Giants starter Carlos Rodon has opted out of his contract and entered free agency, per Maria Guardado of MLB.com. Rodon had a player option for $22.5MM in 2023, but given his exceptional performance this year, it’s no surprise he’s chosen to enter the open market.
Rodon turned in 178 innings of 2.88 ERA ball in 2022, proving the decision to take a shorter deal last winter and bet on himself was the correct one. He’ll now enter free agency as one of the top players available, and should cash in with a long term deal. After an injury-plagued career, Rodon was strong for the White Sox in 2021, throwing 132 2/3 innings of 2.37 ERA ball. Given he’d only been able to make 41 starts in the previous four seasons, there was still some hesitancy of his durability, and he inked a short term deal with the Giants. That deal guaranteed him $21.5MM in 2022 and $22.5MM in 2023, with the ability to opt-out included if he pitched 110 innings in ’22. He passed that mark with ease, and it seemed inevitable he’d exercise the opt-out and test free agency, as he did today.
The 2014 third overall pick was utterly dominant in 2022. He struck out batters 33.4% of the time, walked just 7.3% of batters, and posted the best home run rate of his career, giving up just 12 all year. Durability was one of the biggest concerns over Rodon, but he only hit the injured list once all season, and that was due to an illness that forced him to miss his final start of the campaign, and the Giants only placed him on the IL to free up an active roster spot.
He’ll enter the market as one of the most sought-after arms available. The Giants will assuredly issue him a qualifying offer in the coming days which he’ll certainly decline. The Giants could well be one of the teams pushing to sign him, but should they lose him, they’ll at least receive some draft pick compensation.
fre5hwind
Big move wonder which teams will go for him.
justinkm19
Rangers are expected to heavily pursue.
justinkm19
Well, the ballpark is in Arlington, not Dallas.
Balk
Giants will be back in touch I’m sure
kmk1986
Plz o plz redsox please!!
fre5hwind
Probably not but maybe.
coloredpaper
The Mets will be in on him for sure if they can’t keep DeGrom.
MLB Top 100 Commenter
In other news, paint dried.
User 401527550
Half the league.
Milwaukee-2208
About 15 teams just entered the chat
PinstripedPride
Here’s hoping the Yankees are in on him. Taillon was solid but Rodon would be a definite upgrade
ChuckyNJ
Especially since Rodon is a southpaw and you can never have enough left-handed pitching in Yankee Stadium.
padam
Yes, along with a $20M increase per year.
padam
Armchair GM and probably a backseat driver.
infractor
I don’t know if they’re going to be spending at that level again this year but it’d be nice to see a solid lefty starter in Toronto.
crazybaseballgal
But they have Yusei! Lol.
crazybaseballgal
Seattle is in Washington which has no state income tax. They don’t need Rodon though
Last2Know
Texas counters Seattle with no state income tax and is not wet 9 months of the year. I hope we get em
tenten
He will sign with the Mets!
bigjonliljon
That’s actually an idea. Mets can not sign DeGrom and save money towards other positions while getting a SP just a tick below and healthier
TradeAcuna
Sadly, that is what I see coming.
VonPurpleHayes
That’s who I’m picking as well.
User 401527550
The Mets stay away from qualifying offer players. They want the farm to grow.
Ma4170
They’ll get a comp pick back from degrom though so I think they’ll go for him
Do they get a comp pick for Bassitt since he declined the option?
User 401527550
They would get a comp pick for any player that declines the qualifying offer and signs elsewhere. That will include Bassitt,Degrom, Nimmo and most likely Walker.
quxdraw
But, they lose a pick by signing a qualifying offer player
Ma4170
Yep understood, but they might come out ahead given the amount of option players they may lost
User 401527550
They would gain round 4 comp pick and lose 2nd highest pick. Not an equivalent value.
Ma4170
By losing degrom? That doesn’t sound right
13Morgs13
His last two years have been outstanding. I would love to see him in Philly. Wheeler, Nola, Ranger, and Rodon
avenger65
I would have loved to see him stay with the wsox who were too cheap to pay Rodon what he deserved, preferring instead to point to sore shoulder as the reason not to sign him. And why should they have? Rodon proved this season that the Sox were right about his shoulder. That’s also why the Sox won their division and made it to the WS .
Ma4170
Wheeler rodon Nola would be filthy
Logistics Guy
Can you blame the guy for opted out of the contract. The tax rate In SF Is like 33.0% In Red Texas It 0%
seamaholic 2
It’s not that simple. As a professional athlete, your income tax rate is based on where you play each game, not where your team is based. So Texas athletes only get half their salary taxed at the Texas rate. And as many have noted, if he spends his money in Texas, he’ll be subject to one of the highest sales taxes in the country.
CursedRangers
Listed below are the sales tax rates for several cities of teams that might be interested in signing him. Not sure that Dallas sales tax rates are high compared to other large cities:
Dallas 8.25%
Chicago 10.25%
Boston 6.25%
LA 9.5%
San Fran 8.63%
Seattle 8.8%
Atlanta 8.9%
Philly 8%
Dumpster Divin Theo
Yeah because a guy like Rodon has to factor how much he’ll end up paying for gum (after tax)
Datashark
CA has 13.3% income tax
CursedRangers
Here are the sales tax rates for several big cities. Not sure that Dallas is all that high compared to others:
Dallas 8.25%
Chicago 10.25%
Boston 6.25%
LA 9.5%
San Fran 8.63%
Seattle 8.8%
Atlanta 8.9%
Philly 8%
Oldman58
If I’m making over $20 million a year I’m not worried about sales tax
Zerbs63
Sales tax is not the most important tax anyway for a player, it’s income tax. Play in a state like Texas or Florida and your salary is boosted 10%-20% by no income tax.
Last2Know
bro, I appreciate a fellow cursed rangers fan but I have never seen anyone put up sales tax rates in cities when considering a free agent signing. It’s income tax.. and, most people don’t know this but on top of their salaries, every player in the majors gets a food stipend. It’s like $350 a day for the road games, and $175 for home I think. So they’re not too worried about how much their groceries are getting taxed, and even so, the stipend cover more than enough.
Datashark
but you would be worried about the 13.3% income tax
User 401527550
6.25% sales tax is not one of the highest in the country. I don’t know why you used that as an example compared to California at 7.25%
padam
@sea…it’s not sales tax, it’s state income tax.
padam
@jrox – yanks paid Rivera $15M per in his mid 30’s starting in 2008. Diaz is 28 and only getting $5M more 15 years later. Outside of a couple of down years, he’s been pretty damn good otherwise.
WillieMaysHayes24
Dude, stop posting this crap here. No one comes here to discuss political talking points.
ArmChairGM-
It’s not a political talking point. It’s $$. And that’s exactly what free agency boils down to.
He’s got a point
sarunas
Willie is talking about the red Texas comment made by logistics guy. Willie says that the Red Texas comment is political and isn’t necessary. Willie is right. Read better armchair
zimerust
it’s actually 8.6%, but nice try,
BaseballisLife
Simple minds talk about income tax. Smart business persons talk about tax burden.
Ma4170
With the kind of money we’re talking about for these players, they’re probably not as concerned w taxes as people want to think they are
rec567
…but you have to live in TX.
Edp007
Looks like a Yankee desperate long term overpay coming here
Yankee Clipper
I think he’s too expensive for their budget. This is the new Yankees my friend. In fact, I heard Hal is going to drop an “E” (Yankes), because it’ll save $72.36 over the course of a month.
30 Parks
Clip, I think he’s just keeping the “N” & the “Y.” Boston & New York can’t compete against these big market squads (violin music plays).
PinstripedPride
If by desperate you mean four or five years, I would take it in order to get past Houston.
BrettPhillips for Prezident
Go to the cardinals please
longines64
I see that as a good fit.
Terry B
Look really good in Dodger Blue!
tbone0816
Cardinals
jvent
Welcome to the Mets Carlos Rodon
avenger65
Cardinals.
Oldman58
He’ll sign his name so fast to a multi year contract he’ll hurt his shoulder doing it
ammiel
Giants will resign him before the 5 day quiet period ends. no need for QO
Jroxphilly
Carlos Rodon to the Mets on a 12 year 600 mil contract. Considering what they paid for Diaz, that’s about the going rate per inning.
put it in the books
About 10 teams would have paid Diaz more than the Mets just did.
Jroxphilly
You are smoking something haha. The Mets are the only team desperate enough to give a reliever whose had 1 fantastic year, 2 bad years and 1 ok year record breaking money and a full no trade.
No one would take on that money. Not the dodgers. Not the Mets. Not the Phillies. Not the Yankees. Not the red sox. No one because relievers are historical volatile and are not worth starter money. Good luck with that. He started mailing it in 2 seconds after he signed.
VonPurpleHayes
You’re ignoring his pre-Met career. Diaz is an elite closer. I think the Mets gave him too many years, but the money is fair.
Yoshis Javelin
@Jrox, the Dodgers would have spent that and then some to fill one of their biggest holes.
Tigers3232
He’s has 3 yrs with a sub 2 ERA 1 yr with 3.27 ERA one with 3.35 one with 2.79 and his awful yr that he had 5.59. All with well over a K per inning. He has been great to elite more often than he has been bad, 6 seasons to 1 actually. I do think he was overpaid on the contract, the notion that he has only had 1 good season is absolutely false tho.
MLB Top 100 Commenter
No, Andrew Friedman will find someone that you and I have never heard of.
Ella B
Jrox I think you need to put down the pipe, it might help with your memory. Diaz had 109 saves, including 57 saves in 2018, while with Seattle. Since coming to the Mets, he has 96 saves. In 2022, he was the best reliever in baseball. Go have a Snickers, you might not be so hangry.
Ma4170
That’s the worst take on Diaz’s career I’ve ever seen… starting in 2018 he’s had two damn near unhittable years… two good to very good closer years… and one terrible year (in 2019)… there are plenty of teams that would’ve made him the highest paid closer, because he’s the best right now. Sure that changes a lot w closers, and I agree w Von maybe most teams wouldn’t have done the 5th year, but the met hate is becoming ridiculous.
VonPurpleHayes
I disagree with that. Diaz is an elite closer, but I doubt you find 10 teams willing to give a closer those years. The 20aav? Sure.
rodrda01
Wait what?
piazza4ever
He’s coming to the Mets. No doubt
junior25
He would look good in a Jays Uni
notagain27
This year’s Trade Rumors Free Agent contest is going to be something spectacular!
Astros2017&22Champs
Rodon was ridden so hard at NC State. I remember him throwing 130 pitches in some games. Always knew he had ace ability.
benhen77
Plz Twins.
Edp007
I would like a list of of owners ( majority owners , the cheque signers) listed by age , net worth and known health issues.
Then you might have an idea who might be willing to say “I can’t take it with me , I need to win nowish “ and just go and spend.
Like Arte maybe ? Give the money to judge ohtani verlander. Fill in the names.
PadreB2011
Preller, you need to get Rodon in the best city in the US, San Diego!!!
foppert
What a difference 12months has made for Rodon’s earning capacity. Good work.
Are you taking notes, pitchers with potential that haven’t quite found consistency. Gausman and Rodon’s accountants recommend the Giants. So I’m thinking they will be eyeing the next Carlos, as opposed to Carlos.
Pete'sView
I just see Carlos flanked by Logan Webb and Kyle Harrison, and I drool.
foppert
That would be good to see. I just don’t like our chances. He will want years.
tedtheodorelogan
So pay the man. I wouldn’t want to play for Kapler though if I had a choice.
foppert
You don’t say. Never would have guessed.
goob
2021 NL Manager of the Year.
Jean Matrac
Fangraphs projects Harrison’s promotion to MLB in 2025. So, if we see those 3 together it will be awhile.
foppert
Zaidi said recently they are planning to give him a look early on next year.
Balk
Although fangraphs projects that, I believe he will and could be much sooner just like web. If he performs well this next season we could see him in the bigs end of the year or beginning of 2024.
Jean Matrac
I hope you’re both right.
foppert
sfgiants.com from memory. The Zaidi offseason outlook interview. He was bullish on Harrison. Effectively said he will probably start in the minors but will be up sooner rather than later if the 2022 trajectory is maintained. I was surprised.
Jean Matrac
It’s interesting to compare the comments here to what many wrote when the Giants signed him last year. There were a lot on opinions that the Giants made a foolish signing.
MLB Top 100 Commenter
If the Giants don’t re-sign Rodon, they will look foolish. They could have traded Rodon at the deadline for a MLB top 30 prospect. Giants are usually smart so my bet is that they resign Rodon for big money.
Jean Matrac
No one knows what the return would have been for Rodon. It’s doubtful that FZ turned down a return that was better than the comp pick they’ll get if he signs elsewhere.
And are you talking top 30 overall, or a team’s teams top 30? A top 30 usually refers to a team’s top 30. Anything less than a teams top 5-10 is going to be deemed worse than the comp pick.
Most teams seem to be preferring the comp pick these days. Plus, they have a better chance at re-signing him by not trading him.
JohnJasoJingleHeimerSchmidt
Yeah, there’s not a snowball’s chance in hell the Giants turned down an offer for a top-30 overall prospect (read: 55-60 FV) for Carlos Rodon at the deadline.
Tigers3232
I don’t know what there really was to criticize other than being worried about his durability which has been an issue with him. He was coming off a great 2021 season and only signed for 2 years maximum. Some risk but short term for a pitcher with his upside.
Jean Matrac
If you didn’t see the comments from last year, trust me. more than one commenter thought the Giants were foolish. Granted, you are right that most were about his durability, but the tenor of the comments from then to now is vastly different. Here are a few:
“He was a good mentor to the Sox kids. Rather see that money go towards a Gio extension.”
“44 million for a guy who’s pitched 170 innings the past 3 years combined. Seems a bit high”
“Seems about $43 million too high.”
“…he got babied down the stretch and still couldn’t get out of the 3rd in the ALDS.”
“Giants will regret this when he undergoes season ending surgery in June.”
“$22 mil a year seems steep with Rodon’s health problems”
“He might not even make it through 50 innings. Huge risk.”
“Unfortunately, Carlos will be injured after a few starts. Been there; done that.
Sox didn’t want to take a risk that he would have accepted the QO.”
“They must be high to pay that much for Rodan (sic). I just do not understand.”
I will admit that there seemed to be more negative comments than there actually was. I’d estimate only about a quarter negative when it seemed like more. Still, not nearly the same level of positivity as now.
JohnJasoJingleHeimerSchmidt
All those comments coming from the fanbase of a team that gave Leury Garcia a 3-year-deal is kinda hilarious.
Tomas7
A good fit for the Mets, we need a strong lefty with some staying power, doesn’t get injured much and is tough.
Mikenmn
Good bet by Giants last year–they get what’s possibly peak Rondon, plus a draft pick. He’s an interesting sign for any competitive team that can manage his workload.
MLB Top 100 Commenter
Mike
Hector Rondon? Or do you mean Rodon?
TrillionaireTeamOperator
Given his track record, I feel like he’s kind of an R.A. Dickey situation where he might have figured something out and could be elite for another 1-3 years, but anything beyond 1-2 is risky.
I think he deserves and will get a 2 years/$50M guarantee w/ a vesting option for $30M- or something along those lines- no reason to opt out of $22.5M for any less than that.
And I think SF or the Mets will sign him. Yankees are a possibility, but only if it’s for one year or something like that.
whyhayzee
An injury prone player has one injury free year and some sucker is going to sign him for five.
Maybe he has turned the corner and will remain healthy but still, buyer beware.
south side hit men
White Sox did him a solid by not slapping a QO on him last offseason. Not sure he would have received the same kind of deal he received. Now he can sign a 5/100 back with the Sox. Cease/Rodon/Lynn is a juicy top three. Giolito/Kopech as the back end guys? Not bad.
YankeesBleacherCreature
In no world is Rondon only getting $50M guaranteed. He might as well have asked the Giants for an additional $27.5M for ’24 in order to opt-in and they would’ve gladly obliged. Dude is 29 with relatively low-mileage. He’s looking for a career contract and some team will give it to him.
YankeesBleacherCreature
@Trillionaire
Dumpster Divin Theo
Hector Rondon? He retired
stroh
The team that signs him needs to be prepared for injury. One healthy year against a backdrop of injuries thru his career. But someone will overlook all that and give him a regrettable long term deal.
User 3663041837
Hope he can stay healthy
slider32
All top free agents this year start with the Dodgers, they are the gold standard in the mlb. They added Freeman last year, and Betts a few years ago, now I see them getting a top pitcher. All the top players will be in play!
rememberthecoop
Rodon is an injury just waiting to happen. Then again, I guess all pitchers are. But he bet on himself so good for him. Still, can’t help but feel like he’s going to sign a huge deal and spend much of it on the IL.
jvent
Welcome to the Mets Carlos