Carlos Rodón was well aware of the doubts surrounding him; whispers of his decline circulated after a string of injuries, despite being in his twenties. The White Sox decided to part ways with him, opting not to tender a contract.
This fueled Rodón’s determination to prove himself as a dominant left-hander once more, which he accomplished during his time with the Giants, and to eventually show the White Sox what they had lost.
Now 30 years old, Rodón signed a six-year, $162 million contract with the Yankees. When healthy, he is expected to be the number two starter in a rotation featuring Gerrit Cole, Nestor Cortes, and Luis Severino. This massive contract comes on the heels of back-to-back All-Star seasons, a remarkable turnaround after two years marred by elbow surgery in 2019.
Despite a setback with a mild forearm strain that will delay his season start, Rodón remains focused on proving the White Sox wrong. He shared with the Chicago Sun-Times that being non-tendered felt like a slap in the face, even though he wasn’t injured at the time.
Rodón channeled this slight into motivation, which he believes has driven him to where he is today—with the Yankees, a team with perennial postseason ambitions.
Rodón is enthusiastic about being with the Yankees, emphasizing that winning is their top priority. He acknowledges the growth and lessons learned during his time with the White Sox but is ready to demonstrate his value with his new team, aiming to pitch deep into October and beyond.