MLB Rumors: Uncertainty around Eduardo Rodriguez contract extension with Tigers
The Detroit Tigers agreed to trade Eduardo Rodriguez to the Los Angeles Dodgers ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline but were spurned not by the Dodgers, but by Rodriguez. He invoked the 10-team no-trade clause in his contract and ultimately decided to remain with Detroit.
A surprising decision — to fans, and according to Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic, to the Tigers as well. Detroit expected Rodriguez to accept a move to Los Angeles based on internal conversations and the Dodgers' place in the standings, but Rodriguez made the last-second call to stay with the Tigers.
Now he leaves the organization in a tough position. Detroit is far removed from the postseason picture and they were unable to cash in on their best trade asset at the deadline. Rodriguez has three years and $49 million left on his contract, but he can opt out ahead of 2024. One has to imagine he will given his success on the mound this season.
Rodriguez remains open to restructuring his contract and staying in Detroit. It's clear he enjoys it there, having spurned one of the most desirable MLB situations on paper to stay with a Tigers team mid-tank. That said, Detroit now faces the possibility of losing Rodriguez for nothing. Dedicating so much of their pre-deadline time to negotiating with a team Rodriguez held veto power over could come back to bite them.
MLB Rumors: Dallas Keuchel opts out of Twins minor league contract
According to Britt Ghiroli of The Athletic, former Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel has opted out of his contract with the Minnesota Twins. The 35-year-old has been stationed in Triple-A St. Paul and Minnesota now has a couple days to decide whether or not to bring him to the majors, per MLB Trade Rumors.
Keuchel has been dealing in the minors, posting a highly impressive 1.13 ERA and 1.250 WHIP with as many strikeouts as hits in 32 innings pitched. One has to imagine teams around the league are closely monitoring Keuchel's availability given the demand for starting pitching prior to the trade deadline.
Minnesota currently sits 2.0 games above Cleveland for first place in the AL Central. With the Twins looking to carve out a spot in the playoffs, it could behoove them to keep a veteran arm with Keuchel's pedigree in the organization. Both Tyler Mahle and Chris Paddack remain on the 60-day IL, so there's room for Keuchel to contribute in a meaningful way.
Keuchel spent the first seven years of his career with the Astros, winning Cy Young in 2015 and the World Series in 2017. He has bounced around the league since then, never quite reaching the same heights outside a strong 2020 campaign with the White Sox. Still, pitchers with Keuchel's résumé don't pop up on the midseason free agent market very often. Once has to imagine he'd find a new team quickly if the Twins let him go.
MLB Rumors: Braves linked to Padres' Juan Soto
The San Diego Padres let the trade deadline pass without making any big splashes. As San Diego slips further from postseason contention in the NL West, fans will naturally turn their attention toward the future of key pieces like Juan Soto.
With only one year of team control left on his contract, Soto can hit free agency in the winter of 2024 — if he even makes it that far. The Padres were expected to listen to Soto trade offers ahead of the deadline and those conversations should only increase in intensity next season. Especially if the Padres can't climb back into the contenders circle by next August.
With Soto's departure feeling like a matter of when, not if, oddsmakers are busy prognosticating his next MLB home. One team leads the pack right now.
The Braves have the best record in baseball and the most sustainably competitive roster in the MLB. It's hard to imagine Atlanta's current group not competing for many years to come. Adding Soto to the mix — at 24 years old with another decade of prime baseball ahead of him — would verge on unfair.
Soto is splitting .275/.424/.520 at the plate with 22 home runs and 68 RBIs. He has three All-Star appearances, three Silver Sluggers, a batting title, and a world championship under his belt and he's halfway through his fifth MLB season. Soto is a truly special talent and the Braves, with eight All-Stars on the roster, would be piling on their embarrassment of riches with Soto.