Carlos Rodon is the clear top pitcher left on the market, and despite a lofty asking price reportedly in the $200M range, multiple clubs are still interested in the left-hander.
Carlos Rodon’s future has yet to be determined
The Yankees are preparing a formal offer for Rodon, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, and Brendan Kuty of NJ.com notes that the Yankees are Rodon’s “preferred destination.” Kuty adds that the Twins, Giants, and Cardinals are all “seriously in play.”
- The New York Yankees
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The Yankees reportedly hoped to limit any Rodon contracts to four or five years, but that doesn’t appear likely to get them in the ballpark.
With Judge and Cole both committed to $76 million in annual commitments through the 2028 season (2029 in Judge’s case), adding Rodon to the mix would necessitate budgeting more than $100 million per year for a trio of players for at least the next six years.
Using a speculative $30 million AAV (which could be off by a few million dollars either way), the Yankees’ penalties would increase from their current projected $11.74 million to around $32.65 million. In other words, they’d pay an additional $21 million in taxes on top of Rodon’s salary for the 2023 season.
- The Minnesota Twins
The Twins’ interest in Rodon may be contingent on Carlos Correa’s decision, who, like Rodon, is represented by the Boras Corporation. According to Dan Hayes of The Athletic, Correa remains the Twins’ top priority, but the team did make a pitch to Rodon earlier this month.
Read also: Carlos Correa’s MLB free agency has been reduced to two teams
Given that the Giants are widely regarded as Minnesota’s main rival for Correa, it’s reasonable to speculate that both clubs are prioritizing Correa with the intention of pivoting to Rodon if Correa is turned down. The fact that both parties have the same agent makes concurrent negotiations go more smoothly.
A Correa/Rodon combination would push Minnesota’s total payroll past $150 million for the first time in franchise history and would almost certainly lock them into $75-$80 million in annual commitments to the trio of Correa, Rodon, and Byron Buxton.
Related: The Minnesota Twins not waiting much longer for Carlos Correa
- The New York Giants
The Giants’ luxury obligations are already slightly above $180 million, and this combination would almost certainly push them into tax territory for the first time. However, the Giants’ payroll has previously surpassed $200 million, and the only player currently under contract beyond the 2024 season is Mitch Haniger, who is signed through 2025.
Under Farhan Zaidi’s leadership, the Giants have been wary of long-term contracts, but they made significant bids for both Aaron Judge and Bryce Harper.
- The St. Louis Cardinals
For the Cardinals, signing Rodon would almost certainly entail making the largest commitment in franchise history and increasing payroll to levels never seen in St. Louis. The Cardinals’ current record for Opening Day payroll is a little more north of $163 million in 2021, but they’re already at that rough level right now, and Rodon could easily take them north of $190 million.
