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Veteran Left-Hander Eduardo Rodriguez Could Reportedly Sign During Winter Meetings
Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Free agent starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez is likely to make his decision within the next couple of days, MLB Network's Jon Morosi reported Tuesday morning.

Rodriguez and his representation are present at the annual Winter Meetings in Nashville, meeting with teams and moving rapidly towards a deal. And while many players may be waiting for the Shohei Ohtani shoe to drop, Rodriguez doesn't seem to fall into that bucket.

"I was told, in the last 24 hours, he has had multiple meetings with teams and his decision is getting closer," Morosi said. "In fact, I was told by a source that he could sign even before Shohei Ohtani does."

Despite having three years and $49 million left on his contract with the Detroit Tigers entering this offseason, Rodriguez opted out so he could hit free agency for the second time in three years.

Morosi said that all 30 teams are now on the table for Rodriguez, which wasn't the case when he invoked his no-trade clause to block a deal that would have sent him to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the deadline. The New York Mets are one of the interested parties Morosi brought up, although he alluded towards other suitors who could make stronger pitches.

"Rodriguez is, as I'm told, open to any geographic destination," Morosi said. "The restrictions, such as they were in July, aren't applying right now, so he is open-minded. There were some thoughts and reports that, perhaps, the Mets were involved, but I believe, Lauren, that there are teams that are even more interested than the New York Mets in Rodriguez."

Rodriguez spent seven years with the Boston Red Sox before joining the Tigers in 2022. As he enters his age-31 season, Rodriguez boasts a 82-53 record, 4.03 ERA, 1.292 WHIP, 9.1 strikeouts per nine innings and a 17.6 WAR for his career.

While Rodriguez has never made an All-Star Game, he did place sixth in AL Cy Young voting in 2019. The Venezuelan-born lefty also has a World Series ring, which he won with the Red Sox in 2018.

Rodriguez went 13-9 with a 3.30 ERA, 1.153 WHIP and 3.5 WAR in 2023.

This article first appeared on FanNation Fastball and was syndicated with permission.

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