It’s officially official. The New York Yankees and free agent pitcher Carlos Rodon agreed to a six-year, $162 million contract. Rodon now slots behind Gerritt Cole as the true number 2 starting pitcher in a Yankees rotation that also features Nestor Coretes, Luis Severino and Frankie Montas.
After making their initial off-season splash by re-signing Aaron Judge to a nine-year contract, the Yankees made Rodon their priority since last week’s Winter Meetings in San Diego.
According to ESPN: “Rodon’s deal is the second-largest contract the Yankees have ever given a pitcher in total value, exceeded only by Cole’s $324 million deal in 2019. Rodon gets $1 million more than CC Sabathia’s $161 million deal with the Yankees in 2008.”
The 30-year old left-hander is coming off the best two-year stretch of his career. In 2021 he pitched to a 2.37 ERA in 24 starts for the Chicago White Sox. Last season, Rodon won a career best 14 games, while posting a 2.88 ERA in 31 starts.
Reaction to the news lit up Yankees Twitter.