When the New York Yankees secured Carlos Rodon with a substantial six-year, $162 million contract, the expectation was clear – he would be the perfect No. 2 complementing Gerrit Cole. However, the 2023 season unfolded as a stark revelation for the Yankees, underscoring the pressing need for Rodon’s improvement.
In essence, his performance was markedly disappointing.
Yet, to fairly evaluate Rodon’s struggles, one must consider the significant impact of injuries, the primary culprit behind his subpar showing last season.
Heading into the 2024 season, the Yankees’ aspirations hinge on Rodon’s health. If lingering issues persist, it could disrupt New York’s meticulously laid plans.
Such was the weight of Rodon’s challenging year that the Yankees actively pursued several high-caliber arms in the offseason. While their pursuit of pitching talent might have been a priority irrespective of Rodon’s performance, there’s an undeniable correlation between his 2023 struggles and the team’s current strategic approach.
The addition of Marcus Stroman provides a potential alternative for the coveted No. 2 spot in the rotation, injecting competition and depth.
Nevertheless, there exists a plausible scenario where Rodon returns to the ace-caliber form that prompted the Yankees to sign him in the first place.
Thomas Harrigan of MLB.com identifies Rodon as a potential rebound candidate for the upcoming season, emphasizing the team’s reliance on him to fulfill the No. 2 starter role envisioned during his signing. Harrigan notes, “Despite the addition of Stroman, the Yankees need Rodon to be the No. 2 starter they thought they were getting when they signed him on the heels of a spectacular two-year stretch (2.67 ERA, 12.2 K/9) with the White Sox and Giants.”
However, Rodon faces a significant concern – his advanced metrics in the previous season were among the league’s poorest. According to Baseball Savant, he posted figures below the 45th percentile for xERA, K%, BB%, Barrel%, GB%, and xBA. Additionally, his pitching run values and breaking run values languished below the 25th percentile.
The optimistic outlook is that 2023 was an aberration, and Rodon rebounds strongly this year.
For the Yankees, this rekindled hope is pivotal as they strive to clinch their first World Series since 2009. The spotlight is on Rodon’s potential resurgence, a storyline that could significantly shape the team’s fortunes in the upcoming MLB season