The Yankees got their top pitching target when they signed Carlos Rodon to a six-year, $162 million deal on Thursday. This has thrilled manager Aaron Boone, who is happy to see his team getting into shape for 2023, and he shared his excitement on Friday.
At the Winter Wonderland festival at Yankee Stadium, Boone talked about Carlos Rodon and how important the star left-handed pitcher was for his team. He told:
“Nothing official yet, of course. But, hopefully, we can get it to the finish line. And, obviously, we’re talking about a really, really talented guy that’s really started putting it together here these last couple of years. Hopefully, he can have a big impact on us.”
“I think he’s become one of the game’s really great pitchers, and he’s shown the last couple of years he’s a top-of-the-rotation guy. Hopefully, he continues to realize that potential. I think over the last couple of years, he’s probably learned a lot about himself and his mechanics. I know he’s made some mechanical changes that have really unlocked him and unleashed him and turned him into the pitcher we’ve seen the last couple of years.”
Last week, Carlos Rodon turned 30. In 2021, for the White Sox, he had a breakout year with 185 strikeouts. In 2022, for the Giants, he had a career-high 237 strikeouts. Gerrit Cole and Nestor Cortes are already leading the rotation for the Yankees while Luis Severino and Frankie Montas have been there to complement with able support. When Carlos Rodon joins the four, New York will have the no. 1 rotation in the MLB.
Last year, the Yankees’ rotation had an ERA of 3.51 making it the fourth-best among 30 MLB teams. Now, Carlos Rodon is taking the place of Jameson Taillon and his 2.67 ERA in 55 starts for the White Sox and Giants over the last two seasons is sure to add to the overall rotation of the Yankees. In the last two seasons, he has struck out 422 times in 310 2/3 innings. That is 12.23 strikeouts per nine innings, which is the most of any pitcher who has thrown at least 200 innings in that time. At 11.78, Cole was third.
Carlos Rodon puts the Yankees rotation on top
Fangraphs now ranks the Yankees rotation as the best in baseball (ahead of the Mets)
Boone told that the Yankees were after the starting pitcher for the last couple of years and Carlo Rodon “had been on our board a lot.” However, he revealed that he didn’t talk to Rodón much when the Yankees were trying to sign the left-handed free agent but had a short discussion with him on Thursday.
Winter Wonderland of the Yankees
Boone was talking about Carlos Rodon while attending the Winter Wonderland event at Yankee Stadium.
Thousands of kids from the area went to the Yankees’ holiday party. Aaron Boone, the manager of the Yankees, joined in to spread holiday cheer. He greeted the kids and helped them choose gifts at the Yankee Stadium Great Hall along the first-base line, which was turned into a Winter Wonderland with lights and decorations.
The Yankees and Walmart worked together to put on the event. This is the fifth year in a row that they have done this, and Walmart gives each child visitor a toy. The concourse was filled with boxes of toys. There were action figures, dolls, stuffed animals, remote-controlled cars, board games, and so much more for kids.
Will Carlos Rodon help the Yankees win a title next season? What do you think? Leave your comment below.
