The Tigers Attack First By Going Long With Eduardo Rodriguez – The Athletic

NS Many tigers made its first big hit of the Hot Stove season on Monday, agreeing to a five-year deal with Eduardo Rodriguez $77 million is reported, with an average annual value of $15.4 million. It’s a positive contract term for Rodriguez, given his history, but it underestimates his potential as a starter if he has a full and healthy season. in 2022.

Rodriguez is already better in 2021 than a superficial look at his contours might suggest, and that doesn’t give him any credit for coming back from myocarditis. His FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) ratio is just 3.32, much lower than his ERA of 4.74. That’s a function of his unusually high BABIP (.363, when his career worst rate was .317) and the worst rate of his career. His content is still intact, just a fraction of a mile per hour down from 2019 and his hit and walk ratio, two things the pitcher has the most control over, remains as good. often. He works with an above-average fast ball and a plus shift but has never found an average breaking ball. His cutter/slider was his worst pitch of the year last year, accounting for more of the tough contact he gave up than the quick or shifting ball. That throw was much more effective for him before 2020, and it makes sense that it should return to form next year, as the pitch itself was no different last season. He has an above-average starting record, hitting it in 2019 and at least pitching as once upon stellar rate and walking in 2021.