This week’s series between the Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Dodgers featured teams headed in vastly different directions but also linked because of the failed Eduardo Rodriguez trade at the August 1 deadline.
The Dodgers and Tigers reached an agreement on a deal involving Rodriguez, but he refused to waive a limited no-trade clause. The Dodgers were among 10 teams Rodriguez held the right to block a trade to. Rodriguez cited personal and family reasons for his decision.
Months later, he allowed five runs before exiting early because of injury in an eventual 8-3 win for the Dodgers. To some, it could have been taken as an opportunity to exact some revenge.
But the Dodgers did not fault Rodriguez at the time for blocking the trade and still don’t hold any lingering anger.
“Like everybody, I was certainly surprised that he didn’t waive his no-trade to come here to play for a team that’s contending,” manager Dave Roberts said. “But that’s something that was personal to him and I’m sure there was a good reason behind it. I just don’t know that answer.”
Although the Dodgers’ starting rotation has further been upended since their failed pursuit of Rodriguez, Roberts has not allowed his mind to wander toward what could have been.
“No. Not from me,” he said. “I think if a guy doesn’t want to be here for whatever reason, then c’est la vie. It’s all good.”
J.D. Martinez was one of Rodriguez’s former Boston Red Sox teammates who reached out at the deadline, but amidst the buzz, he didn’t receive an immediate response. The All-Star designated hitter hit two homers against Rodriguez, and laughed when asked if that was retribution for not receiving a text back.
“Nah. Everyone makes decisions. Everyone’s got their choices,” Martinez said. “He texted me and apologized for not texting me back and stuff like that. It was a family decision. I get it. He’s got to do what he’s got to do for him. It’s understandable. Obviously we wanted him here, but it is what it is.”
Miguel Rojas echoed much of the same sentiment and further highlighted the Dodgers’ respect of Rodriguez’s decision, understanding that there are more factors than just baseball.
“I just feel like everybody has different reasons and opinions of their own careers, and I respect Eduardo’s opinion and reasons why he didn’t want to come here,” Rojas said. “You have to respect that as a player. You never know what’s going on in his life. We take care of what we can control, which is our clubhouse, and we just move on.”
State of Dodgers starting rotation after Eduardo Rodriguez blocked trade
Without the trade of Rodriguez going through, the Dodgers turned to Lance Lynn and Ryan Yarbrough. The pair have done two things, add experience to a youthful rotation along with an ability to length, and in Yarbrough’s case, versatility.
Although Lynn has tailed off with his strikeout numbers, he’s been able to give the Dodgers a solid run of starts, mainly because of his pitch-to-contact skills which can eat up innings. Yarbrough on the other hand has shown immense development, pitching to the tune of a 2.90 ERA across 31 innings.
Yarbrough is in the discussion for a significant postseason work as the team evaluates how to best deploy the lefty.
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