Red Sox: Eduardo Rodriguez thanks Boston in heartfelt Instagram post

Eduardo Rodriguez bids a heartfelt farewell to the Red Sox

Earlier today it was made official, Eduardo Rodriguez is now a member of the Detroit Tigers. The six-year veteran has spent his entire big-league career with the Red Sox after being traded to the organization back in 2014. As the signing became a reality, both Boston and E-Rod would share heartfelt goodbyes to one another via social media.

The Red Sox posted a fantastic video to their social media pages recapping everything Eddie accomplished during his time with the organization. From a roller-coaster result prospect to the workhorse of the starting rotation. From the farm system to a World Series championship. Rodriguez has seen and done it all while calling Fenway Park home, and I for one am sad to see him go.

It may not have always been rainbows and sunshine when he was on the mound but I think we can look back at his time in Boston and remember it fondly. I don’t want to make this sound like we’re mourning a death as that isn’t the case, but I do wish that he and the Red Sox could’ve found a way to make it work. As we know all too well, at the end of the day this is a business and that will more often than not win out in the end.

Eddie took to his Instagram page today to thank the Red Sox, his teammates, and the Fenway Faithful. His post was quick but full of love and totally fits his personality. And of course, he made sure to use a photo where he’s flashing that massive grin while holding the Commissioner’s Trophy.

"“After 7 year with the organization that give me the opportunity that change me and my family life after all the ups and downs I wanna say thank you @redsox for believe in me thank you for all the good memory’s together and especially that World Series ring😎😎to all my teammates that I have the opportunity to play in the same uniform thank you all and to the fans in Boston thank you so much for all the support all this years you always will have a part of my heart from me and my family thank you so much 👊👊👊 with all the love “THEGUALO”"

Yesterday I wrote about his time in Boston and what he’d accomplished while wearing that jersey, so I won’t bore you with those tales again. While the two sides said good-bye to each other today, it feels like more of a “see ya later,” scenario. Why do I think that? I’ll tell ya. You see, the Tigers and Red Sox will once again do battle in 2022 with three games being split between the two cities.

The first round comes in April as the Sox make their way to Comerica Park for what will surely be a blister matchup. I think we all remember their clash this year that saw snow and was cold enough that Martín Pérez lost feeling in his pitching hand. Don’t think I’ll be buying tickets to that series! But I think we can all circle the second series, which sees the Tigers head to Fenway Park at the end of June.

We all know how the Red Sox treat their former players when they make their returns to Fenway. In recent memory, we saw awesome videos for both Brock Holt and Joe Kelly as they made their way back to Boston. I have zero doubts that FSG will roll out the red carpet and make E-Rod’s first time back at Fenway a memorable experience.

Obviously, it’s far too early to begin plotting out where either team will be near the All-Star Game in 2022 but it’s clear that Detroit is willing to spend and we know Boston wants back in the Fall Classic. For all we know, both sides will continue to bolster their rosters this winter and this could be a matchup that is more important than we would’ve guessed before the season.

I said it yesterday, I’ll say it now, and I’ll say it again tomorrow, I’m incredibly happy for Eduardo. He overcame one hell of a battle with COVID and then myocarditis to have a strong season that more than earned him his new deal.

He went from the bottom of the rotation to the most dependable arm on the roster in 2019 when the Red Sox needed him the most. He not only earned but be more than deserved everything coming his way, nothing but best wishes for Eddie Aces in the Motor City.