I think you've just successfully argued that two arb years of this pitcher should have a whole hell of a lot of market value.MLBTR is projecting Edro's arb salary at $9.5M. Steamer is projecting his WAR at 2.8. Who could we get for significantly less money who would be at least an even bet to produce even half as much value? I mean, for the luvva Pete, MLBTR is predicting 1/$11M for Rick Porcello, and 1/$6M deals for Ivan Nova and Michael Wacha. You really want to save $3M by exchanging Rodriguez for Nova?
I for one am curious as to ownership's changing stance on this issue, as it's not clear what they believe and what they want the league to believe. These are probably two different things. We don't really know what is going to happen this offseason.It's not simply about reducing salary, it's about reducing as much salary as you can while reducing projected win totals as little as you can. Edro is just not a good trim candidate in that regard.
I'm not saying I am eager to dump Rodriguez; I'm saying that Cole/Strasburg are going to cost three to four times ERod's AAV, and require at least 4-6 guaranteed years. EdRo is season by season at a bargain, if he really is a 4 WAR pitcher. He might not get it, but he's an ask of the Corbin 6/140 if he were a FA now, right?
Then, you immediately move to pitchers who have the QO slapped on them, like Wheeler and Odorizzi and Bumgarner, who require twice ERod's AAV for probably three or four guaranteed years, and might not even be better than him going forward.
You don't think we could get a hell of a trade package for him? How large of a gap between arb2/arb3 Realmuto (last winter) and arb2/arb3 Rodriguez?