All-Star closer Francisco Rodriguez traded to Tigers

The acquisition of Rodriguez bolsters the back end of the Tigers’ bullpen and eliminates one of their chief concerns heading into the off-season.

Rodriguez is under contract for $5.5 million for 2016 and has a team option worth $6 million for 2017.

The Brewers say they have sent Francisco Rodriguez to Detroit in exchange for infielder Javier Betancourt. Defensively, he’s spent time at second, short, and third.

“We had strong recommendations from our scouts on Frankie”, Avila said. He has 386 career saves in 14 seasons in the majors, including 38 in 2015 and 44 in 2014 with the Brewers. Rodriguez, nicknamed K-Rod, struck out 62 in 57 innings of work and has 1,067 strikeouts in 892 1/3 career innings. Joakim Soria had some success in 2015 with 23 saves and a 2.85 ERA before getting traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates, but the likes of Joe Nathan, Bruce Rondon, Jose Valverde and many others have faltered in the ninth inning over the past few seasons. If the Tigers choose not to keep him for 2017, they’d pay him a $4 million buyout. Last season, he reached the High-A level. According to MLBTradeRumors.com, he finished 2015 as the 11th-ranked prospect in the Detroit system. He played 122 games for the Single A Lakeland Flying Tigers and recorded 129 hits and 48 RBIs to finish with a. 263 batting average.