The White Sox announced they’ve reinstated Carlos Rodón from the 10-day injured list. He’ll start this afternoon’s game against the Blue Jays. Infielder Danny Mendick was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte in a corresponding move.
Rodón is back for the first time in a couple weeks. He was retroactively placed on the IL on August 8 with shoulder fatigue. That came as something of a surprise, as Rodón had punched out eleven Royals over five scoreless innings during his prior start. The White Sox could afford to take things cautiously at even the slightest hint of discomfort from Rodón, who has tossed 109 2/3 innings this season after injuries limited him to 42 1/3 frames between 2019-20 combined. With the AL Central all but officially wrapped up, the Sox’s focus is on having Rodón at full strength for the postseason.
The southpaw has been surprisingly brilliant in 2021 after those back-to-back campaigns wrecked by injury. Among pitchers with 100+ innings, only Walker Buehler, Lance Lynn, Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff have a lower ERA than his 2.38 mark. Rodón’s 36.2% strikeout rate and 29.4 percentage point strikeout/walk rate differential are both the best of that group. Assuming he finishes the season at or near that level, Rodón will earn strong support for the American League Cy Young award and position himself very well as he enters free agency this winter.
Rodon is one of the most interesting and risky free agents available this offseason. He has been a monster this season, but his injury history will certainly scare some teams off. There’s no question his agent will convince him to test free agency to see if he can get a 5 year+ deal from a desperate team @ $25M+ per year. If they can’t find any takers, a one year pillow contract with the White Sox makes a lot of sense. If he puts together back to back dominant seasons, he will clean up in the 2023 free agent market. He’ll only be 29 next season so he has a lot of time left to make some serious money as a starting pitcher. Teams like the Nationals have no problem signing a 30 year old starter to a multi-year, massive contracts. With that said, I believe he will find a multi-year deal this offseason so long as they can agree on a new CBA.
I, too, am conflicted. I want him to stay, but I’m afraid that his arm will become injured again.
Yeah, I think that’s about what my response is. I’d say offer him a contract with lots of incentives that could really bump up the money if he stays healthy, but unfortunately, there is probably some team that will give him multiple years at a high guaranteed $ amount and he’ll go there.
He will get a 3-4 year deal no problem this off season with Boras as his agent he will get it done and I don’t think he will have to change cities just make a little drive north to Wrigleyville. I’m a Sox fan and hope they could get him back but feeling is Cubs will be opening up the checkbook again this offseason and Sox have Kopech waiting to move to the rotation.
Why no post about Moncada? He obviously hurt his wrist yesterday during a swing.
Moncada is grimacing about something at least couple times a week.
If Yoan Moncada hurt his wrist sufficiently enough it’s doubtful they would have optioned INF Danny Mendick back to AAA in order to clear a roster spot for Carlos Rodon. With that transaction, the White Sox currently have 14 pitchers and 12 position players on their active roster.
If Moncada is hurt that badly it would leave them pretty thin with their infield depth for today’s afternoon game with the Blue Jays. They just gave SS Tim Anderson four days off due to a sore hamstring before he returned to the lineup yesterday. INF/OF Leury Garcia was recently activated from the 10-day IL from his concussion during the Field of Dreams game but it was Mendick who had filled in for Anderson at SS. Garcia replaced slumping 2B Cesar Hernandez on Tuesday when he returned from the IL and then played RF last night where the team is also thin with injuries to OF’s Adam Engel and Billy Hamilton.
I believe Sox can give him a QO. Rodon probably will decline it and Sox get compensatory pick but I’d be really happy if he accepts QO at the rate he’s been throwing this year.
I can’t see any way Rodon turns down a $19 million dollar pay day when he won’t come close to that in free agency
AAV he won’t but on like a 3 year FA deal he might fetch somewhere in area of 40-60 mil or more if it’s an incentive laden contract
A pitching hungry team like the Angels or the Padres will pay him big over a long enough term that he’ll decline the QO.
This just smells like an Angel mistake to me.
I can see it now: “Dec 7th 12:45pm ‘Angels sign Carlos Rodon to 4 year $80 million dollar guaranteed contract. Dec 7th 1:05pm Angels Pitcher Carlos Rodon needs Tommy John Surgery and will miss the entire 2022 season'”
Let’s see how this CBA unfolds. That’s the elephant in the room in determining if Rodon will get a multi year deal at the value he is seeking.
If they offer it, he’s probably accepting it, especially following his IL stint.
I’m not sure if they should do that. He is still a major injury risk and they have other needs, particularly if they let Kimbrel and Hernandez go. He accepts that, there is no budget, especially if they keep the two of them.
That means another year of Kopech in pen, and most likely both Vaughn and Eloy in the corners with a rookie DH.
Is that what people want?
Gavin Sheets looked pretty good and could take over at 1B or RF and allow Abreu to DH. Plenty of Outfielders available in free agency. Maybe a reunion with Avisail Garcia?
Andrew Vaughn is next Sox 1B!
That’s his natural position.
I think Kopech has to be in the rotation next year. I don’t see him being happy if he isn’t. He’s a great talent who is probably going to be better as a starter, with more regular rest than he’s gotten this year even if his innings are low. It would be hard to see the Sox keeping Rodon when they will have Lynn, Giolito, Cease, and Kopech, to go along with paying Keuchel a lot, and Lopez as a potential replacement for DK if sucks next year too.
If the past couple weeks is Rodon’s only DL stint and he does well in the postseason, I think some team will pony up at least 3 years, even if not 4-5. So the Sox could probably give him the QO with the very high probability that he would turn it down. If they have doubts, you could see them not making him the QO though. We’ll see, I’m more concerned that he’s healthy and pitching well, will worry about the offseason when the dealing of the season is done!
There is no “DL”.
Was only discomfort and precaution – not an injury which placed him on “IL”!
The difference doesn’t matter, it’s the same thing
Well you’re not letting Kimbrel go on his dirt cheap club option
Kimbrel has to Close to be effective and unless the White Sox trade Liam Hendricks I’m not sure they keep both. Hendricks has struggled since the acquisition of Kimbrel so obviously he’s doing a lot off looking over his shoulder
The optioning INF Danny Mendick to create a roster spot for Carlos Rodon would seemingly indicate that the team will be closely monitoring the southpaws pitch count today. The transaction leaves the White Sox with 14 pitchers and 12 position players before the team returns home on Friday to face the Cubs and Pirates, ahead of the September 1st date to solidify their postseason roster and when two more players could be added to the active list.
It should also be noted that C Yasmani Grandal and OF Billy Hamilton are each on injury rehab assignment at AAA Charlotte and likely to be activated in the coming days. Grandal could be added as soon as tomorrow which could trigger the demotion of either backup catcher Seby Zavala or Zack Collins. The White Sox might also choose to keep all three and cut journeyman RHP Mike Wright who is currently the 14th pitcher on their roster. Wright is still arbitration eligible but has been up and down between MLB and MiLB for 6 seasons since 2015 that also includes a 2020 stint in the KBO. He is likely out of MLB options and would need to be DFA’d off the roster to make way for Grandal who will be returning from the 10-day IL.
This team really needs Grandal back in the line up. Hoping his return helps boost their offense.
This would be better news if the Sox’ pen wasn’t going to give away the game at the end. They’ve been ridiculously awful since the deadline.
Yep, great observation.
Let’s be specific… Bummer has stunk up the joint. He consistently blows leads, particularly in close games where the starter has pitched lights out for 6 or 7 innings. I literally turn the game off when he’s brought in, because it’s like groundhog day watching him throw belt high cookies up and over the plate. They really should have traded him like they did Codi at the trade deadline. He won’t have much value now, which is sad.
Hendricks is a roll of the dice also.
Bummer.
Prior to today’s game, Kimbrel, Bummer and Hendriks have a WHIP of 1.7 since Aug 1st. 28 hits, 18 walks in 27 innings. That is outlandishly atrocious.
Bummer is worse.
Kimbrel was “lights out” today getting his first save with Sox.
More important, can announcers stop saying all year that Bummer is “unlucky” and TLR put him in the do no harm role of mop-up for at least 2021? He can consult with a sports psychologist in the offseason about what apparently causes him to have a high walk rate and crumble when there is so much as even 1 baserunner on. It is tough to see he and Marshall before the IL stint keep being allowed to fail in close games b/c they were good in 2019/not since. There are 5 better options for high leverage in the playoffs, not including converting a starter.
Agree, Young ‘wonder boy’ Benetti uses the ‘unlucky’ excuse, just about every time Bummer enters a game.
And speaking of their broadcasters, is it just me – or is listening to the great Gordon Beckham, like watching paint dry.
Can’t be any worse that listening to Len Kasper for 3 hours.
Len’s fine. He isn’t spectacular, but he has a very high baseball IQ. I love Gordo, but boy he isn’t my 1st 2nd or 3rd choice to give a color commentary stint to.
I like Casper, but he’s boring. Jason reminds me why I love baseball. He’s just brilliant.