Carlos Rodon was a big free-agent signing by the New York Yankees last offseason. He didn’t give the team much last season, but team general manager Brian Cashman shared some words on Thursday that will give Yankees fans some encouragement.
Cashman spoke with the media Thursday as part of a news conference held via Zoom to introduce new pitcher Marcus Stroman. During the Zoom call, Cashman gave some updates about the team’s players.
Cashman told reporters that Rodon had voluntarily reported early to Tampa, Florida, which is the site of the team’s spring training.
According to Yankees reporter Bryan Hoch, Cashman said Rodon “looks really good” and the Yankees are “very optimistic that Rodon can return to form and be the pitcher we know he’s capable of being.”
Rodon was a bust in his first season with the team. The 31-year-old pitcher went 3-8 with a 6.85 ERA over 64.1 innings while battling injuries.
Rodon has dealt with shoulder and other arm injuries throughout his career, and has undergone Tommy John surgery. But in 2021 and 2022, he gave the world a glimpse of what led the Chicago White Sox to draft him No. 3 overall in 2014.
Rodon went 13-5 with a 2.37 ERA for the White Sox in 2021. He followed that up by going 14-8 with a 2.88 ERA in 2022 with the Giants. He was an All-Star in both seasons and finished with more than 12 strikeouts per nine innings both years.
The Yankees signed Rodon to a six-year, $162 million deal last year and are hoping to start getting some return on their hefty investment.
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