The New York Yankees had a season to forget in 2023. Injuries and underperformance plagued the team all season causing them to miss the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Despite signing a $162 million contract last offseason, Carlos Rodon was the worst pitcher in the rotation last year. He spent much of the year either pitching ineffectively or on the injured list. For how much money he is making, this performance is unacceptable. This season, Carlos Rodon has everything to prove.
Carlos Rodon Didn’t Live Up To The Preseason Hype
Embed from Getty ImagesThere was a lot of hype surrounding Carlos Rodon when he entered free agency. The Yankees were able to sign him to a six-year, $162 million deal. Yankees fans everywhere imagined Rodon helping them finally get past the hated Astros and ending their World Series drought. However, Carlos Rodon ended up being a liability on the mound. Due to various injuries, he was only able to pitch 64.1 innings. He finished 2023 with a record of 3-8 with an ERA of 6.85, a WHIP of 1.446, 64 strikeouts, and he allowed 15 home runs. This includes his final start against the Royals where didn’t make it out of the first inning giving up eight runs. He also had incidents where he blew a kiss to heckling fans and disrespecting pitching coach Matt Blake.
Expectations Are Still High
Embed from Getty ImagesIt was a tumultuous season for Rodon between his injuries, gestures, and ineffective performances. Rodon didn’t perform or act like the pitcher the Yankees gave $162 million to. He instead gave Yankee fans flashbacks to Carl Pavano. Rodon’s second season in the Bronx could arguably be his most important yet. Expectations for him to be one of the top pitchers in the rotation next to Gerrit Cole haven’t changed. Teams don’t just hand out $162 million contracts to any pitcher. Yankee fans are still very angry with him for the mostly ineffective outings he gave the team in 2023. It’s going to take Rodon a few solid outings to begin the season for the fans to ease up on him.
Rodon Needs To Bounce Back In 2024
Embed from Getty ImagesWhile Carlos Rodon wasn’t the entire problem last season, his mostly rough outings didn’t solve any of the issues. This coming season, Rodon has everything to prove to the team and its fans. He needs to stay healthy and perform like the Cy Young candidate the Yankees thought they signed last offseason. If Rodon has a season like last year, New York won’t make the postseason and the fans will never get on his side. Rodon is a big key for the Yankees to be successful in 2024.
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