The White Sox are in agreement with free agent left-hander Carlos Rodón, reports Jon Heyman of MLB Network (Twitter link). The deal is pending a physical. It’s a major league contract worth a guaranteed $3MM, reports Bob Nightengale of USA Today (via Twitter).
Rodón has spent his entire pro career in the organization, after the Sox selected him with the third overall pick in the 2014 draft out of North Carolina State. Early on, he looked well on his way to fulfilling that promise. Rodón was a fixture in the big league rotation by 2015 and looked the part of a solid mid-rotation starter over his first two seasons in MLB.
Things have gone off the rails since then, however. Rodón dealt with a series of arm injuries and struggled between stints on the injured list from 2017-19, culminating in a May 2019 Tommy John surgery. He returned to Chicago’s rotation to start the 2020 season but was shut back down after just two starts due to soreness in his throwing shoulder. Fortunately, Rodón did make it back to the mound for a pair of relief appearances at the end of last season. Working in short stints, he averaged nearly 96MPH on his fastball, a significant uptick from his typical low-90’s velocity as a starter.
In spite of that end-of-season flash of peak form, Chicago non-tendered Rodón rather than bring him back for a projected arbitration salary in the $4-5MM range. After a few months in free agency, he’ll return to the organization at a slightly cheaper price.
The 28-year-old will compete with Reynaldo López and Dylan Cease for a season-opening rotation spot behind Lucas Giolito, Lance Lynn and Dallas Keuchel, hears Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic. (Top prospect Michael Kopech is expected to start the season in the minors, per Rosenthal). Even if Rodón doesn’t win a rotation job, it’s easy to imagine him serving as a valuable, power lefty relief piece for new manager Tony La Russa.
Ugh.
I’m actually fine with this signing.
We don’t know if he was meant to be signed as a starter or a reliever. I’m assuming for the temporary 5th spot, battling Lopez for that prize until Kopech comes up in late April or May. I’m pretty sure the Sox can survive 3 or 4 starts by wither Rodon or Lopez before they are banished to the pen when Kopech is ready.
Who knows, maybe by some miracle Rodon (or Lopez) pitches well enough for the Sox to win those games. All you hope for in a 5th starter is to keep the team in the game.
*either
My God, reading the comments on here, you’d think the Sox blew any chance at making the playoffs with this signing. We’re talking about a #5, not the ace of the staff. You guys must think Cease is going to absolutely suck this year if you are all bent about the Sox not signing someone to boot him to the 5th spot.
Nevermind they have a great 1-2-3 in the rotation, a loaded lineup, and a strong bullpen. Having a less than satisfactory #5 in the rotation, even if it’s only for a few starts until Kopech makes it up, will doom this team to a laughing stock.
Easy people. The Sox will be fine, even with this signing.
Teams are going to cycle through 6 or 7 starters through the season even without any injuries. Giolito, Lynn, Keuchel, Cease, Rodon, Lopez, Kopech are 7 guys that I would expect will get starts for the Sox, and I am sure another couple of guys will get starts as well. This is going to be an unconventional 162 game season.
They will be fine yes. But there are better options. And he Rodon will not be used for a few or 3-4 starts like you said. Kopech will be slowly ramped up in AAA. 3-4 innings at a time. Rodon will get closer to 10-12 stars before Kopech takes over for Cease or Rodon whoever is struggling.
I agree that the White Sox could have gone bigger for another SP even after they acquired Lance Lynn earlier this offseason. They still might with so many other veteran SP’s available, from one year-make good candidates rebounding from injuries like Jake Arrieta to top of the mountain ace Trevor Bauer.
If Carlos Rodon is their final SP candidate before camp or even opening day I am fine with it. I trust new pitching coach Ethan Katz to have better success with Dylan Cease, Reynaldo Lopez and Rodon, to say nothing of Michael Kopech and eventually Garret Crochet, than what Don Cooper has had the past few years. If any of these pitchers struggle or get injured early on, the White Sox can still acquire a more proven veteran by the July 31st trade deadline. Rick Hahn will also continue to monitor the trade market in case a younger and controllable stud like German Marquez or Luis Castillo are definitively put up for sale by a team that is not contending and looking to cash in their best chips to jump start their own rebuild.
Rodon didn’t pitch well in 2020, but when he came back he was throwing 97… If he can stay healthy for the first half of the season and throw an occasional strike he is a good signing.
It’s funny how fans overreact.
Depth I guess but underwhelming. Surprising as I believe he is a Boras client. Guess Scott couldn’t create a better market.
Jesus Christ, the Sox are even stealing the Cubs pitching depth lmao.
He was never a Cub.
The Cubs wanted him and the Sox didn’t let them have him. Hence stealing their pitching depth.
Thats a bit of a stretch. They attended his workout is all so its hardly stealing their depth. Try again
There were like 20 teams at Corey Kluber’s workout/showcase. I wouldn’t say the Yankees stole a pitcher from 19 other teams.
Just yesterday the Cubs said they were interested in Rodon and Samardzija: mlbtraderumors.com/2021/01/cubs-rumors-ricketts-in…
The other one they were rumored to be interested in was Arrieta, so not only did they go to his showcase, they also verbally said that they were interested.
I found it ironic because before the Cubs could even sign a mere backend starter/depth piece, the Sox came in and signed him. That’s what I mean.
Boy Rangers, your ‘logic’ sounds like your a big fan of q.
Sox probably had the contract before the Cubs reporting on interest was done. You’re placing a LOT of trust in journalism, timing, and sheer honesty. Who cares? It’s not theft. These are grown ups operating a business. It’s not collusion. It’s a minor mlb signing.
He was mentioned along with 6 other pitchers. Cubs are not signing them all and doubtful they would of touched 3 million guaranteed.
Man, I just meant this as a simple comment. Don’t look to deep into it lmao.
I mean you did comment three times and posted an article.
Yeah, to go, Jesus Christ the Sox by signing a guy they have always had are totally stealing him from the Cubs who watched him workout along with a bunch of other teams is a just simple nonpartisan Rangers fan comment.
It was a very dumb comment by the brilliant rangers29. Just add it to the pile of dumb comments he makes on here. At least he didnt mention how somehow the Texas Rangers got screwed = refreshing!
Don’t sweat it R29. Ignore idiots like monkeyballs too
Dude makes a stupid comment, then argues like hell with terrible logic, then says y’all are reading too much into his comment. Lol
Make better executed comments and you won’t get the feedback like this.
The Cubs interest expedited his signing with the Sox. Once the Cubs called, he was like hell no im not being part of that clown car and back he went to the Sox.
Classic underachiever
I liked “The Thinker” but don’t get the thinking here, baby!!
He needs to revert to being Rodon the Thinker, and less Rodon the Chucker and Rodon the Ducker. Amirite?
Well that’s unexpected
Unexpected. Apparently there was no market for his services other than a minor league deal. Surprised at the timing usually his agent waits until spring training has started before starting to wave the white flag.
Terrible for them to bring him back cheap a—. He wasn’t very effective early in career when healthy. Now he’s banged up some every year and gets hit and allows BB’s
Disappointed in them. They should be doing better at this point if they want an October run.
Oh well there’s always the trade deadline.
A 96mph tossing lefty out of the pen has a lot of potential.
Trade deadline costs prospects, which is why I don’t understand why they aren’t adding more quality players to fill remaining voids.
But it only costs half the salary of the acquiring players. A lot of teams would rather give up their #25 prospect than pay out 8-9 million bucks at a certain point.
The White Sox have a full 40-man roster as we post and will need to subtract from it when the Carlos Rodon free agent signing becomes official. Any other FA they might consider adding from here on out will also require the removal of a player from their reserve roster which also happens to include many of their top prospects.
Suggesting that a trade costs prospects can be true. However a trade can also involve surplus MLB parts off of the roster and not merely ‘prospects’. Clearly any additional FA’s the White Sox might sign in the coming days or weeks would also require the subtraction of a prospect or spare part from their 40-man roster.
Wasn’t effective early? Dude has a 4.14 career ERA even with his last two injury plagued years and garnered 6.7 war over his first 4 years. Did this as one of the first in his draft class to be called up at age 22. Came back from Tommy John late last year and was throwing 97
What is this? There are so many better options for the back end of the rotation. No White Sox fan should be happy with a 5th starter of Rodon or Lopez. Smh
Amen. Waste of 3m on him and Lopez 1.5. Give Steiver the ball.
How many teams go into a season “happy” with their 5th starter? More often than not, the only “good” 5th starters are young players that come up during the season and pitch well (hopefully Kopech).
The 2019 Nats had 3 really good starters, Anibal Sanchez, and no other starter that pitched more than 60.1 innings. That’s a pretty common theme with good teams.
The White Sox top three starters will make about the same combined salary of Scherzer, and the entire rotation will make less than Scherzer and Strasburg. The White Sox had the chance to pay for another arm who can provide insurance to the back-end of the rotation, just like they had money to find a RF who could stay healthy. But once again, they are looking to defy the odds by hoping an oft-injured player can exceed expectations. They have a championship team, yet still make signings like they are in a rebuild.
@max well said. They are 14th in payroll in a go for broke year. Eaton and Rodon were complete jokes, because neither is likely to be healthy.
For 5M more they could have had Quintana instead of Rodon. Or Rosario. Ridiculous.
What a joke. If this is more than a minor league deal and they don’t add Hammels or someone of that ilk, I’ll be furious. Rondon is never healthy and hasn’t been great recently when he supposedly is.
you Sox fans sure seem unhappy to perhaps be AL favorites…
It’s because they know they aren’t the favorites
There we go.
Who’s Rondon?
Ah to be a left-hander now that Spring Training is here…..
I expect the Red Sox will be signing Bill (“Spaceman”) Lee any day now…..
At least we know he didn’t use any drugs……
Some years I half expect Jesse Orosco or Jamie Moyer to come out of retirement (again?)
A lefty, a first-round pick, a former top-20 global prospect, and a decent league average starter the first few years of his career. Still in his 20s, so I can see why the White Sox don’t want to give up on him, but I do wonder if he would have been better served going to another organization. I hate the term, but he could be a change of scenery candidate. A new pitching coach and approach might help him, while getting away from the White Sox where expectations were always high.
A question for White Sox fans who see him pitch regularly. Is there any indication his stuff will play up out of the pen?
The problem is that he has never pitched regularly.
That being said, he has shown a wipe out slider at times. If he can maintain a mid-90s fastball and throw his best slider, I think he could be a solid bullpen arm.
At this point, I think he’s being signed more as starting pitching depth than as a significant bullpen piece, but if he can provide versatility, that’s extra value.
I had forgotten he had TJS in May 2019 until I read the update. Considering it takes 14 months on average to return from TJS, toss in the uneven training schedule caused by the pandemic and the missed time last year, then I can see why the White Sox probably don’t believe they’ve seen what he can do post TJS yet.
I understand fans frustration since expectations were high. Even when he pitched ok the first few seasons, fans expected more. The one word that comes to mind when I think of Rodon is “injured.” Seems like even during his healthy years he’d miss time.
It’s easy for me to say since I’m not a White Sox fan, but I don’t think it’s a bad signing. He’s no longer expected to carry tour staff. Expectations are now low. There’s upside.
This.
Draft status and prospect ranking are treated like assurances, but they are predictions. Not particularly great ones at that.
Ala Carson Fulmer
I would have preferred the Tigers had signed him over Urena. At least Rondon has potential to show more than he has so far.
@lordd99
The White Sox themselves might actually fit the “change of scenery” idea you suggest for Carlos Rodon. He was non-tendered on December 2nd, one day after the White Sox officially announced the hiring of Tony La Russa’s coaching staff that included new pitching coach Ethan Katz. The switch from old-school Don Cooper to analytically inclined Katz could qualify as a “change of scenery” for Rodon along with many other young White Sox pitchers who have yet to reach their full potential.
He will have a new pitching coach and approach. That’s sorta the point. And yes, he could be nasty as a lefty setup or multi inning guy. His deficiency was always not being economical in his starts and getting up to 100 pitches by the 5th, but he’s shown swing and miss stuff
Another “Power Move” by the White Sox. Rodon is a legit #1 starter when healthy which has been the problem. Like his spot here back with the White Sox. Veteran starter ready for innings if needed. A solid bullpen arm if not. This is starting to feel like 2006 when the Sox last won the World Series.
I think you meant to type 2005.
No, he meant 2006. Remember that club couldn’t pitch either.
The White Sox last won the World Series in 2005. So, what am I missing then?
@The Brokenheart Kid
From his other comments it’s pretty clear that ‘Very Barry’ was referring to 2005. As for your comment reply, you might recall the White Sox acquired a highly regarded 28-year old SP in Javier Vázquez to supplement an already strong 2005 rotation. Vázquez gave the White Sox innings and SO’s but he was not the TOR they hoped to receive.
Acquisitions on paper don’t always translate to the playing field or the pitching mound, something to consider this offseason as any other. Vázquez disappointed White Sox fans and eventually became a sore spot in regards to manager Ozzie Guillen as well. Guillen, who could do no wrong in 2005, trusted Vázquez more than the fan base, which helped lead to a quick White Sox exit from the 2008 postseason after their thrilling ‘Blackout’ victory over the Twins. Guillen picked Vázquez to start the opener of the ALDS versus Joe Maddon and his selection of ‘Big Game James’ Shields. Vázquez sucked like most of us thought he would and the White Sox wound up losing the best-of-five series in 4 games. That start would be the last for Vázquez as a White Sox. Kenny Williams trade him to the Braves that offseason for a collection of young talent that included top catching prospect Tyler Flowers.
The White Sox wouldn’t sniff the postseason again until 2020. Guillen had 3 more years of feuding with Williams until he was traded to the Marlins late in the 2011 season. Shields would eventually become a White Sox in June of 2014, much to the delight of most fans who thought he was just what their contending needed after a quick start and May fade. The fact that Shields was also the cousin of 2005 World Series hero and fan favorite Aaron Rowand didn’t hurt either. At the time nobody even heard of a certain throw-in prospect named Fernando Tatis Jr. The rest became history, good and bad. The bad was Tatis Jr. leaving to become one of MLB’s most talented players. The good was the Shields trade became the final straw for Rick Hahn in breaking the White Sox from their “mired in mediocrity” method of continuously reloading and retooling for a full on rebuild that will hopefully get the fans another championship or three in the coming years.
It actually feels more like 2003/4Solid pieces in place, but major holes at multiple positions, and no true depth in case of injury.
What major holes do the White Sox have? I see none.
DH. Depth on left side of infield, too thin. Dallas was starting to break down in the short season, unlikely to last 162.
This addresses starting pitching depth. Andrew Vaughn and Aubreu will handle DH duties. I don’t see a one day a week guy off the bench on left side of the infield as a pressing need. If healthy and showing durability Rodon will be the #3 in the rotation. A healthy Rodon is better than Keuchel, who is much more of a #4 or #5 starter right now than a #3. We have Giolito and Lynn at the top of the rotation and a lot of enticing options for slots 3 through 6 or 7. Yes, 6 or 7 starters will be needed at minimum.
DH — They don’t have one, and haven’t had one since Adam Dunn left. Eaton has been healthy and good one out of the past five years. He’s a major question mark in RF, and behind him is Engel, who is a platoon player, and Garcia, who is just as injury-prone as Eaton. Back end of rotation has promise, but it’s far from proven. Kopech may not be ready, and Lopez is a fringe starter. They also have no backup catcher.
Moncada is also an elephant in the room, because COVID wiped him out last year. They have no depth there, either.
I’m fine with Rodon in theory, but he is another player who is not reliable in terms of health. Right now, they are really gambling on a lot of players who have not demonstrated they can stay healthy, combined with still emerging players.
They didn’t have a dh when Adam Dunn was there either.
That Yermin guy that had an OPS over 1.000 and a 150 wRC+ in AAA could probably be a good DH. Maybe he should get a well deserved opportunity instead of signing a “proven” option like Adam LaRoche or Edwin Encarnacion again. Unless they’re signing the obviously juiced up Nelson Cruz, there are no great options.
Yep, we’ve both been pleading for Mercedes since mid ’19 season to get a shot. He’s a perfect development success story since Rule 5 claim an organization can puff its chest about (and stop wasting money on pricey has beens for DH), but b/c he’s never been a true prospect it seems they are scared to do it. That is a shame…..but hope he somehow breaks through.
.I just have been around too long to see what happens when the Sox ignore glaring holes or think they can use the equivalent of ‘bondo’ to patch work the team’s major holes. If they really are trying to win it all you go for a guy like Bauer, you go for a top notch DH type and RF. If you fail then oh well. But at least you tried to get top quality talent to win. The Sox have to stop thinking this is 05 and they can make a couple of lucky moves and that everything magically comes together and they win one. I also want to see a team that is competitive every year (which typically means you have a good org staff to ensure a steady stream of talent to the club).
Very Barry – Very insightful- a Rodon recovery and return to anything close to his 7 war contribution his first 4 seasons would be crucial. I think Rodon benefited greatly from starting as a mid rotation arm but started to unravel when forced to step in the ace when Sale and Q were dealt.
Agree that the future rests with the development of the future core of the young 20 something power arms: ideally 2 of Kopech, Lopez, Cease and Rodon as Keuchel and Lynn could be gone or on the downward slope of their careers in 3-4 years.
LOL
I mean is he physically built like a #1 starter? Maybe. But he certainly has never pitched like one in the MLB. Whether it’s durability or results.
Veteran starter who has come all the way back from Tommy John and other injuries which effectively wiped out 2.5 seasons. Yet still in his 20s, having been one of the first in his draft class called up at the age of 22
Weird that he’d go back to the team too cheap to pay him only an extra 1-2 mil in arbitration, when there were more suitors
I think he probably went back where the offer was the best. #1 there’s some degree of comfort w the organization. And he didn’t get 4.5 million bucks on the open market so I’m guessing it wasn’t the Sox being “cheap.” Rather no one in the MLB valued him at that rate.
Comfort level + he was the first wave of young players forced to step up when Sale and Q were dealt. He was one of the 2 vet leaders along with Abreu forced to ride through the lowest points of rebuilding. Totally understand why he’d want to be around the clubhouse after being on the shelf and seeing the fruits of the rebuild in 2020. Why leave when things are getting good?
At this point in the offseason, I am not surprised by this move. Going into the offseason, while I never thought they would be in the market for Bauer, I thought they might be in play for the next tier down (Tanaka, Odorizzi, Paxton). Even after they traded for Lynn, I was hoping for someone like Quintana in the $8M-$10M price range.
As the weeks have gone by, options have dwindled, and word out of the front office has lowered expectations re future spending, I figured they’d end up signing someone for less than $5M. There aren’t many great options in that price range, and Rodon may have been one of the better ones.
Rodon is still in his 20s, throws left-handed, was a top prospect who has demonstrated flashes of talent in the past, knows the White Sox organization, and seemed like a decent clubhouse guy. If he can get past his injuries, there is still upside potential there. At a minimum, he provides some starting pitching depth, which the Sox really needed.
“The #Whitesox $3 million signing of Carlos Rodon,
their former closer, gives Tony La Russa tremendous options on days Liam Hendriks needs a rest while also limiting his innings”
– Bob Nightengale
Lololol
If the plan is to have him serve as a long-man while seeing what he can establish as a reliever, OK. He should have been moved to the bullpen years ago.
But if this is the backup plan for the 5th starter . . . Another foolish gamble on an oft hunt player, and these moves historically blow up in Hahn’s face.
Seriously Max- are you off your meds again? Blowing up in Hahns face like the Sale, Q or Eaton trades, or for that matter, the ahead of the game contracts which he negotiated and generated so much surplus value to begin with? Or the savvy contracts that have locked up young exciting core talent like LouBob, TA7, Moncada and Eloy? It times it seems like you’re just throwing down words on a page to support your dark, dystopian world view. You should write YA fiction.
It s possible to acknowledge that the White Sox have a championship caliber team and still point out where there are flaws, many of which were the result of poor decisions made by Rick Hahn. That’s not dystopian. It’s a fact.
For example. The team spent 6 million two years ago hoping they could get something out of Ervin Santana. He lasted a month. Meanwhile, the Rangers signed Lance Lynn to a $30 million deal. Last year, they had Castellanos and Ozuna available to them. They went with Mazara and EE.
Surplus value doesn’t mean anything when you consistently throw the excess money down the drain. These cheap, high risk moves Hahn keeps making frequently blow up in his face and continue digging holes.
Is Ivan Nova next?
The Sox are attempting to get to the World Series using a three-man rotation and hopefuls.. When did that ever work?
This club needs an established innings eater so as to not have to make do with the likes of Cease, Lopez and Rodon as 40% of their SP.
You’ve been saved. Nova signed with the Phillies.
I will make no grand predictions but how can you completely write off Cease? I like what he brings to the table and he deserves a shot. Sox fans all hated Lucas Giolito early in his career too and wrote him off. How did that play out?
@Whiff Yeah, but this is not 2016 and a rebuild starting, This is 2021 and the Sox just got a 70 yr old to coach to ‘win it all’. Cease is up and down and I think we saw this too soon with Lopez performing like he has. Could Cease be great (or even ‘good’)? Sure, but expecting lightning in a bottle with Cease, to be like Gio, in 2021 is a bit of a stretch (and Gio was not that great last season either) specifically when the team is supposedly ‘all in’ for this season.
A 3 man rotation and hopefuls worked for the Nationals in 2019 and for several other championship teams.
How many teams have even 3 solid Cy young quality starters in their rotation? Sox have 3, with at least 4 highly touted arms with upside, not delving into the next gen of prospects (Stiever, Crochet, Lambert).
Lol. Not what the fan base had in mind. Can’t wait for you guys to re-sign Daniel Palka for the open DH spot.
Did you mean Nicky Delmonico?
He’d actually be a nice addition to the bullpen with that slider but the Sox are dumb and think he can start
As a White Sox fan I’m ok with this signing. I believe the potential is still there if Carlos is healthy. As others have noted most teams can use a hard throwing lefty.
Good luck Chi WS fans.
It’s lots more fun to be a SD, NYM, St Louis or Toronto fan
Geez. Spend a few more bucks for Cole Hamels as a 5th spot placeholder for Kopech. Rodon is bad just like the joke of a signing EE last year. Too easy to call a waste upfront. Even Lopez is more appealing as the 5th.
I happened to notice that you didn’t use ‘spend a few bucks’, and Jerry Reinsdorf in the same sentence. Good job.
Says the apologist for the regime that couldn’t even afford Jon Lester and jettisoned Yu, a valuable backup catcher and soon Bryant and probably Contreras due to ‘biblical’ losses. At least Gallagher Way should be open for ice skating, lawn art, and $13 mocktails. And the Marquee Network is the exclusive home of Trubisky replays.
How is Hamels an improvement, at 37? Rodon is back at 97 after TJS and still in his 20s?
@cwsAscension
You must be clairvoyant knowing that the White Sox free agent signing of 37-year old DH Edwin Encarnacion last offseason was a “joke”. It was hardly a cheap signing either at $12MM. Meanwhile, many White Sox fans are insisting that Rick Hahn should once again splurge on a veteran free agent DH this offseason, perhaps an even more expensive one in 41-year old Nelson Cruz.
Apparently your crystal ball is now telling us all that 37-year old Cole Hamels would be a much better White Sox free agent investment this offseason. Do you have any more tips for your fellow fans? lol
Go back and read the Sox acquire EE article/comments. It is in writing. Bad signing and go with Mercedes. Cruz is a fraud, so who cares if the same fans wrong about EE want him. Yes, old man Hamels would be more reliable 5th than Rodon….and hence the term placeholder.
You were in the minority of White Sox fans last year just as you would be this offseason when most have been clamouring for a DH or versatile DH from among Michael Brantley, Marcell Ozuna, Nelson Cruz, Kyle Schwarber, Joc Pederson, Eddie Rosario, etc., etc., etc.
You are not wrong in your thinking regarding Yermin Mercedes last offseason when the White Sox also had the flexibility of utilizing 3 other catchers in that role on a daily basis with Yasmani Grandal, James McCann and Zack Collins. I wasn’t clamouring for the front office to sign Edwin Encarnacion either.
I’d also be good with the White Sox rolling with Mercedes and Collins this year until Andrew Vaughn is deemed ready but I would also be doing cartwheels if the front office ponied up for some of the above options.
My basic opinion is that the White Sox should consider a versatile DH who can be had on a short term deal with the flexibility to play better LF defense than Eloy Jimenez. Getting Eloy more PA’s at DH might also keep him healthier for a change. He’s been on the IL multiple times in his first two seasons, often because of his misadventures in LF.
I’m not suggesting that the White Sox should abandon the notion of Jimenez playing LF but I would like Tony La Russa to have more flexibility mixing and matching with a versatile DH. That is why my preference has been for an acquisitions like Andrew Benintendi in a reasonable trade scenario or for a FA like Pederson, Schwarber or even Yasiel Puig who has moderate reverse splits that could see him playing LF vs RHP with Eloy at DH and also out in RF vs. LHP with Eloy in LF and Adam Eaton the first man off the bench.
If they went cheap with Rodon to sign Nelson Cruz then it’s an awesome move. I doubt it but we shall see. And no, Rodon is not a bullpen option.
Cruz would be great and while I agree Rodon should be a bullpen option, I also agree he’s not, sadly.
Rodon might be a sleeper pick for their bullpen.
No – arm won’t take. He’ll be on the 60 day by June 1. Back in September keeping the pitching chart. Waste of time.
Less innings means less wear and tear. And they’re not relying on him as a starter, so him getting hurt would have very little impact.
Not only less innings, but an entirely new analytical approach with Ethan Katz and a lot less pressure from 2017, when the Sox unwisely relied on him to be their staff ace when Sale and Q departed. Think this was too much to ask of a 24 year old who was one of the first from the 2014 draft class to make his debut and may have contributed to his inefficiency and arm troubles.
My pick to be sleeping in the bullpen.
Such is the life of a middle reliever.
Like that time Kyle Farnsworth got caught on camera sleeping in the Cubs bullpen. People assumed he’d been clubbing. Friend of mine who was Kyles neighbor in Wrigleyville knew the real story. Kyle was sharing an apt with one of his bros and his dog: a total pigsty with ratty couches and pizza boxes scattered about. Kyle’s dog tossed one of the pizza boxes into the pilot light and the whole place burned out. Kyle was summarily evicted and apparently had no place to crash. Bullpen = nappy time
Was hoping the Cubs would take a flyer on him. Heck, even the Rays could have used him, even if he is another lefty. Sox turned their back on him, surprised he went back.
The Sox never “turned their back” on Rodon. If anything, it’s the exact opposite, which is why he probably came back.
Think the Sox were transparent with him throughout rehab and if anything, showed too much trust in him by throwing him into high leverage situations vs the Indians and then the AL wildcard. Think Carlos valued this show of confidence and guessing the team already had a mutual agreement worked out to bring him back when they decided to sell high on Dane Dunning.
Think the Sox were transparent with him throughout rehab and if anything, showed too much trust in him by throwing him into high leverage situations vs the Indians and then the AL wildcard. Think Carlos valued this show of confidence and guessing the team already had a mutual agreement worked out to bring him back when they decided to sell high on Dane Dunning.
Think the Sox were transparent with him throughout rehab and if anything, showed too much trust in him by throwing him into high leverage situations vs the Indians and then the AL wildcard. Think Carlos valued this show of confidence and guessing the team already had a mutual agreement worked out to bring him back when they decided to sell high on Dane Dunning.
Think the Sox were transparent with him throughout rehab and if anything, showed too much trust in him by throwing him into high leverage situations vs the Indians and then the AL wildcard. Think Carlos valued this show of confidence and guessing the team already had a mutual agreement worked out to bring him back when they decided to sell high on Dane Dunning.
Think the Sox were transparent with him throughout rehab and if anything, showed too much trust in him by throwing him into high leverage situations vs the Indians and then the AL wildcard. Think Carlos valued this show of confidence and guessing the team already had a mutual agreement worked out to bring him back when they decided to sell high on Dane Dunning.
Think the Sox were transparent with him throughout rehab and if anything, showed too much trust in him by throwing him into high leverage situations vs the Indians and then the AL wildcard. Think Carlos valued this show of confidence and guessing the team already had a mutual agreement worked out to bring him back when they decided to sell high on Dane Dunning.
Yikes. Six times the charm. Mods please delete the last 45 times this comment posted. Much thx in advance
Rick Hahn wasn’t kidding when he suggested that the White Sox might re-sign Carlos Rodon pending their other offseason acquisitions. Hahn said the same thing regarding Nomar Mazara after he was also non-tendered last month. With the team still looking for a cheap versatile left-handed hitting DH who can also play an OF corner it will come as no surprise if Mazara joins Rodon on the White Sox in the coming days or weeks.
I’m actually looking forward to new pitching coach Ethan Katz working with Rodon. I think if Rodon is healthy this spring, Katz may finally unlock the full potential of a pitcher who was considered the best amateur southpaw since David Price when the former was selected by the White Sox as the overall #3 pick in the 2014 MLB June Amateur Draft. Katz was instrumental in helping Lucas Giolito turn the corner from top prospect to ace pitcher. Perhaps he can do likewise with Rodon, Dylan Cease and Reynaldo Lopez.
Lol lol Aaron. Your a funny guy. Who ever thought Rodon was the ‘best amateur lefty since David Price’? Probably Hawkeroo, Stoney and you? LOL.
Shouldn’t you be helping the Ricketts clan count their money?
Chill out and watch the White Sox show you what a dynasty looks like.
Actually, my statement regarding Carlos Rodon didn’t come from any White Sox broadcaster. It was the opinion of many scouts and pundits leading up to the 2014 Draft. Rodon was considered by many to be the best lefty pitching prospect since David Price was drafted out of Vanderbilt University by the Rays in 2007. He had a plus fastball and a slider that was compared favorably to that of HOF southpaw Steve Carlton. Rodon should have been the overall #1 pick but the two teams ahead of the White Sox opted for high school arms instead of the top college one. Rodon’s ‘advisor’ at the time was also his eventual agent, Scott Boras, which might also have played into the decision made by the Astros and Marlins.
The Astros never signed top pick Brady Aiken due to health concerns. The Indians selected him the following year with their own first round pick where Aiken has continued to struggle with his health and production in amassing just 43 appearances in 5 years, none above A ball.
The Indians chose big Texas RHP prep star Tyler Kolek with the #2 pick in 2014. In six year he has also struggled with health and production. Like Aiken, Kolek has yet to pitch above A ball.
Rodon fell to the White Sox at #3 which was just fine with an organization long known to prefer college arms and talent over high school prospects. The Cubs wound up taking C/OF Kyle Schwarber with the #4 pick and we both know they would have jumped on Rodon had he fallen one more spot to them. Ironically, both Rodon and Schwarber were each non-tendered this past December and available as logical lower cost free agent fits for either team. Schwarber opted to sign with the Nationals while Rodon was reportedly a target of Jed Hoyer but ultimately returned to the White Sox.
Aaron, coming man. if Rondon was a “TARGET” of anyone – they easily could have offered him a million more, than what he signed for. He evidently wasn’t a very valued TARGET.
I like this as a bullpen depth signing. I just hope Hahn signs another, more legit rotation arm soon, like Odorizzi or even Paxton.
The Sox have enough pitching depth for the fifth spot in their rotation.
I’d actually like to see them bring Colome back.
The White Sox depth at No.5 starter consists of a pitcher who hasn’t thrown in a game in two years and two pitchers with an average ERA last season of 7.
The team has zero need fir Colome in comparison to the rotation.
Fantastic. Bring back the guy who arguably cost them the division vs the Indians, and the last game of the playoffs. The chances of him being healthy are less than Eaton. Way less.
This isn’t even a cheap signing. Why would any team sign him above the league minimum? He literally hasn’t pitched a full season, and his ERA has been higher every year than the previous. Why would anyone think that success is possible? And for 3M, that’s a big dollar amount on a team that won’t do a bleeping thing. Rosario signed for 8M, just 5M more. Would anyone who is not completely insane prefer Rodon over Rosario, a legit left handed power bat who can play outfield? This team is going to have the exact same problems they did a year ago, only slightly improved with Lynn, that’s it.
“Bring back the guy who arguably cost them the division vs the Indians, and the last game of the playoffs”
They didn’t bring back Rick Renteria, thankfully
And the fact that you think Lynn only “slightly” improves a team that had a bullpen day in game 3 of the playoffs shows how much of a joke this comment is.
If Rodon can keep his 96mph velocity and control his wipeout slider, a move to the bullpen might allow him to unlock his full potential. It’s not surprising that he had a rough year last year after coming back from TJS, but he should be much crisper this season. All in all, this is a solid move as either a back end rotation option or as a potential bullpen weapon.
You have to have depth at starting pitcher. Nobody is asking him to pitch 150 plus innings or get the call every other day in the 8th inning out of the pen.
I think they are very much hoping that Kopech turns into the front of the rotation piece, but just needs some minor league time to get back into (maybe more so mentally). If correct…watch out.
If this Rodon signing works, great. If not, he’s cut. This will not make or break the season.
Kopech, Crochet, Steiver, Lopez.
That roster spot is too valuable to go to Rodon. The WS should know this more than anyone. Rodon is never healthy and he does not perform. They probably view him as a bridge until Kopech arrives a few months in…faulty thinking. IMO, Rodon is unreliable and if you have Championship aspirations you can’t burn a roster spot on him.
@bill smith Exactly. Detwiler had an ERA in the low 3’s last year, Rodon over 8, and they put Rodon on the playoff roster – and he was awful and contributed to the loss in game 3. He should have gotten the league minimum, not 3M.
It’s like they haven’t been paying attention to the past 5 years and his ERA climbing every year, never staying healthy. He has been mediocre at best even when healthy during that time. And for those that offer that he has “high upside” they’re hoping what, he might look like he did his rookie season for a time, 6 years ago? There is no realism or logic behind some of the choices they have made this offseason, including not spending 5M more than what they are throwing away on Rodon to get a real pitcher or hitter.
For everyone who is laughing, whining, complaining, being stupid…..You’re the same people who will be right back here asking why the Sox didn’t sign more pitching depth when one of their other SP goes down.
A small contract for a guy who MAY have some upside is no big deal. Get over it. Personally I believe Kopech will be up sooner than most think and the only available spot will be the #5 starter and there will be 3 guys competing for it. Cease is far from a bust. Lopez and Rodon either get released or put in the pen or sent down if they don’t perform. So what?
It’s a small deal for depth. The way some talk here is that the Sox expect Rodon to be their #1.
Now, let’s get a decent backup catcher and start the season. JR is never going to give a huge long term contract to a pitcher so no use dreaming.
I can actually recall looking forward to seeing Rodon pitch. He did go through a couple of stretches where he was pretty dominant, still hitting 98 late in games. If he’s healthy (I understand its a big risk) this is a worthwhile move given the cost. There’s really not much downside – they need the depth under any circumstances.
Also agree with the backup catcher need. We better move fast on that one because it seems they’re coming off the board fast over the last few days.
Why wouldn’t you want Collins to at least get a shot at consistent back-up catcher responsibilities? I’m no fan of the cliche 3 outcome profile, but let’s see with couple starts a week (with occasional DH duty vs RHPs) if he can provide some decent value. If he is too much of a mess with their staff to stick at catcher or clueless at the plate, they can certainly pivot at minimal cost.
Rodon has been hurt and has been the product of inconsistency and efficiency, racking up high pitch counts. Also seems he was mishandled by Coop, being forced to be the ace at 24 which forced him to overthrow rather than learning how to pitch to contact. His upside is untapped- some of his best gems were against the top lineups, like that 11 SO gem he threw at Fenway Park.
Could have Bauer but going on the cheap
Uh, nobody wants Bauer for $36MM per year, bruh.
Who says Bauer’s signing for $36MM? His market is minuscule.
You make it sound so easy. Remember who signs the checks….
Bauer doesn’t profile as a good match for the rotation or the Sox clubhouse at all. A fun personality but a loner and never really regarded as team oriented. A marked contrast to Giolito, Lynn and Hendriks whove drawn raves for being highly collaborative and willing to tutor younger players. Lynn in particular has been talked up as a great mentor and future pitching coach during his time in Texas and St Louis. Much prefer the money being spent to lock up Gio long term and resign Lynn. Fear that Trevor may profile as another Nick Swisher. “Look-at-me” personality that goes south when things don’t go well.
It wasn’t long ago Rodon was seen as a rotation fixture. At 3mil I think it’s worth it to give him another shot. Let’s not forget his track record as a college standout / can’t miss prospect. You shouldn’t give up on guys like that.
You absolutely should give up on guys like that if they don’t produce. Lots of those guys get ridiculously long leashes.
On the contrary Calc, how would you feel if they cut bait on Carlos a year too early, after he came all the way back from TJS, only to see another team-(say the As or Cubs) free ride off the White Sox investment in rehab and reap all the benefits. This has been Billy Beanes playbook for years: Montas, Semien, Bassitt?
The last time he had an ERA under 4 was 2016. They have given him 6 years of not giving up on him, and his ERA has gotten worse every year. How many years should they give him to be healthy and/or produce, 10?
NO! Say it ain’t so!
No Hitter? for 3M sounds like a good deal to me
2-0 0.00ERA
Michael Kopech is once again pitching in MiLB.
Kopech changing diapers right now…
And negotiating divorce.
I hope the divorce is soon behind him and back to baseball!! He has a great future ahead of him!
I’m glad Kopech changed your diapers.
Rodon wouldn’t be the first lefty to transition into a top flight lefty reliever.
Digging a little deeper.. Rodon’s highest ERA prior to 2019 was 4.18 on some terrible rebuilding teams. His ERA in 2019 was under 3.00, until his last 2 starts before TJ surgery. And then last year was a throw away, small sample size Covid season just back from TJ.
For the money, he was probably the highest ceiling pitcher out there, who at his age could still become dominant if he can get healthy and regain his stuff.
Rodon is the plan ‘d’ signing in case plans ‘A’ through ‘C’ fail.. The Sox still better have more in the tank than bringing back Rodon. For a team that is ‘all in’ I have yet to really see a signing or trade that proves this. That includes the Lynn trade. Going ‘all in’ for one season with a guy who was that kind of player 5-10 years ago….Not sure if Hahn made this trade or Williams (as that is usually his M.O.). If the Sox are really ‘all in’ they better get a bonafide ace (and no, none of the guys right now on the roster is that guy, and gambling on a surprise season or that Gio ‘takes the next step’ again is not what a team ‘all in’ does), a proven RF (Eaton and his ’14 yr old leader’ attitude still bothers me and I think he came back to the Sox to grab his money and be ‘injured’ for 75% of the season), and a DH (one who actually likes to DH and flourishes in that role). I think the Sox should still go after Colome if he is still available as well. While not astounding, he was reliable (at least when not asked to run out there for more than 1 inning). I like this bullpen from last year, but bullpen guys tend to have let down years after good ones especially if they are taxed –like what I think the Sox will be with 2 30+ yr olds and and likely a bunch of young guys not getting past the 5th inning).
his problem isn’t physical- he was a total bag through the system. He to totally readjust mental attitude, then injuries.
Now it’s up to karma-