Dodgers News: Andrew Friedman Surprised Eduardo Rodriguez Invoked No-Trade Clause in Deal to LA

Despite the Dodgers not making any more moves for starting pitching at the deadline other than Lance Lynn, it wasn’t for lack of trying for GM Andrew Freidman and company.

According to Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, the team was surprised in Rodriguez’s decision to invoke his no-trade clause and remain in Detroit.

“We didn’t expect it at all,” Friedman said. “We hadn’t known one way or the other. We thought with having a lot of his ex-teammates and guys he’s played with, our place in the standings, I thought we would be very desirable.”

Via Bill Plunkett, Orange County Register

Both Friedman and Dodgers fans alike could agree that they thought Rodriguez would be pitching for the Boys in Blue for the home stretch of the season, but unfortunately Rodriguez had the Dodgers on a list of teams he preferred NOT to play for.

As a result, other options on the market quickly faltered as attempts to trade for Dylan Cease of the White Sox, Jack Flaherty of the Cardinals and James Paxton of the Red Sox all came to pass without a deal made.

Despite the Rodriguez trade faltering, the Dodgers made a few more deals at the deadline after shipping out relievers Adam Kolarek and Phil Bickford to the New York Mets and bringing in another arm in Ryan Yarbrough from the Kansas City Royals.

Rodriguez’s addition to the Dodgers rotation would have provided valuable innings of work to a team that’s been ravaged by injury in their pitching depth thus far this season.

With Walker Buehler still on the shelf in his recovery from Tommy John surgery, Clayton Kershaw’s nagging shoulder issue and Dustin May being out for the season with an elbow injury, Rodriguez would have slid in perfectly to boost the Dodgers pitching depth.

Instead, Rodriguez will continue his excellent season for Detroit where he has started 15 games and accrued a 6-5 record with a sub-3 ERA for the Tigers in a 2.3 WAR campaign.

The Dodgers, left at the altar by Rodriguez, will simply have to proceed with their current core for the final months of the regular season, with the goal of another NL West crown in mind.

Photo Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

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