D-backs To Sign Left-Hander Eduardo Rodriguez
The Diamondbacks have made their free agent splash of the offseason, with ESPN's Jeff Passan reporting that Arizona has signed left-handed pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez to a four-year deal with an average yearly value of $20 million.
Earlier in the week, D-backs general manager Mike Hazen clarified that they were more likely to target a pitcher in free agency as opposed to the trade market. Reports throughout the week backed that up, as the team was linked to free agent right-handers Michael Wacha, Seth Lugo, and Lucas Giolito. The D-backs interest in Rodriguez was reported by Arizona Sports radio host John Gambadoro, even after the New York Post's Jon Heyman reported the left-hander was close to signing and deciding between two teams.
Rodriguez, 30, adds a veteran presence to the rotation to slot in between their top two starters and their young prospects. Coming off a solid year in which he pitched for a 3.30 ERA in 25 starts for the Detroit Tigers, he exercised his player opt-out and hit the free agent market again. That decision proved to be beneficial for the left-hander as he'll receive another year and $31 million. He has familiarity with the D-backs current front office, with Hazen and Rodriguez spending two years together in Boston before the former was hired to oversee Arizona's Baseball Operations.
He'll join a rotation featuring National League Cy Young finalist Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, and Brandon Pfaadt. The fifth spot in the rotation will go towards their young starters, with left-hander Tommy Henry likely having the inside track to win that role next spring. With their key starting pitcher acquisition now taken care of, the team can now focus on getting a right-handed bat to add to their lineup and a backup catcher.
