I-Rod Finally Signs



As expected, Detroit signed catcher Ivan Rodriguez to a 4 year, $40 million deal today , with the team holding an option for a 5th year. As rumored, there is an injury clause in the deal that gives the Tigers the right to void the contract if Pudge goes on the DL for 5 weeks or more with a spinal lumbar injury anytime over the next three seasons.



He's certainly a better receiver than Brad Ausmus. But considering that a 20 game improvement in 2004 would have the Tigers narrowly missing 100 losses, you can rest assured that I-Rod's free agency did not turn out exactly the way he or Scott Boras had planned. On the other hand, if Rodriguez stays healthy and the Tigers progress slowly, there's no reason to think he'll stay in Motown for all 4 years of this deal.

Posted: Mon - February 2, 2004 at 03:50 PM      

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