Eduardo Rodriguez talked to Detroit Tigers' Scott Harris but 'walked away from $49 million'

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The deadline was set for Saturday.

Left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez and shortstop Javier Báez had to inform the Detroit Tigers by Saturday if they were going to exercise the opt-out clause in their multi-year contracts. Both decisions — Rodriguez to opt out, Báez not to opt out — happened as expected.

Rodriguez, who invoked his no-trade clause to nix an agreed-upon trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers at the trade deadline, chose to opt out of the remaining three years, $49 million in his five-year contract, thus becoming a free agent.

Before the opt-out decision, Rodriguez had at least two conversations with Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris.

WELCOME TO DETROIT: Mark Canha reinvented his approach years ago. Now, Tigers think he can help young players

"We had a couple of conversations, Eduardo and I directly, in which we talked about several topics," Harris said Tuesday at the general manager meetings, "including the outlook of our team, how the young players are coming along, his experience as a Tiger, the experiences of other players as Tigers, how his family liked Birmingham."

One source said Friday night that the Tigers were aware of Rodriguez's value and had interest in keeping him.

Both of those things were true, but the Tigers weren't going to offer Rodriguez anything other than the remainder of his contract: three years, $49 million.

"The way his contract is structured, it was his decision," Harris said. "He walked away from the $49 million on Saturday. He's earned that right. We can't fault him for that right. He got it into his contract. But it was his decision, not ours, and he chose to walk away on Saturday."

In the 2023 season, Rodriguez posted a 3.30 ERA with 48 walks (7.7% walk rate) and 143 strikeouts (23% strikeout rate) over 152⅔ innings in 26 starts. He came seven outs away from throwing a perfect game April 23 against the Baltimore Orioles and pitched into the seventh inning in 10 of his starts.

Rodriguez missed 36 days, from May 29 through July 4, with a ruptured pulley in his left index finger. He returned from his finger injury July 5 and registered a 4.24 ERA in his final 15 starts. A month after returning, Rodriguez blocked a trade to the Dodgers and expressed his desire to stay with the Tigers.

"If I had a magic ball and I could tell you the future, I'd probably tell you right away," Rodriguez said Aug. 2, when asked about his opt-out clause one day after the trade deadline. "But right now, I'm here. I'm with this organization and I signed here for a long time to stay here. I feel happy with everything. My family feels happy in Detroit. I feel happy with my teammates and the organization. I'd really love to stay here."

Rodriguez signed a five-year, $77 million contract with the Tigers in November 2021. The contract was structured by then-general manager Al Avila and included an opt-out clause after the second season, as well as a 10-team no-trade clause.

The Tigers will target pitchers throughout the remainder of the offseason, but Harris wouldn't say whether or not the Tigers will negotiate with Rodriguez in free agency.

"I'm in a tough spot on that one," Harris said. "I cannot comment on free agents. I feel like we have our evaluation of him locked in because we got to see it firsthand. I can't really comment on whether we have interest in bringing him back, but I can wish him the best of luck in free agency."

[ MUST LISTEN: Make"Days of Roar" your go-to Detroit Tigers podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts Apple, Spotify) ]

Austin Meadows

Harris has been in contact with outfielder Austin Meadows since the end of the season.

Meadows, 28, spent the end of the 2022 season and almost the entire 2023 season on the injured list with anxiety. The former All-Star slugger has played just 42 games for the Tigers during his two-year tenure, including six games in 2023.

"I intended to reach out to him, and I did," Harris said. "I've talked to him. There's nothing of substance to share."

HIS BROTHER: Tigers' Parker Meadows continues epic start to MLB career: 'It doesn't feel real'

The non-tender deadline is approaching, and by Nov. 17, the Tigers will need to decide whether or not to offer Meadows a contract for the 2024 season.

Meadows is projected for $4.3 million, according to MLB Trade Rumors, in his final year as an arbitration-eligible player. (He also received $4.3 million in 2023.) If the Tigers don't tender him a contract, he will immediately become a free agent.

"Obviously, there's a decision looming in the future," Harris said, "and we're going to have more conversations about that, but there's nothing of substance to share at this point."

Putting Meadows on the restricted list isn't an option, but in the case of a non-tender, he could agree to a minor-league contract. Even then, it remains unclear if Meadows plans to continue his playing career.

Medical update

• Right-hander Casey Mize, who underwent elbow surgery and back surgery in the 2022 season, completed a bullpen session Tuesday at the spring training complex in Lakeland, Florida. He will throw another bullpen session Friday. After that, he will initiate his normal offseason strength and conditioning workouts. The 26-year-old hasn't pitched for the Tigers since April 14, 2022.

"He's throwing in Lakeland right now, and he looks really good," Harris said. "The goal is to get him to a place where he can have a normal offseason and show up to Lakeland ready to go (for spring training). But he feels really good."

• Infielder Nick Maton (left knee arthroscopy) underwent a procedure to fix his left knee discomfort. He has been progressing through his post-operation rehab protocol. The procedure shouldn't hinder his ability to be fully healthy for spring training.

• Infielder Wenceel Pérez (low back inflammation) continues to deal with back issues. He suffered a back injury at the end of the 2022 season and experienced a setback in his recovery process at the beginning of 2023 spring training. The 24-year-old ended up playing 116 games in the 2023 season and advancing to Triple-A Toledo, but after the season, he received a series of injections for his lumbar spine. The Tigers expect him to be ready for spring training in February 2024.

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.

Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on demand at freep.com, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers' Scott Harris, Eduardo Rodriguez spoke before opt out