Dodgers News: Top Starting Pitcher Target Eduardo Rodriguez Rejects Trade to LA

Top starter for the deadline rejects a trade to the dodgers invoking his no-trade clause.

Eduardo Rodriguez has stopped himself from being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers after invoking his no-trade clause that consisted of 10 teams when signing his new contract with the Tigers.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Detroit Tigers had a trade in place for left-handed starter Eduardo Rodriguez, but Rodriguez invoked his 10-team no-trade clause that included the Dodgers and the deal is now dead, sources tell ESPN.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 1, 2023

After many rumors circulated around Rodriguez and the Dodgers, a nail has been put in the coffin by the trade piece, himself.

The Tigers star pitcher is having a career year spotting a 2.95 ERA in 15 games started. The no-trade clause was put into the starter's contract when signing with Detroit in 2022. 

The Dodgers were a part of the 10 teams that Rodriguez did not want to be traded to. This fact was brought up many times when considering a move to LA. 

The focus is now shifted on focusing on pitchers like Dylan Cease of the Chicago White Soxand Jack Flaherty of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Dylan Cease is a young pitcher with multiple years of club control left. That kind of leverage will most likely put a very high asking price to get the star righty in Los Angeles. Prospects like Bobby Miller, Emmet Sheehan, or Gavin Stone would most likely headline any deal that brings the 27-year-old to Dodgers.

Flaherty burst onto the scene with St. Louis but has been rapidly declining in his peripherals on fastball velocity and spin rate on breaking pitches. He also is a one-year rental that is scheduled to be a free agent this off-season.

The Dodgers are running out of time to make a move for another rotation piece and with this news coming out other teams may bump up their asking price knowing that the Dodgers may be desperate to get another arm in the clubhouse.