Pitchers Drew VerHagen and Martin Perez were the first ones to sign prominent MLB contracts on Friday when free agency restarted, but the San Francisco Giants made the move of the day.
MLB insider Jeff Passan announced that the Giants had agreed to a deal with left-hander Carlos Rodon, one of the best starters in the market.
He will sign a two-year, $44 million deal with the Giants, with an opt-out clause after the first season.
“Left-handed starter Carlos Rodón and the San Francisco Giants are in agreement on a two-year, $44 million contract that includes an opt-out after the first season, sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN,” Passan tweeted.
Left-handed starter Carlos Rodón and the San Francisco Giants are in agreement on a two-year, $44 million contract that includes an opt-out after the first season, sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 11, 2022
It means that Rodon will be able to re-enter the market if he wants after the 2022 campaign.
Rodon Will Try To Prove Himself
He finished 2021 as one of the best pitchers in baseball with the Chicago White Sox.
His ERA was 2.37 in 132.2 innings, and he struck out a whopping 185 hitters.
However, there were some questions about the health of his left arm down the stretch, questions that likely affected his value in free agency.
He missed time in September with some arm soreness, and coming from a guy who has suffered his fair share of injuries throughout his career, it raised some concerns.
The opt-out will also give Rodon the chance to prove himself as an elite starter: in 2021, he hit a new level of performance and came in throwing harder, and if he can maintain a similar level in 2022, he could seek a multi-year deal worth a similar average annual value (AAV).
For now, he is going to a perfect landing spot: a winning team with a great shot at making the postseason in 2022 and a fantastic player-development staff.
It’s a win-win situation.
