The New York Yankees and free-agent pitcher Carlos Rodón have agreed to a six-year, $162 million contract, major-league sources tell The Athletic. Here’s what you need to know:
- Rodón, the best left-handed starter on the market, had a dominant 2022 season with the Giants, posting a 2.88 ERA in a career-high 31 starts and striking out 237 in a career-high 178 innings.
- Shoulder issues limited Rodón to just 23 innings in Chicago’s final 50 games of 2021, and plagued him during the early part of his career.
- Among pitchers with at least 50 starts in the past two years, Rodón is first in strikeout rate, second in OPS against and fourth in ERA.
Scouting report
There’s no doubt Rodón’s injury history carries major risk on a multiyear deal, but that’s not unique in this class. Jacob deGrom is five years older and just returned from a 13-month absence. Justin Verlander is 10 years older and spent two of the past three seasons recovering from elbow surgery. Clayton Kershaw is five years older and hasn’t made 30 starts in a season since 2015.
Rodón is a 30-year-old lefty with a mid-90s fastball and a filthy slider coming off back-to-back Cy Young-caliber seasons, and if anything, he’s been healthier recently than many free-agent starters.
Where will he fit in the rotation?
Rodón should slot in as the Yankees’ No. 2nd starter behind Gerrit Cole. Rodón has been one of the best starting pitchers in baseball for the past two seasons and now gives the Yankees one of the best one-two punches in the sport. The Yankees wanted to add to the depth of their starting pitching and have accomplished that with this signing. Luis Severino and Nestor Cortes figure to be the Nos. 3 and 4 starters for the Yankees while Frankie Montas should be the team’s fifth.
If everyone can stay healthy, the Yankees have an argument for the best rotation in baseball. — Kirschner
Is this a good deal?
The Yankees did not prefer going to a seventh year for Rodón, according to a team source, so in that regard, it’s a win for the team. What’s still unknown is Rodón’s long-term outlook. He has a lengthy injury history and it’s always a concern giving such a long-term deal to a pitcher that has a checkered injury history.
If he can remain healthy and continue producing at the level he has for the past two years, it’s a no-brainer decision for the Yankees who wanted to improve the overall talent of the roster this offseason. — Kirschner
What’s next?
Now that Rodón is signed, focus shifts to how the Yankees will address their left field vacancy. Brian Cashman said the Yankees want to re-sign Andrew Benintendi, who they acquired at this season’s trade deadline. If they can’t bring him back, it could open an every day spot for super utilityman Oswaldo Cabrera, who played left field after Benintendi was lost for the season due to hamate surgery but doesn’t have much professional experience.
They do have interest in Pittsburgh’s Bryan Reynolds, according to a team source, but the price remains exorbitant. They could also explore trades with Arizona, which is likely to move one of their outfielders, Daulton Varsho, Alex Thomas or Jake McCarthy. — Kirschner
Required reading
(Photo: Joe Camporeale / USA Today)
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