This week Cardinals gained a clearer idea of what adding an established mid-level starting pitching help will cost in this marketplace.
It will cost a lot.
Many teams are looking for pitching help. Many also-rans seem ready to spend real money after taking beatings in the 2021 campaign.
The Tigers moved aggressively to sign free-agent starter Eduardo Rodriguez away from the Boston Red Sox for $77 million over five years – with an opt-out cause after Year 2 of the deal.
Rodriguez went 13-8 with a 4.74 earned-run average. While that might not scream “upgrade” to casual fans, several factors made him attractive to bidders:
- He is one of the better lefties on the market.