Eduardo Rodriguez is evidently feeling good about his prospects in the free agent market.
According to Jon Heyman, Rodriguez informed the Red Sox last week that he would not be accepting their one-year, $18.4 million qualifying offer. What that means is that if any other team other than Sox sign Rodriguez, Boston will be garnering draft pick compensation.
Living life as a free agent with a qualifying offer attached can oftentimes be a risky proposition considering there is not only the price of doing business financially but also the reality of having to surrender the draft pick.
But, according to MLB.com, Rodriguez's market may be more robust than some anticipated.
While Rodriguez's surface-level numbers from 2021 aren't necessarily eye-popping, there were enough pieces of his puzzle from last season that suggested the lefty is worth an investment. (MLB Trade Rumors projected he would land with a five-year, $70 million deal.)
The 28-year-old Rodriguez made 31 starts for the Red Sox in 2021, finishing with a 4.74 ERA. He did, however, turn in some key postseason performances, including a Game 3 start in the American League Championship Series in which the lefty allowed three runs over six innings.
Some of the free-agent starting pitchers who were also extended a qualifying offer included Noah Syndergaard, Justin Verlander and Robbie Ray. Some who will not cost compensation are Clayton Kershaw, Carlos Rodon, and Jon Gray.