Rodriguez 'looking forward' to closing for Tigers
The Detroit Tigers have found their closer.
They found him this afternoon, after some contract talks with free agents and a lot of trade talks with different teams, when they acquired veteran right-hander Francisco Rodriguez from the Milwaukee Brewers.
“We felt he gave us a good option,” Tigers general manager Al Avila said in a conference call with reporters. “He has done well the past couple years, and we thought he could continue to do that.”
The Tigers sent infield prospect Javier Betancourt and a player to be named later to Milwaukee. The Tigers also could receive another player in the deal, Avila said, though that part is not finalized.
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Rodriguez is the active major league saves leader, with 386, which ranks seventh all-time. He posted a 2.21 ERA with 38 saves this season.
In his 14-year career, Rodriguez — nicknamed “K-Rod” early in his career with the Angels — has a 2.69 ERA. He is a six-time All-Star with seven seasons of 35 or more saves and immediately bolsters the back end of the Tigers’ bullpen.
“The Tigers have given me this opportunity, and I take it with a lot of pride,” Rodriguez said on the conference call. “It’s something that me and my family are looking forward to.”
The acquisition of Rodriguez -- which was put in place Tuesday, Avila said -- comes cheaper than their top relief target on the free agent market. Joakim Soria will garner a lucrative multiyear contract.
The Tigers had been talking with Soria’s camp but, as of this past weekend, were not on the same page in contract talks.
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Rodriguez is due $7.5 million in 2016, and the team holds a $6-million option for 2017, with a $4-million buyout.
“We felt that Francisco, with his experience, gave us the best option to close games for us this coming year, and it gives us the flexibility to continue to add bullpen pieces,” Avila said. “We felt like it was something we liked, as far as the overall trade. And it was good for both clubs.”
Betancourt, 20, is a second baseman who hit .263 with three home runs and 48 RBIs with Class-A Lakeland this season.
After kicking the tires on top closing options such as righty Craig Kimbrel and left-handers Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller, the Tigers settled on Rodriguez. One of the game’s most proven commodities as closer, Rodriguez is aging — he turns 34 on Jan. 7 — but has evolved his repertoire to rely more on his change-up.
“I got the chance to learn how to pitch,” Rodriguez said. “So that’s a huge benefit, and that’s something that’s working for me now, late in my career. Now I go out there and read hitters, see what they want to do and go by the situation of the game and how you’re going to approach it and attack the hitters.
“That’s something I developed a lot and take a lot of pride in, having the ability to read the situation and just go from there and trust my instincts.”
Rodriguez struck out 62 batters in 57 innings and posted an 0.86 WHIP this season.
He was lauded by Tigers scouts for his ability to lead in the bullpen, Avila said. “We have some young guys, and that’s exactly what we want them to learn,” Avila said. “How to get outs.”
The move likely will allow the Tigers to allocate more money to landing two starting pitchers, which has been the team’s foremost goal this winter.
But pitching as a whole, Avila insisted, and not just the starting rotation or the bullpen, is the team’s focus going forward.
“Our big priority has been pitching and acquiring starting pitching. This is just one move, so we will continue to try to be as diligent as we can in addressing the bullpen,” Avila said. “We’re definitely going to be looking to add more pitching, for sure, and the bullpen is one area.”
Note: Former Tigers outfielder Jacque Jones has been hired by the Washington Nationals as an assistant hitting coach.
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Contact Anthony Fenech: afenech@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @anthonyfenech. The Associated Press contributed.