The Tigers announced on Thursday that the club has exercised its 2017 club option for closer Francisco Rodriguez worth $6 million. It’s the final year of what is now a three-year, $17 million contract originally signed with the Brewers in February 2015.
Rodriguez, 34, had a solid season for the Tigers, going 44-for-49 in save chances with a 3.24 ERA and a 52/21 K/BB ratio in 58 1/3 innings. His ERA sat at 2.54 on September 22, but was sent skyrocketing after the right-hander allowed five runs in two-thirds of an inning against the Royals two days later.
The Tigers’ bullpen had been a problem for years, but Rodriguez was able to provide some stability at the back end. Still, the club finished 24th out of 30 teams with an aggregate 4.22 bullpen ERA.