Tigers’ $6M option on K-Rod looks golden now

National Harbor, Md. — So, how prudent does the $6 million option the Tigers picked up on veteran closer Francisco Rodriguez look now?

The Giants on Monday paid $62 million on a four-year deal for Mark Melancon, generally considered the third-best closer on the market. What might teams have to pay to land Aroldis Chapman or Kenley Jansen?

Tigers general manager Al Avila said Monday that picking up Rodriguez’s option was essentially a no-brainer — regardless of the closers’ market.

“We picked up his option for numerous reasons,” Avila said. “One, to be competitive; we still want to win. And knowing we weren’t going to be in the market for those other guys, not even close, he brought us the most affordable guy who saved a lot of games for us last year. He was one of the best.”

Rodriguez, Major League Baseball’s active saves leader (430) who will turn 35 on Jan. 7, was second in the American League to Orioles closer Zach Britton with 44 saves in 49 attempts last season. On top of that, his leadership in the clubhouse and his mentorship of young relievers, particularly Bruce Rondon, was invaluable.

Avila says Tigers could start 2017 with same gang

“He did a tremendous job for our young players,” Avila said. “And we have other young players coming in Joe Jimenez and Adam Ravenelle, plus the other guys on the team. Sometimes that stuff is a lot of baloney. This was not baloney. It was real.

“This guy took his time to do that for those young guys.”

Avila said he has not made Rodriguez available for trade — not before picking up the option or since. But, he said, that could change before the trade deadline this summer.

“If things were right, if the timing was right, would he be a guy we’d look to trade? Yeah,” Avila said. “A veteran guy in the last year of his contract, there might be a good situation down the road.”

Twitter @cmccosky