Eduardo Rodriguez explains why he nixed trade to Dodgers: 'My family feels happy in Detroit'

As the MLB trade deadline came to a close Tuesday, the Los Angeles Dodgers thought they added another talented arm to their rotation. The team was close to acquiring lefty Eduardo Rodriguez from the Detroit Tigers but ran into a pretty significant problem: Rodriguez didn't want to play for the Dodgers.

Rodriguez nixed the deal, opting to stay in Detroit. The decision raised a few eyebrows among fans. The Tigers are 48-60 entering Wednesday and have virtually no chance of making a postseason run. The Dodgers, meanwhile, are 60-45, lead the National League West and have one of the best run differentials in baseball.

Why would Rodriguez stay with a bad team when he could join a World Series contender? He gave some insight into that decision Wednesday, citing his family as one of the reasons he wanted to stay in Detroit.

Rodriguez mentioned his family a couple times Wednesday, adding that they feel "happy in Detroit." He also noted that he holds no ill will toward the Dodgers.

Rodriguez's agent, Gene Mato, released a statement Wednesday explaining Rodriguez desired "stability for his family." Mato said he was given the green light to negotiate with the Dodgers and tried to make a deal work, but said both sides ran out of time before the trade deadline passed.

Since the Dodgers were on Rodriguez's no-trade list, he and Mato also reportedly asked for "financial and contractual enhancements" in exchange for waiving his no-trade clause, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. Those enhancements weren't granted, which is reportedly another reason that Rodriguez invoked his no-trade clause.

Eduardo Rodriguez has limited no-trade clause

Blocking the deal was within Rodriguez's rights as a player. When he signed his five-year, $77 million deal with the Tigers prior to the 2022 MLB season, Rodriguez received a limited no-trade clause as part of his contract. That no-trade clause allowed him to block deals to 10 MLB teams, including the Dodgers.

As for the specific reason Rodriguez said no, well, he doesn't have to be forthcoming about that. It's possible he didn't want to leave his family for a few months and then try to relocate them to Los Angeles. It's also possible he didn't want to pull his kids out of their school so close to the school year starting ... or any other similar personal matter. There are probably multiple reasons Rodriguez valued stability over a new team.

Rodriguez has the ability to opt out of his contract at the end of the 2023 MLB season, and that might have also played a role in the decision. If he's planning to opt out, it's possible he didn't want to spend a few months in Los Angeles before uprooting his life and family again.

Rodriguez did say he believes in what the Tigers are building, and that played a role in his wanting to stick around.

Maybe that will change in a few months and Rodriguez will opt out. At that point, the Tigers could bring him back on a new deal. Based on his comments Wednesday, he appears open to that possibility.

If not, Rodriguez will likely get a multiyear deal from a new team. That will likely require him to move his family, but at least he will be promised more than a few months in his new destination.