Heading into the offseason the Los Angeles Dodgers figured to focus on starting pitching in addition to what was expected to be an all-out pursuit to sign Shohei Ohtani.
The Dodgers checked off the first box by signing Ohtani to a record-breaking 10-year, $700 million contract. Ohtani’s deal includes $680 million in deferred salary, which is affording the Dodgers more financial flexibility to continue pursuing other additions.
L.A. has most prominently been linked to a potential Tyler Glasnow trade, and are said to be among the favorites in the running to sign Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Dylan Cease and Corbin Burnes could be trade targets as well.
One starting pitcher the Dodgers reportedly did not consider in free agency was Eduardo Rodriguez, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post:
Interesting that Eduardo Rodriguez got another 10-team no-trade clause from Arizona after he used they very clause to block the Dodgers at the deadline. LA didn’t pursue E-Rod this time.
Rodriguez became a free agent this winter by opting of the remaining three years and $49 million on his contract with the Detroit Tigers. He went on to sign with the Arizona Diamondbacks for four years and $80 million.
Rodriguez’s contract with the Diamondbacks includes a $6 million buyout for a mutual/vesting option for 2028. The option vests if the left-hander throws 150 innings in 2027, or a combined 300 from 2026-207.
Rodriguez’s contract option would vest at an $18 million salary if he reaches 175 innings pitched in 2027, or 350 from 2026-2027.
Furthermore, Rodriguez obtained another no-trade list that contains 10 teams, which he had with the Tigers and used to block a deal to the Dodgers at the 2023 deadline.
Eduardo Rodriguez was willing to sign with Dodgers
Although Rodriguez blocked a trade to the Dodgers, he reportedly was open to signing with them in free agency.
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