Speaking to reporters this afternoon, Detroit general manager Al Avila said the team has not heard from Rodriguez recently (link via Cody Stavenhagen of the Athletic). “We reached out, but obviously he hasn’t backed down. We’re just waiting for it,” Avila said. “It’s unusual, but we have no choice but to wait it out now and see how it develops as we move forward.” Manager AJ Hinch offered a similar report last week. “As far as I know, there was no movement and no communication,” Hinch said at the time. “We know he’s safe, we know he’s home with his kids, we know he’s back in Florida, but it’s been pretty quiet.” As part of an aggressive offseason, the Tigers added Rodríguez to a five-year, $77 million free agent contract last November. The deal also gives the southpaw an opportunity to opt out after the 2023 campaign. He made eight starts through the first two months of the season, working to a 4.38 ERA through 39 innings. Rodríguez landed on the injured list on May 22 with a pectoral strain. He was on a minor league rehab assignment while returning from injury at the time he left the club. Restricted list players don’t get paid, so Rodríguez loses salary for every year he spends away from the team. Avila declined to answer when asked if the Tigers would consider trying to void his contract entirely. “I’m not going to get into that at this point. Obviously this is a situation, it’s a private situation right now on his part. I won’t get into that.”
