E-Rod working out, has plan for return

DETROIT -- The Tigers have been in touch with Eduardo Rodriguez and have a plan in place for the return of the right-hander, who has been on the restricted list since June 13 while dealing with a personal matter.

“Approximately 10 days ago, he and [manager] A.J. [Hinch] had talked,” general manager Al Avila said Saturday. “Chris Fetter and A.J. have a program for him that he has already started on. He’s right now in south Florida, working out, throwing in a program that Fett has put up for him. They talk on a regular basis, so there’s a program for his return.”

Rodriguez is throwing near his south Florida home; he told Hinch and Fetter that he had been staying in shape during his absence. Once he makes enough throwing progress, he’ll pick up his throwing program at the Tigers’ Spring Training facility in Lakeland, Fla. He’ll pitch in a rehab assignment with Single-A Lakeland and Triple-A Toledo before rejoining the Tigers.

“Timetable is probably around later in August,” Avila said regarding his return.

Rodriguez went on the restricted list after leaving the team to return home to Florida. Neither the Tigers nor Rodriguez have commented on the nature of the personal situation that prompted him to leave the club. He was on the injured list at the time with a rib cage strain, but was close to a return when he left.

Avila said on July 6 that the team had reached out to him but hadn’t heard back. The two sides began talking shortly after that.

“I’ve talked to him a couple times,” said Hinch, who characterized Rodriguez as very upbeat. “Initially when we got back in touch, we were just making sure he was OK, checking on his family. And then the second time was about the throwing program and progression like a Spring Training.

“He’s doing fine, obviously tending to a lot of personal matters and spending time with his kids and getting his kids ready for school. We’ve kind of mapped out what he’s done, what he hasn’t done and where he needs to be by the time he’s going to be ready to pitch at this level. He has to go through another Spring Training.”

Said Avila: “I actually talked to him myself just yesterday. He expressed to me that he’s working hard, his personal situations are being taken care of and at some point he’ll be over that. He’s looking forward to coming back and rejoining the team and helping us win.”

By rule, players who were placed on the restricted list do not receive their salary, nor do they count against the 25- or 40-man rosters. The Tigers signed Rodriguez to a five-year, $77 million contract last November, a deal that includes a player opt-out clause after two seasons.

Those same rules on the restricted list say that the Commissioner must approve any reinstatement of a player after Aug. 1, unless the placement followed a stint on the bereavement, family medical emergency or paternity lists, or resulted from a drug of substance suspension. Avila said Rodriguez will remain on the suspended list until he rejoins the Tigers’ Major League club. Major League Baseball has been keeping tabs on the situation and his potential return.

Avila said the Tigers remain comfortable with the contract, and would anticipate Rodriguez addressing the team when he rejoins the club.

“He’s a good pitcher,” he said. “Obviously we signed him because he’s got a good, long track record of dependability. Unfortunately he’s had a personal issue that he felt he needed to take care of at this point, and so we just have to move on from there.”