The trade: The Tigers acquired closer Francisco Rodriguez and a player to be named later from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for minor league second baseman Javier Betancourt and a player to be named later.
The reason: Detroit is a club that has been aggressive in scouring the market for cost-effective pitching -- players who can help round out the starting rotation and bolster a suspect bullpen. Among the most pressing needs for the team heading into free agency was adding a bona fide closer, especially with the lack of strong internal candidates to fulfill the role (Remember the abrupt dismissal of Bruce Rondon, anyone?). The Tigers expressed interest in former closer Joakim Soria -- though a source confirmed to ESPN.com that a formal offer was never made -- but then opted to address the void via trade instead.
The impact: K-Rod, 33, might not be the best closer available -- especially with an increasingly robust market developing since last week's GMs meetings -- but he remains a reliable option to lock down the ninth inning. Though there are two pieces in the deal that have yet to be determined, one MLB scout told ESPN.com he really liked the return for the Tigers, considering they'll get a proven closer for a minor-league second baseman. There are also some who believe Rodriguez has had a renaissance of sorts in Milwaukee. Yes, his fastball velocity has dipped, but he has relied much more on his changeup recently -- according to Fangraphs, he threw it 42.6 percent of the time -- and has found that to be effective. From a cost perspective, he'll come cheaper than other closing options -- he is slated to make $5.5 million next year with a 2017 option and $4 million buyout -- which is essential considering the Tigers still need to add starting pitching and potentially a left fielder in free agency.
