The latest development about Eduardo Rodriguez is concerning, to say the least.
The Detroit Tigers placed the left-hander on the restricted list on June 13 after he informed the team he was stepping away due to personal matters.
On Wednesday, Tigers general manager Al Avila revealed that Rodriguez hasn't communicated with the club since.
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"We reached out, but he hasn't reached out back. We're just kind of waiting it out," Avila told reporters, via MLive.com's Evan Woodbery.
"...It is unusual. But we have no choice but to wait and see what develops as we move forward."
Rodriguez, who signed a five-year, $77 million contract with Detroit last winter after six seasons with the Boston Red Sox, has pitched in eight games for the Tigers this season with mixed results. He owns a 1-3 record and a 4.38 ERA and exited his last start on May 18 with a rib injury after allowing three runs in 0.1 innings.
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Rodriguez completed his rehab assignment but told the Tigers he wasn't ready to rejoin the team in mid-June.
The 29-year-old compiled a 65-42 record with a 4.17 ERA over 167 outings for the Red Sox, establishing himself as a reliable option in Boston's rotation. He posted a 3.82 ERA during the Red Sox's World Series campaign in 2018 and followed that up with a career year in 2019 in which he compiled a 19-6 record with a 3.81 ERA over 203.1 innings pitched.
Rodriguez struggled in 2021, however, and Boston elected to let him walk in free agency. Here's hoping he can get back on the field soon for Detroit.