Roughly 24 hours after the MLB lockout mercifully came to an end, the Giants made the first big move in free agency (part two), inking All-Star left-hander Carlos Rodón to a reported two-year, $44 million deal. The 29-year-old has an opt-out clause after the first year, giving him a chance at landing a long-term contract a year from now if he can replicate his success from 2021 (and stay healthy along the way).
The length of the deal and the average annual value should not come as a surprise considering Rodón’s profile. The former No. 3 overall draft pick has always been talented and injury plagued, and last season was no exception. After combining to throw just 42 1/3 innings in 2019 and ‘20, Rodón came out of the gates on fire in 2021. Through his first 16 starts, he struck out 140 batters in 96 2/3 frames, highlighted by a no-hitter in his second start of the season. He reached 100 pitches in eight of those starts, and lasted at least six innings in 10 of them, appearing to have fully ascended to the ace status that seemed to await him coming out of North Carolina State.
But then, unfortunately, the same old tune started to play. Injuries and fatigue limited him to only eight starts the rest of the way. Rodón was still effective—albeit less so than the season’s first half, and in smaller doses. His velocity dipped significantly, and he didn’t reach the 90-pitch threshold or log more than five innings in any of these starts, striking out 45 batters with 10 walks in 36 frames.
