In one of those baffling January moves that doesn't seem to be in anyone's best interests, the Detroit Tigers are about to confirm the signing of catcher Ivan Rodriguez to a four-year, $40 million contract. The agreement, according to the Associated Press, is conditional on the now-familiar passing of the physical (a step that one might as well refer to as a "Sirotka").
This is a decision borne of two men's desperation. One, Dave Dombrowski, is so intent on prolonging his employment that he's sinking $10M/year into an aging catcher whose best years are behind him, and whose productivity could fall off the cliff at any time. Dombrowski will be long gone from Motown before this folly expires. The other, Pudge Rodriguez, lost the game of musical chairs being played this chilly off-season, and perhaps suffered the side effects of having Scott Boras as his agent. He will finish his potential Hall of Fame career labouring in obscurity with a dreadful team bereft of runners to drive in and an organization years away from respectability. Worse, as long-suffering Detroit fans finally lose patience in a year or two, Rodriguez will be the high-priced flop who feels their wrath. Pudge has stepped into the path of the bullet Juan Gonzalez dodged.
Ever been to one of those painful weddings of two people who you knew were doomed from the start? Welcome to the reception.
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