Eduardo Rodriguez never really came close to re-signing with the Red Sox after the Tigers made him a lucrative five-year offer during free agency.
Rodriguez spoke to the media at his introductory press conference on Monday. He noted the difference between the qualifying offer offered by the Red Sox vs. the number offered by the Tigers.
“I’m going to be honest with you,” Rodriguez told a reporter. “Do you prefer $18 [million] or $77 [million]?”
Rodriguez took a small annual discount (his deal will pay roughly $15.5 million per year) for a much higher guaranteed total.