten a new contract for Rodriguez? Does that hasten a trade?
What if contending teams like the Mets, Braves and Cardinals — all of whom have serious issues with their starting rotation right now — become desperate as July wanes? Suddenly, the Tigers’ trade leverage could improve.
What if the Tigers fade from contention? The pressure to move Rodriguez would seemingly intensify, again weakening their bargaining power.
What if Rodriguez fades? Do the Tigers then just hold their cards and bank on him picking up his option?
There’s just too much baseball to be played between now and the deadline. Rodriguez has roughly 15 starts left before then. We’ve seen major landscape changes occur in much smaller spans of time.
Tigers manager AJ Hinch has been vigilant about keeping issues like this out of the clubhouse and off his players’ radar. Rodriguez, too, has steadfastly limited his public commentary to his and the team’s performance.
It’s clear that he is comfortable here, that he likes it here. Unlike last season, when he was dealing with personal issues and seemed aloof — to media and teammates — he’s fully engaged now. Hinch several times has praised him for his behind-the-scenes mentoring of several of the young pitchers — Joey Wentz most prominent among them.
Rodriguez has also praised the Tigers and especially Hinch for having his back last season and supporting him through his leave of absence.
But, know this: None of that will matter when it comes to opting-out or opting-in after the season. That will be a straight, unemotional business decision. His objective will be to get the best deal for him and his family.
It will be the same for Harris. When it comes to deciding whether to trade Rodriguez or renegotiate his deal, emotions won’t play a role. His task is to make the best deal for the Tigers.
For now, though, let’s set this topic aside and try to enjoy the performance. There will be plenty of time to sweat this stuff later in the summer.
Twitter: @cmccosky