Two reasons why Diamondbacks should trade Eduardo Rodriguez this summer
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Two reasons why Diamondbacks should trade Eduardo Rodriguez this summer originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Arizona Diamondbacks have been hovering around the Wild Card this season, as they're 2.5 games out with a 41-41 record on the year.
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But, with a little over a month until the MLB trade deadline, the D-Backs might regress a bit and act as sellers later this summer.
If they do, Thomas Harrigan of MLB.com believes they should trade Eduardo Rodriguez. Even though the D-Backs starter, likely to make the All-Star team this year, is under control through 2027, there are two reasons why a trade makes sense this summer.
Two reasons why the D-Backs should trade E-Rod this summer
"Although E-Rod is under contract through 2027, it would be wise for Arizona to capitalize on his rebound season by making him available for trade," Harrigan writes. "... allowing Arizona to get back some young talent and also free up payroll heading into the offseason."
The D-Backs trading Rodriguez would be a huge decision for the team to make, but it might be the right call for the long-term outlook of the franchise.
As Harrigan notes, the haul the Diamondbacks could get for the lefty starter this summer would be massive. His value is very high right now.
He has a 2.27 ERA with 3.3 bWAR and 70 strikeouts in 95 innings this season across 16 starts, with a 186 ERA+ that's more than 50 points higher than his previous best season.
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Even though the Diamondbacks might not want to sell this year, and want to contend, selling this summer might actually be the best thing for this team going forward.
Rodriguez could bring back a massive haul in terms of prospect capital, not to mention the money they would no longer owe the left-hander, being freed up to use on other players in the offseason.
The 33-year-old isn't a likely trade candidate, but between his breakout season, his extra year of club control, this year's deadline being a seller's market, and the interest Rodriguez would draw, moving on from him this summer makes a lot of sense.
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