Report: Bochy, Rangers could poach Rodón from Giants originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
The Texas Rangers are bringing Bruce Bochy back to the MLB dugout as their new manager, the same man who led the Giants to three World Series championships over 13 seasons from 2007-19.
Giants fans have circled Bochy’s return to Oracle Park in August on their 2023 calendars. But the Rangers’ new manager reportedly has one of the same offseason targets circled as his former club.
Per The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly, the Rangers are expected to “make a hard push for left-hander Carlos Rodón.”
Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi has said he anticipates Rodón to opt out of the $22.5 million player option for 2023 and become an unrestricted free agent when the offseason begins.
Rodón and the Giants have a “mutual interest” in working out a long-term deal. But if the Rangers toss a lucrative contract at the lefty, like they did last season by shelling out over a half-billion dollars to infielders Corey Seager and Marcus Semien as well as right-hander Jon Gray, San Francisco’s 2022 ace could be packing his bags for Arlington, Texas.
Rodón, 29, more than proved his worth for an organization to break the bank on a new contract with his dominance in 2022.
In 31 starts for San Francisco, Rodón logged a 14-8 record, 2.88 ERA and led the National League with a 2.25 FIP and 12.0 K/9. Rodón also set a Giants franchise record for most outings with double-digit strikeouts, with 10.
The Giants have most of their rotation filled out for next season. Logan Webb leads the group, followed by Alex Cobb, Alex Wood and Anthony DeSclafani. Jakob Junis proved last season that he can be relied on when called to start. Top pitching prospect Kyle Harrison could debut as well.
Bringing back Rodón, however, would give a deep, veteran rotation a needed All-Star punch.
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San Francisco has big offseason plans that begin with New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, the reigning home run champion. But Zaidi and the front office have put themselves in a position to make multiple big moves, and a Rodón reunion is towards the top of their pitching wish list.
Unless Bochy gets there first.
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